Parenting meshes in Blender is done by selecting the child mesh objects, then the parent mesh object, and pressing Ctrl-P to choose a parenting type from the pop-up menu.
Understanding Parenting in Blender
In Blender, parenting creates a hierarchical link between objects. When you parent one or more objects (children) to another object (the parent), transformations (like moving, rotating, or scaling) applied to the parent will also affect the children. This makes it easier to manage complex scenes, rig characters, or assemble multi-part models. While your question is specifically about meshes, the parenting process applies universally to all object types in Blender.
How to Parent Mesh Objects
Parenting mesh objects involves selecting the objects in a specific order and then using the parenting command.
The Parenting Steps
Based on standard Blender functionality and the provided reference, here is the exact process:
- Select the Child Object(s): In the 3D Viewport, use the right mouse button (or left, depending on your settings) to select the mesh object(s) you want to be the child(ren). You can Shift-click to select multiple children.
- Select the Parent Object Last: While still holding Shift, select the mesh object you want to be the parent. The parent object should be the last one selected; it will typically have a slightly lighter orange outline compared to the children.
- Initiate the Parenting Command: As stated in the reference, "select at least two objects (select the Child Objects first, and select the Parent Object last), and press Ctrl-P".
- Choose the Parenting Type: The reference notes that "The Set Parent To menu will pop up allowing you to select from one of several possible different parenting types." From this "Set Parent To" menu, select the type of parenting you need.
The "Set Parent To" Menu Options
After pressing Ctrl-P, the "Set Parent To" menu appears, offering various relationship types:
- Object: The most common type. The child's transformations become relative to the parent's origin.
- Object (Keep Transform): Parents the object but attempts to maintain the child's current world space transformation by adjusting its local transformation.
- Bone: Used when parenting objects to bones in an armature (common for character rigging).
- Vertex: Links the child to a specific vertex or a group of vertices on the parent mesh.
- Vertex (Triangle): Links the child to three vertices, defining a stable plane on the parent mesh.
For simply making one mesh follow another, the Object type is usually sufficient.
Practical Uses of Parenting Meshes
Parenting is a cornerstone of many Blender workflows:
- Building Complex Assets: Attach accessories, wheels, or separate components to a main mesh.
- Character Rigging: Parent mesh deformation bones, clothing, or props to the armature bones.
- Animation: Create hierarchical movements, like a hand following an arm, which follows a shoulder.
- Scene Organization: Group logical parts of a scene together under a single parent control object for easier manipulation.
How Parenting Affects Transformations
Understanding how transformations behave after parenting is key:
- Parent Transformations: Moving, rotating, or scaling the parent object directly affects the position, rotation, and scale of all its child objects.
- Child Transformations: Transforming a child object moves, rotates, or scales it relative to the parent. The parent remains unaffected by child transformations.
Unparenting Objects
To remove a parent-child relationship:
- Select the child object(s) you want to unparent.
- Press Alt-P.
- A "Clear Parent" menu will appear. Choose the desired option, such as "Clear Parent" to break the link or "Clear and Keep Transformation" to break the link and keep the child(ren) in their current world position and orientation.
