S01 Modeling — Pass 1 "Read": the workflow script

Note

Generated from docs/discovery/s01-modeling/01-workflow-script.md.

Pass 1 of the S01 Modeling pilot. This is the human lens: how professionals model in Blender, written as ordered steps, so Pass 2 can trace each step into the source and Pass 3 can judge it. Facts are cited. Anything that is not stated by a source is marked Interpretation: or †. Date: 2026-10-07.

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1. Scope & sources

In scope: mesh modeling of a production asset from approved design to hand-off — hard-surface props and organic characters (sculpt → retopology), up to UVs and delivery to rigging and shading. Out of scope: texturing, shading networks, rig building, Geometry Nodes asset authoring, sets (the Studio’s own “Sets” section is still empty — SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:132-136).

Citation prefixes (local root ~/agent-native-lab-data/sources/blender/projects.blender.org/):

Prefix	Location	What it is
SG:	studio/blender-studio-tools/docs/artist-guide/	Blender Studio pipeline / artist guide (primary). modeling.md is marked WIP, Oct 2023 (:3-5)
NC:	studio/blender-studio-tools/docs/naming-conventions/	Studio naming conventions
AP:	studio/blender-studio-tools/docs/addons/asset_pipeline.md	Studio Asset Pipeline add-on (task layers)
BM:	blender/blender-manual/manual/	Blender reference manual (what the UI does, keys)
MAS:	~/agent-native-lab/knowledge/blender/MASTERY.md	Prior lab synthesis (4 layers: UI / operator / data / internals)
GT:	~/agent-native-lab/lab/blender/golden-table.md	Prior lab trace: human path vs AI path for bevel_smooth, array_row, …
W1	https://studio.blender.org/blog/gold-modelling-the-boat/	“Project Gold: Boat Modeling” (free blog post, 28 Nov 2024)
W2	https://studio.blender.org/blog/live-retopology-at-bcon22/	“Live Retopology at BCON22” (free; linked from SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:38)
W3	https://studio.blender.org/training/stylized-character-workflow/	Stylized Character Workflow course index (lesson titles only; free ones listed below)
W4	https://studio.blender.org/training/blender-2-8-fundamentals/	Blender 2.8 Fundamentals, Modeling chapter (all 8 lessons free)

Not used / not found: a “Blender 4.5 Fundamentals” course URL returned 404 (/training/blender-4-5-fundamentals/, /training/blender-fundamentals/); W4 is the fallback. Paywalled lessons were not read — only their titles from the public index.

W3 free lessons on the sculpt → retopo → UV path (titles verbatim from the index): Intro: Introduction, Introduction Update · Ch.1 Head Sculpting: Defining Goals, Timelapse: Sculpting Rain’s Head · Ch.2 Body & Outfit: Creating a Primitive Body, Timelapse: Rains Summer Outfit · Ch.4 Clean Retopology: Planning the Facial Retopology, Timelapse: Body Retopology · Ch.5 Bonus: live sessions on retopology, UV mapping, shading, rendering (index says “mostly Free”). Paid titles that name the steps (not read): Sculpting a Primitive Head Shape, Creating Clothing Basemeshes, Retopology Setup, Facial Retopology – Edge Flow & Articulation, – Patches & Poles, – Creases & Tweaking. The index as fetched showed no Chapter 3.

W4 free modeling lessons: Modeling Introduction, Creating Meshes, Object and Edit Mode, Mesh Selection Mode, Extrude, Loop Cut, Bevel Tool, Knife Tool.

