Object Types

Reference

Mode: Object Mode
Panel: Tool Shelf ‣ Create ‣ Add Primitive
Menu: Add
Hotkey: Shift-A

New objects can be created with the Add menu in the 3D Views header.

Mesh
Meshes are objects composed of Polygonal Faces, Edges and/or Vertices, and can be edited extensively with Blender’s mesh editing tools. See Mesh Primitives.
Curve
Curves are mathematically defined objects which can be manipulated with control handles or control points (instead of vertices), to manage their length and curvature. See Curves Primitives.
Surface
Surfaces are patches that are also manipulated with control points. These are useful for simple rounded forms and organic landscapes. See Surfaces Primitives.
Metaball
Meta Objects (or Metaballs) are objects formed by a mathematical function (with no control points or vertices) defining the 3D volume in which the object exists. Meta Objects have a liquid-like quality, where when two or more Metaballs are brought together, they merge by smoothly rounding out the connection, appearing as one unified object. See Meta Primitives.
Text
Text objects create a two dimensional representation of a string of characters.
Armature
Armatures are used for rigging 3D models in order to make them poseable and animateable.
Lattice
Lattices are non-renderable wireframes, commonly used for taking additional control over other objects with help of the Lattice Modifier.
Empty
Empties are null objects that are simple visual transform nodes that do not render. They are useful for controlling the position or movement of other objects.
Speaker
Speaker brings to scene source of sound.
Camera
This is the virtual camera that is used to determine what appears in the render. See Cameras in Blender Internal and Cycles.
Lamp
These are used to place light sources in the scene. See Lamps in Blender Internal, Cycles.
Force Field
Force Fields are used in physical simulations. They give simulations external forces, creating movement, and are represented in the 3D View editor as small control objects.
Group Instance
Lets you select from a list of existing object groups. Once selected, an Empty object will be created, with an instance of the selected group (group duplication active). See DupliGroup.

Common Options

You can change the options of the object in the Operator panel just after creating it:

Type
Some objects let you change its type after creation with a selector.
Radius/Size
Sets the starting size.
Align to View
By default objects are aligned to the global space axes. This option rotates the new object so that it is aligned to the view space.
Location
Objects are placed, by default, at the position of the 3D Cursor. These values let you place the object in an other position.
Rotation
Values let you rotate the object so that default rotation is overridden.