Smoothly Leads Users into the Subject of Computer Graphics through the Blender GUI
Blender, the free and open source 3D computer modeling and animation program, allows users to create and animate models and figures in scenes, compile feature movies, and interact with the models and create video games. Reflecting the latest version of Blender, The Complete Guide to Blender Graphics: Computer Modeling & Animation, 2nd Edition helps beginners learn the basics of computer animation using this versatile graphics program. This edition incorporates many new features of Blender, including developments to its GUI.
New to the Second Edition
- Three new chapters on smoke simulation, movie making, and drivers
- Twelve updated chapters, including an entire chapter now devoted to add-ons installation
- Numerous new examples and figures
In color throughout, this manual presents clear, step-by-step instructions for new users of Blender. Many visual diagrams and images illustrate the various topics encompassed by Blender. After mastering the material in the book, users are prepared for further studies and work in computer modeling and animation.
The Blender Interface
The Blender Screen
The User Preferences Window
Preset Interface Arrangements
The 3D Window
Window Modes
Layers
Moving in 3D Space
The Blender View Menu
The Properties Window
Blender Controls
Blender Windows
Add-Ons
Multiple Scenes
Navigation
Navigate and Save
Windows Explorer
The Append or Link Command
Packing Data
Importing Objects
Creating and Editing Objects
Working with Basic Meshes
Placing Objects on the Screen
Edit Mode and Object Mode
Mesh Types
Cursor Placement
Moving Objects
Scaling Objects
Rotating Objects
Precision Manipulation
The Transformation Widget
Mesh Vertex Editing
Selecting Vertices
Edit Mode Selection Options
Creating Vertices
Center Points
Object Display
Smooth and Flat Shading Options
Extruding Shapes
Proportional Vertex Editing
Creating Ground
Edge Loop Selection
Joining and Separating Meshes
Deleting Vertices, Edges, or Faces
Adding Faces
Modifiers
The Knife Tool
Sculpt Mode
Materials
Introduction to Materials
Material Settings
Material Buttons
Material Colors
Adding a New Material
The Preview Tab
The Diffuse Tab
The Specular Tab
The Hardness Value
Ramp Shaders
Transparency
Halo Settings
Vertex Painting
Materials and the GUI
The Outliner Window
Multiple Material Slots
Assigning Texture Color
Textures
Introduction to Textures
Material Textures
Texture Display in the 3D Window
Texture Mapping
Displacement Mapping
Texture Surface Displacement
UV Texture Mapping
Selective UV Texture Mapping
Unwrapping with Seams
Texture Paint
World Settings
Introduction to World Settings
Mist
Stars
Texture as Background
Image as Background
Image as Template
Lighting and Cameras
Lighting Types and Settings
Lamp Settings
Cameras
Camera Settings Options
Camera Switching
Camera Tracking
Rendering and Ray Tracing
Rendering an Image or Movie
Rendering a JPEG Image
Rendering a Movie File
Playback
More Movie File Rendering
Video Codecs
Making a Movie
Ray Tracing
Cycles Ray Trace Rendering
Animation Basics
Introduction to Animation
Moving, Rotating, and Scaling
Viewing Your Animation
The Graph Editor Window
Editing the Curve
Other Types of Curves
Modifying Curves
Automatic Key Framing
Animating Other Features
Keying Sets
Wind Strength Animation
Animation Following Curves
Displacement Sound Animation Control
3D Text
Introduction to 3D Text
Creating 3D Text in Blender
The Object Data Button
Creating Text on a Curve
Converting Text to a Mesh Object
Converting Text to a Curve
Elefont 3D Text
NURBS and Metashapes
Using NURBS
Creating a Lofted Tunnel
Metashapes
Modifiers
Introduction to Modifiers
Modifier Stacks
Modifiers for Generating
Modifiers for Deforming
Modifiers for Simulating
Particle Systems
Overview
Setting Up a Particle System
Particle Settings and Material Influence
The Particles Panel
Starting a Particle System
Material Influence on Particles
Particle Interaction
Wind
Sample Particle Settings
Keyed Particle Systems
Boids Particle Systems
Hair Particle Systems
The Assignment Tab
Child/Parent Relationships and Constraints
Child/Parent Relationships
Introduction to Constraints
Transform Constraints
Tracking Constraints
Relationship Constraints
Duplicating along Curves
Extruding along Curves
The Follow Path Constraint
Armatures
Adding an Armature
Single Bone Armatures
Armature Display Types
Multibone Armatures
Deforming a Mesh Object
Armature Modifiers
Humanoid Armatures
Disconnected Bones
Vertex Groups or Field of Influence
Inverse Kinematics
IK Constraint
Character Rigging
Shape Key and Action Editors
Introduction
Shape Key Editor
Action Editor
Fluid Simulation
Introduction to Fluid Simulation
Basic Setup (Scenario 1)
Basic Setup (Scenario 2)
Fluid Simulation with Particle Objects
Fluid Simulation with Control Objects
Smoke Simulation
Smoke Generation
Creating Smoke from Scratch
Create a Domain
Smoke from a Mesh Object
Flow Object
Rendering
Domain Settings for Rendering
Material Buttons
Smoke Generation Settings
Using Particles
Fire
Color Ramp
Summary
Nodes
Introduction to Nodes
Material Nodes
Texture Nodes
Compositing Nodes
Node Groups
The Blender Game Engine
Introduction to the Game Engine
Game Animation
Rigid Bodies – Dynamics
Making a Movie
Making a Movie
The Video Editing Screen
Storyboard
Video Sequence Editor
Summary
Drivers
Blender Drivers
Randomize Object Properties with Drivers
The Array Modifier
Shapes Keys
Randomizing Property Values Using Drivers
Python Script
Register the Script
Set Up the 3D Window
Rotation Driver Properties
Alternative Method for Activating Drivers
Another Method for Re-Evaluating Drivers
Scale Properties Driver
x-Axis Scale Driver (Scripted Expression)
y-Axis Scale Driver (Max, Min, Sum, Average Values with Variable)
z-Axis Scale Driver (Single Property with Variable)
Material Property Drivers
Duplicating the Object
Installing Add-Ons
Finding the File
Installing the Python Script
Activating the Script
Using the Script
Bibliography
Appendix: Basic Blender Commands
Index