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2. The pipeline as the Studio practises it

            ┌───────────── hard-surface / static prop ─────────────┐
Reference → Setup → Blocking (live modifiers) → Movement test → Refinement ─┐
                                                                            ├→ UV → Delivery cleanup → Hand-off
Concept sculpt → Expression/pose tests → Retopology → Multires/shapes ──────┘     (Kitsu review; rigging,
            └───────────── organic character ──────────────────┘                  shading task layers)

• Hard-surface variant — stages Reference → Setup → Blocking → Refinement are named sections in SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:90-129; delivery list :139-152.
• Organic variant — modeling starts from a handed-over sculpt (T-pose, optional hero pose), deformation tests and style guides (SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:16-20); “the outcome usually is a final topology” (:22) via retopology (:37), with UVs “added at this stage” (:35), then multires reprojection and shape keys (:65-85).
• Task breakdown per asset type in production tracking: Characters need Concept, Modeling, Sculpting, Rigging, Shading, Anim Test; Props need Concept, Modeling, Shading, Rigging (SG:kitsu.md:76).
• Modeling is one task layer in the Asset Pipeline add-on, alongside Rigging and Shading (AP:10); each task layer typically has its own file (AP:10, example files AP:34-37).

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3. Step tables

Column legend: Look at = what the artist inspects to decide; Verify = how they check it worked. † = the cell restates generic manual behaviour, not a Studio statement of practice.

A. Reference & design hand-over (both variants)

#	Human intent	What they do in the UI	Look at	Verify	Source
1	Start only from an approved design	(outside Blender) obtain approved concept; stages may overlap	concept art / approval status	task status in Kitsu	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:9-11
2	Organic: receive the design sculpt and its tests	open handed-over T-pose sculpt, hero pose, deformation tests, style guide	expressions & poses, limitations	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:16-20
3	Hard-surface: get real dimensions	webshops / manufacturer sites; ideally hold and measure the object	dimensions, photos, videos	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:92
4	Understand moving parts	build a collage: videos, photos, technical diagrams, multi-angle blueprints	how parts slide/move	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:94-96; W1 (Pen Duick research, model-builder forum images)
5	Make blueprints trustworthy	straighten blueprint lines before modeling	vertical/horizontal lines	lines perfectly straight	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:96
6	Put reference into the viewport	add an Image Empty (reference / blueprint)	the image behind the mesh	† image aligned to axis view	BM:modeling/empties.rst:70-71, :91-113

B. Setup

#	Human intent	What they do in the UI	Look at	Verify	Source
7	Work in real-world scale	Scene Properties → Units → Unit System (Metric)	unit fields	† dimensions read in metres	BM:scene_layout/scene/properties.rst:56-62
8	Create a scale guide	Shift-A → Mesh → Cube; set display to Wire; match rough dimensions	cube vs reference images	dimensions match reference	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:100; BM:modeling/meshes/primitives.rst:9-10
9	Check scale against users of the prop	link existing assets/characters (e.g. the character’s hands)	proportions side-by-side	visual match	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:100
10	Compare against orthographic refs	Numpad1/3/7 front/right/top views	silhouette vs blueprint	† overlap in ortho view	BM:editors/3dview/navigate/viewpoint.rst:11-13

