blender · HeyBraza shows you
how to add a material to an object in blender
HeyBraza points at the material properties tab, the 'new' button and the base colour swatch, then reminds you to switch to material preview so it actually shows.
adding a material is how you colour an object in blender, but the panel is easy to miss and the object stays grey in the default viewport even after you set a colour. here's the exact click path and the shading switch that makes it show.
short answer
select the object, open material properties (the checkered sphere icon) and click 'new' - that adds a material with a principled bsdf. click the 'base color' swatch to pick a colour, then switch the viewport to material preview (the third sphere icon at the top-right) or it keeps looking grey in solid shading.
or do it yourself
- 1select the object, then open material properties - the checkered sphere icon low in the properties panel on the right.
- 2click 'new' to create a material; it comes with a 'principled bsdf' already set up.
- 3click the 'base color' swatch and pick your colour in the wheel that pops up.
- 4switch the viewport to material preview (the third of the four sphere icons at the top-right) - solid shading never shows materials, which is why the object still looks grey.
- 5want more than one colour on the same object? add a second slot with the '+' beside the slot list, click 'new', then in edit mode (tab) select the faces, pick the slot and click 'assign'.
steps last checked
let HeyBraza do this with you
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downloadcommon questions
how do i change the colour of an object in blender?
add a material, then click the 'base color' swatch on the principled bsdf and pick a colour. you won't see it until the viewport is in material preview or rendered shading - solid mode ignores materials.
why is my object still grey after adding a material?
you're in solid viewport shading. click the third sphere icon at the top-right of the viewport (material preview) and the colour appears.
can one object have more than one material?
yes - add extra slots with the '+' in material properties and click 'new' for each, then in edit mode select the faces, choose the slot and click 'assign'. unassigned faces keep the first slot's material.
