How to Create a City Scene in Blender 6 - (see the steps below)
Create a New Project: Open Blender and start with a new project.
Set Up the Resolution: Go to the Output Properties tab and set the resolution, for instance, 1920x1080 for full HD or higher for more detailed renders.
A. Base Terrain
Use a plane to represent the ground (Shift + A → Mesh → Plane).
Scale it to fit the city size (S key to scale, then type numbers to specify scale).
B. Buildings
Use simple geometric shapes like cubes and rectangles to start building blocks of the city.
For each building, create a cube, then use S to scale it in the Z-axis (height).
Use Array Modifiers to replicate similar buildings for creating rows or city blocks.
Add variation in height, width, and shape to make the city feel more dynamic.
You can also model custom buildings if you want specific architectural details.
C. Streets
Use cubes or planes for roads. You can use the Bevel Modifier to create curved or smoother edges.
Consider adding curves (Shift + A → Curve → Path) to create winding streets or highways.
A. Windows and Doors
Use the Boolean Modifier to cut out windows and doors in your buildings.
Create window and door frames from smaller cubes and inset them using the Extrude (E) and Inset (I) tools.
B. Street Details
Add sidewalks, streetlights, and traffic signs. Use simple models and small props to enhance the realism.
Add street furniture like benches, trash bins, etc.
C. Props and Foliage
Add trees or plants (you can use Blender’s particle system for trees or use free models from sites like Sketchfab or BlenderKit).
Scatter objects like cars, pedestrians, and traffic lights to populate the scene.
A. Sun and Environment Lighting
Add a sunlight to simulate daylight (Shift + A → Light → Sun). Position it to create realistic shadows.
Use HDRI (High Dynamic Range Image) for environmental lighting. It adds realistic lighting and reflections, especially for city skylines.
Go to the World Properties tab → Color and select an HDRI image.
B. Artificial Lighting
For night scenes, add streetlights, neon signs, and windows lighting up.
Use emission shaders to make windows or signs emit light.
A. Buildings
Use image textures (like brick walls, glass, or concrete) to add detail to the buildings. You can find free textures on sites like Textures.com or CC0 Textures.
Use UV Mapping to properly apply textures to the buildings. This involves unwrapping the model (press U in Edit Mode) and then applying the textures in the Shading Editor.
B. Roads and Sidewalks
For roads, use asphalt textures or procedural textures. A simple Gravel texture can work well for sidewalks.
C. Windows and Glass
Use the Principled BSDF shader to create glass materials for windows, adjusting the Transmission value to make it transparent and adding some roughness for reflections.
Set up the camera to frame the scene. You can use multiple cameras for different angles.
Experiment with depth of field (in the camera settings) to simulate camera focus and make the scene look more photographic.
Use Wide-angle lenses for an epic city view or telephoto lenses for more compressed perspectives.
After rendering the scene, use Compositor to add effects like depth of field, motion blur, and color grading.
Add glow to lights and neon signs to make the city more vibrant.
Set up your render settings: Choose Cycles for realistic rendering or Eevee for faster results, adjusting settings like sample count and denoising for clearer images.
Hit F12 to render.
Details Matter: The more variation you add to buildings (textures, lighting, size), the more realistic your city will feel.
Use City Asset Packs: Consider using city asset packs from Blender Market or the Asset Browser for quick results.
Camera and Lighting Composition: Cityscapes benefit greatly from creative lighting, like sunset or nighttime shots. Use low, dramatic angles to emphasize the scale of the city.