C. Blocking (hard-surface)

#	Human intent	What they do in the UI	Look at	Verify	Source
11	Block the basic shape	simple shapes, simple topology	proportions vs reference	W1: “match the proportions and shape of the hull”	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:104; W1
12	Edit geometry	Tab into Edit Mode; 1/2/3 vertex/edge/face select	selected elements highlight	†	BM:editors/3dview/modes.rst:27; BM:modeling/meshes/selecting/introduction.rst:21-22; W4 Object and Edit Mode, Mesh Selection Mode
13	Add form	E extrude, I inset, Ctrl-R loop cut (wheel = number of cuts), K knife	the preview while dragging	† LMB confirm / RMB cancel	BM:modeling/meshes/tools/extrude_region.rst:12; BM:…/face/inset_faces.rst:13; BM:…/edge/loopcut_slide.rst:11-33,64; BM:…/mesh/knife_topology_tool.rst:13; W4 Extrude, Loop Cut, Knife Tool
14	Select efficiently	Alt-LMB edge loop, Ctrl-L linked, Ctrl-LMB shortest path	loop highlight	—	BM:modeling/meshes/selecting/loops.rst:16-17; BM:…/selecting/linked.rst:15-16,48-49
15	Fix the last operation’s values	Adjust Last Operation panel or F9	operator values	re-executed result in viewport	BM:interface/undo_redo.rst:46-58; GT:50 (bevel step 5); MAS:48-51
16	Back out of a mistake	Ctrl-Z / Shift-Ctrl-Z	—	—	BM:interface/undo_redo.rst:21-41
17	Model one half only	add Mirror modifier (axis, optional Clipping, Bisect)	the mirrored half live	seam closed at plane (Clipping)	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:108; BM:modeling/modifiers/generate/mirror.rst:8,30,45-48
18	Give planar parts thickness	Solidify modifier	thickness	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:109; BM:…/generate/solidify.rst:8
19	Chamfer edges non-destructively	Bevel modifier (with Solidify), Limit Method Angle/Weight	edge highlights	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:110; BM:…/generate/bevel.rst:81-91; GT:38-53
20	Repeat parts	Array modifier (relative/object offset for radial)	count, spacing	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:111; GT:21-34 (array_row; Array is GN asset in 5.2, classic one “Legacy”)
21	Non-destructive part lines	Edge Split + Mark Sharp in Edit Mode, with Solidify + Bevel	shading breaks	sharp edges read in shading	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:112; BM:…/generate/edge_split.rst:11-16; BM:modeling/meshes/editing/edge/edge_data.rst:65
22	Cut shapes quickly	Boolean modifier (Union/Difference/…, Exact/Fast solver)	resulting shape	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:113; BM:…/generate/booleans.rst:46-72
23	Bend repeated parts	Curve modifier combined with Array	deformation along curve	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:114
24	(Gold, real case) panel stack	plane + Solidify, EdgeSplit, Bevel, Subdivision Surface; Shrinkwrap “to avoid warping”	hull surface	—	W1

D. Movement test (hard-surface, no armature)

#	Human intent	What they do in the UI	Look at	Verify	Source
25	Make parts movable	split asset into collections; parent instanced collections to Empties	collection layout	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:116-119
26	Simple movement	shape keys	slider motion	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:120
27	Quick pivot set-ups	3D cursor + basic object parenting	rotation about cursor	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:121
28	Learn from motion	make a simplified animated version; feed findings back into the model	the animation	changes visible via instances	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:123
29	Edit once, update everywhere	instance collections for repeated parts (blocks, shackles, chocks)	instances	“changes to the original are propagated”	W1

E. Refinement (hard-surface)

#	Human intent	What they do in the UI	Look at	Verify	Source
30	Commit selectively	apply chosen modifiers (Ctrl-A over modifier panel)	stack	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:127; BM:modeling/modifiers/introduction.rst:141-144
31	Clean booleans / curvature	retopologise where needed	surface shading	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:127
32	Add believability	screws, cables, insets, small details	close-up silhouette	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:129
33	Control smoothness & edge sharpness	Subdivision Surface modifier; Shift-E crease; manual Ctrl-B bevels	highlights on edges	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:129; BM:…/generate/subdivision_surface.rst:59-60; BM:…/edge/edge_data.rst:37-38; BM:…/edge/bevel.rst:15
34	Make sure big shapes survive	inspect from different angles; † NumpadSlash local view	silhouette from many angles	“avoid errors” by eye	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:129; BM:editors/3dview/navigate/local_view.rst:15
35	Spend detail where the camera is	lower detail away from camera; bevel “worn” detail pass	layout camera	render iterations reviewed in the VSE	W1

