# Blender 3D: Noob to Pro/Polygonal Modeling

As the name suggest, polygonal modeling involves constructing the models
out of polygons. Strictly, software packages works only with triangles.
Blender could show you quads and some software packages could even let
you work with polygons with more than 4 sides (n-gons) but these
packages work internally only with triangles. These triangles are hidden
so that you could concentrate more on modeling.

While different modelers works differently, they would still follow
certain workflows (some call this techniques). These are familiarly
called box modeling and polygon-by-polygon modeling (poly-by-poly
modeling).

**Box modeling** is a top-down approach where modelers start with a
primitive (usually a cube (box), hence the box in box modeling). Then
from this primitive, the model\'s form is build up where details are
gradually added.

**Poly-by-poly modeling** is almost the opposite of box modeling. It is
the bottom-up approach where modelers start with a plane or even a
vertex. Using extrusion and other tools, more geometries are added.
Polygon by polygon the model is gradually build.

Neither of the two is better than the other but there are instances
where one workflow lends much better to the situation. One typical
advantage of box modeling is that at early stage, you are able to
conceive first the form (the whole) of the model and is better equipped
to do general corrections without bothering yet with the details.
Poly-by-poly otherwise give you more control on the geometry and is much
more easier to use in modeling complex forms like the human ear.
Complications do arise when working with the two. In box modeling, it is
typically difficult to manage the geometry when adding details.
Experience is necessary so as not to create a mess. Poly-by-poly
modeling otherwise has its own quirks. Since you are going detail by
detail, it is easy to make a mess with the models form (i.e. wrong
proportions).

While the two are opposites, they compliment each other beautifully.
Most modelers would combine the two workflows in a variety of
proportions, combining the strength of each. For example one might model
a human body using box modeling while the head and the ears are done
using poly-by-poly modeling.

**Blocking with primitives** is added to enrich approaches is modeling.
It is basically box modeling in conjunction with divide-and-conquer
approach. Different parts are modeled separately with their own
primitives and later attached with the others to form the whole.

