.. _quick_start:

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How to Use
#################

Workflow Overview
========================

#. Create a set of Bezier curves in Blender.  The add-on offers three modes for converting curves into mesh geometry:

   * **Surface to Mesh**: :ref:`Connect networks of 4 curves<create_patches>` to generate quad-based 3D surfaces.

   * **Profiles to Mesh**: Loft shapes by defining a series of curve cross-sections.
   
   * **Sweep to Mesh**: Sweep one or more profile curves along a guiding path to build custom 3D forms.

#. :ref:`Preview the mesh <preview_mode>` in real-time as you edit the curves.n  You can skip the preview mode if you want to convert the curves directly to a mesh without seeing the intermediate steps.

#. Convert the curves into a normal Blender mesh surface by clicking the :ref:`Create Mesh <create_mesh>` button.

#. Use this regular mesh surface like any other alongside Blender's traditional mesh modelling techniques to create more complex objects for export or rendering.

Introductory Tutorials
========================

|tut_vid_1|

.. |tut_vid_1| raw:: html

    <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5V-oHah8gJg?si=lwapRiTcGQtF4uxv" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

|tut_vid_2|

.. |tut_vid_2| raw:: html

    <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MaYbdeixQRc?si=2txyhYOluUNAhYZe" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

|tut_vid_3|

.. |tut_vid_3| raw:: html

    <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JsEDe2JEgAI?si=17sq-s0ZRVwaC3dk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>