F. Organic: sculpt → retopology → multires

#	Human intent	What they do in the UI	Look at	Verify	Source
36	Start the design sculpt	primitive head / primitive body, then planar forms, then smooth & stylise	silhouette, planes	—	W3 lesson titles (Creating a Primitive Body, free)
37	Get even resolution fast	Sculpt Mode: R set voxel size, Ctrl-R voxel remesh	density	manifold, no overlaps	BM:sculpt_paint/sculpting/introduction/adaptive.rst:11-42
38	Sculpt complex base shapes	Dyntopo (adds/removes topology under brush)	local detail	—	BM:…/introduction/adaptive.rst:53-64
39	Sculpt symmetrically	Symmetry X (tool settings)	both sides	—	BM:sculpt_paint/sculpting/tool_settings/symmetry.rst:3-9
40	Clothing	separate clothing base meshes, then wrinkles & folds	stretch vs compression	—	W3 lesson titles (Ch.2)
41	Answer design questions before topology	expression & pose tests	expressions	design approved	W2; SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:19
42	Plan the topology	draw loops on the sculpt with the Annotate tool	“patches” and “structure”	—	W2; W3 Planning the Facial Retopology (free)
43	Start the new mesh over the sculpt	new mesh overlapping original; Retopology overlay (see-through)	both meshes at once	fully covers & matches shape	BM:modeling/meshes/retopology.rst:166-173; BM:editors/3dview/display/overlays.rst:317-321
44	Stick verts to the surface	Snapping (header toggle or hold Ctrl) to original mesh	snapped vertex	—	BM:modeling/meshes/retopology.rst:176; BM:editors/3dview/controls/snapping.rst:18-20
45	Lay faces quickly	Poly Build tool	new faces	—	BM:modeling/meshes/retopology.rst:174-175; BM:modeling/meshes/tools/poly_build.rst:13-14,42
46	Retopo one side	Mesh Symmetry / X-Mirror (+ Topology Mirror) in tool settings, or Mirror modifier	mirrored side	—	BM:modeling/meshes/tools/tool_settings.rst:45-62
47	Follow form & deformation	edge flow along shapes/muscles; ≥3 loops + 2 proximity loops at eyes/brows/mouth	loop direction	—	W2 (“Three Curve Principle”)
48	Don’t over-build	“extrude and insert whatever is just enough”; add loops, realign, relax later	density	—	W2
49	Keep quads, allow exceptions	quads with low stretching; tris/ngons in some cases	face types	—	W2; SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:68 (“relatively evenly distributed quads”)
50	Why not automatic?	(Voxel/Quadriflow remesh rejected for deforming meshes)	—	—	BM:modeling/meshes/retopology.rst:57-63,117-119,163-165
51	Restore sculpted detail	Multires modifier on the retopo; subdivide; reproject details	surface detail	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:67-68; BM:modeling/modifiers/generate/multiresolution.rst:9-25
52	Make hand-off easier	helper shape keys (eyes/mouth open-close, can be driven by one property); hero-pose shape keys	shape sliders	used by texturing/rigging	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:28-29,78-85
53	Keep sculpt detail as data	bake sculpted details to textures	baked maps	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:26,76

G. UV hand-over (both variants)

#	Human intent	What they do in the UI	Look at	Verify	Source
54	Place seams with topology	Edge → Mark Seam (topology dictates seams; vital for clothing)	edge loops	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:51; BM:modeling/meshes/editing/edge/edge_data.rst:59; BM:modeling/meshes/uv/unwrapping/introduction.rst:68
55	Unwrap	U → Unwrap / Smart UV Project	UV Editor islands	—	BM:modeling/meshes/editing/uv.rst:12-20,100
56	Minimise stretch, even texel density	UV Editor Display Stretch; UDIMs ordered by detail; reduce hidden parts	stretch colours, island size	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:53-56; BM:editors/uv/overlays.rst:53-63
57	Align texture patterns (cloth)	add a secondary, pattern-aligned UV map	pattern on surface	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:58-60
58	Serve shading’s needs	“a UV pass based on the requirements from Shading”	shading requirements	—	W1; SG:asset-creation/shading.md:38-40

H. Delivery cleanup & hand-off

#	Human intent	What they do in the UI	Look at	Verify	Source
59	Remove doubles	M → By Distance (Merge by Distance)	vertex count change	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:143; BM:modeling/meshes/editing/mesh/merge.rst:14,31
60	Consistent normals	Face Orientation overlay; Shift-N Recalculate Outside	red faces on outside	no red visible	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:144; BM:editors/3dview/display/overlays.rst:204-210; BM:…/mesh/normals.rst:53-61
61	Smooth shading	Object → Shade Smooth	shading	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:145; BM:scene_layout/object/editing/shading.rst:6-20
62	Clean transforms	Ctrl-A → Scale (and Location/Rotation if needed)	N-panel scale = 1	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:146; BM:scene_layout/object/editing/apply.rst:9-25
63	Bake the stack where static	apply “most modifiers … best to have static”	modifier stack	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:147
64	Protect UVs	re-check UV maps after cleanup	UV Editor	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:148
65	Name and sort	rename objects/collections to convention (GEO-…, CH-…); Batch Rename	Outliner	Asset Pipeline add-on enforces _00x	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:149; NC:datablock-names.md:27-58
66	Help shading/animation start	placeholder materials with viewport colours	viewport colour	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:150
67	Strip noise	delete unused attributes/data	Data properties	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:151
68	Mark deformation pivots	add Empties at joints/pivots	empties in viewport	—	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:27,152
69	Organic cleanup	applied transforms, manifold check, naming, dummy materials	—	manifold check	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:30
70	Get sign-off	Kitsu status WIP → WFA (show director) → DONE / GO / RTK	review feedback	approval	SG:kitsu.md:58-70
71	Publish modeling data	Asset Pipeline: modeling task layer owns objects; push owned data to publish, pull the rest	Asset Pipeline sidebar	—	AP:10-18,40
72	Hand to rigging	rig generated (CloudRig) on final retopo or “messy automatic retopo” for previz	—	—	SG:asset-creation/rigging.md:10
73	Close the loop	animation stress tests → rigging decides whether modeling tweaks are needed; repeat	deformations	—	SG:asset-creation/animation-testing.md:21-27

73 steps (35 hard-surface-specific or shared blocking/refinement, 18 organic, 20 shared UV/delivery/hand-off).

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4. Conventions & hand-off rules

Topic	Rule (as stated)	Source
Naming case	lower_underscore_case, ALL-CAPS prefixes/suffixes; - hierarchy, . symmetry/variant	NC:datablock-names.md:7-12
Unique namespace	asset identifier in every datablock name (e.g. esprite)	NC:datablock-names.md:14-21
Asset root collection	type prefix + name: CH-, PR-, LI-, SE-, LG-, CA-	NC:datablock-names.md:27-35
Object prefixes	GEO rendered geometry, HLP helpers/empties, TMP placeholder, RIG, WGT, …	NC:datablock-names.md:39-49
Mesh names	mesh & shape-key datablocks named as the object; .00x → _00x	NC:datablock-names.md:56-58
Symmetry suffix	exactly .L / .R only for truly symmetric pieces	NC:datablock-names.md:66-68
Modifiers in blocking	use modifiers for speed and later flexibility	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:104
Modifiers in refinement	“strategically apply” to stay flexible before committing	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:127
Modifiers at delivery	“Apply most modifiers” — those best static	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:147
Modifiers as transferable data	Modifiers are a task-layer-owned transferable data type (so some survive the publish)	AP:18-22
Topology (organic)	optimized for shading/texturing/rigging/animation; evenly distributed quads for multires	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:34,68
Topology (deforming)	must follow form; automatic remesh not suitable, done manually	BM:modeling/meshes/retopology.rst:60-63,163-165
Scale/units	match real dimensions; apply object scale at delivery	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:100,146
Origin / pivots	apply location/rotation “if needed”; pivots marked with Empties	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:146,152
Mirror	Mirror modifier “if the asset is symmetrical”; mirrors across object origin	SG:asset-creation/modeling.md:108; BM:modeling/modifiers/generate/mirror.rst:8
Object data sharing	multiple objects sharing one mesh not supported by Asset Pipeline	AP:12
Shading data under topology change	data layers (UVs, colour attributes) must be re-checked after topology changes	SG:asset-creation/shading.md:36

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5. Observations through the four “dead facts”

[DF1] human is the operator

• Every stage’s decision input is a human-held artefact: approved concept (SG:…/modeling.md:9), a person physically measuring the object (:92), director review in Kitsu (SG:kitsu.md:58-70).
• Retopology is explicitly human-only: “no perfect automatic tools exist … it has to be done manually” (BM:modeling/meshes/retopology.rst:61-63).
• Rigging accepts a “messy automatic retopo” for previz (SG:…/rigging.md:10) — the only place the guide accepts machine topology. Interpretation: the human retopo gate is about final quality, not about downstream tools being unable to proceed.

[DF2] humans write the code

• The Studio’s productivity tools are add-ons written by staff (CloudRig, Easy Weight, Pose Shape Keys, Asset Pipeline) — SG:…/rigging.md:9-29, AP:4. Sculpt Layers is third-party (SG:…/modeling.md:71).
• Naming conventions are “enforced by add-ons wherever possible” (NC:datablock-names.md:16,57). Interpretation: the convention layer is already half-machine; rules exist in prose plus custom code.

[DF3] tiny imperative steps

• Blocking is a long chain of single operators (E, I, Ctrl-R, K, Ctrl-B) each tweaked through F9 — rows 13–15. The golden table measured bevel_smooth at 7 steps / 11 inputs / 7 operators vs one declarative modifier write (GT:15,38-53).
• The Studio itself prefers declarative, live modifiers during blocking (SG:…/modeling.md:104) and applies them only at the end (:127,147). Interpretation: the experts already route around DF3 in the modifier stack; the imperative residue is topology work (retopo, cleanup, seams).
• Delivery is a 10-item manual checklist (SG:…/modeling.md:143-152) with no stated automation.

[DF4] viewport + human eye verify

• Verification is visual in almost every row: Face Orientation red faces (BM:…/overlays.rst:204-210), “inspecting the model from different angles” (SG:…/modeling.md:129), Retopology overlay (BM:…/overlays.rst:317-321), UV stretch display (BM:editors/uv/overlays.rst:53-63), rendered iterations reviewed in the VSE (W1).
• Only a few checks are numeric/structural: Merge by Distance, manifold check, applied scale (SG:…/modeling.md:30,143,146). Interpretation: these are the obvious first candidates for machine-checkable assertions.

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6. Open questions for the Dissect pass

Count in real Studio .blend files (Sprite Fright, Charge, Gold, Wing It assets where available):

1. Modifiers live vs applied at delivery: per GEO- object, modifier count and types; which survive in published files (Mirror? Subsurf? Bevel?). Tests “apply most modifiers” (:147).
2. Ngon / tri / quad ratio on hard-surface vs organic meshes; tests “evenly distributed quads” (:68) and W2’s “tris/ngons in some cases”.
3. Mirror usage: Mirror modifier present, applied (symmetric vertex positions), or .L/.R split objects.
4. Applied transforms: share of objects with scale ≠ 1 or non-identity rotation.
5. Doubles / non-manifold / flipped normals remaining after delivery (checklist compliance).
6. UV maps: count per mesh, presence of secondary pattern-aligned maps, UDIM tiles.
7. Shape keys: helper/hero-pose keys present on characters; drivers linking eyes/mouth keys.
8. Pivot Empties (HLP-) per asset; instanced collections for repeated parts (W1).
9. Naming compliance: % datablocks matching the prefix + namespace pattern; leftover .00x.
10. Multires: retained on published meshes or baked out?
11. Boolean residue: Boolean modifiers or cutter objects left in published files.
12. Density: face count per asset type, to size what an agent must reason about.

Also for Trace (Pass 2): map rows 13, 15, 17–22, 37, 43–45, 55, 59–62 to their operators / RNA in source, reusing GT: for bevel and array.