book

Beginning Blender: Open Source 3D Modeling, Animation, and Game Design

Name: Beginning Blender: Open Source 3D Modeling, Animation, and Game Design
Author: Lance Flavell
ISBN: 9781430231264

by Lance Flavell

November 2010

Beginner

446 pages

10h 38m

English

Apress

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Copyright
About the Author
About the Technical Reviewer
Acknowlegements
Introduction
How This Book Is OrganizedA Note on Blender VersionsExtras for This Book
1. History and Installation
1.1. Sample Blender Artwork1.2. Blender History Timeline1.3. About Open Source1.3.1. Do I Owe Royalties If I Use Blender for Commercial Work or Otherwise?1.3.2. Does the GPL Apply to All the Work I Do with Blender?1.3.3. If I Download Blender for Free, Can I Give It Away? Can I Sell It?1.3.4. What About Making Changes to Blender Source Code? Can I Market My Own Custom Version?1.3.5. Technical Caveats1.4. Installing Blender1.4.1. Hardware1.4.2. Operating Systems1.4.2.1. Installation Example: Linux1.4.2.2. Using the GUI1.4.2.3. Using the Command Line1.4.2.4. Installation Example: Windows1.5. Summary
2. The Interface
2.1. The Blender Interface2.1.1. Changing the View2.1.1.1. The View Menu2.1.1.2. Splitting the Screen2.1.1.3. Custom Window Splitting2.1.1.4. Maximizing Windows2.1.2. Blender Window Conventions2.1.3. Multiple-View Setup2.1.4. Built-In Screen Layouts2.2. Adding New Objects2.2.1. The Cursor2.2.2. Choosing a New Object2.3. Moving Things Around2.3.1. Moving Objects2.3.2. Rotating Objects2.3.2.1. Changing the Manipulator Arrows2.3.2.2. The Difference Between Global and Local2.3.3. Scaling Objects2.3.4. Using Numbers2.3.5. Layers2.3.6. Undoing Things2.3.7. Saving Your Work2.4. Exercises2.4.1. Exercise 1: Making a Robot2.4.2. Exercise 2: The Ten-Cube Challenge2.5. Useful Keyboard Shortcuts2.6. Summary
3. Modeling
3.1. What Is a Mesh?3.1.1. Origin Point3.1.2. Vertices3.1.3. Edges3.1.4. Faces3.2. Edit Mode3.2.1. Some Mesh-Editing Tools3.2.1.1. Extrude3.2.1.2. Fill3.2.1.3. Add Edgeloop3.2.1.4. The Edges Menu3.2.1.5. Edgeloop Deletion3.2.1.6. Merging Vertices3.2.1.7. Joining and Separating Mesh Objects3.2.2. Background Images3.2.3. Topology3.3. Example Modeling Through Mesh Editing3.3.1. The Mirror Modifier: Making a Mirror Cube3.3.2. A Note on Modifiers3.3.3. Smoothing a Mesh3.3.3.1. The Subsurface Modifier3.3.3.2. The Multiresolution Modifier3.3.4. Box-Modeling a Man3.4. Sculpt Mode3.4.1. Getting into Position3.4.2. Adding a Multiresolution Modifier3.4.3. Starting to Sculpt3.4.3.1. Types of Brushes3.4.3.2. Changing Brush Size and Strength3.4.4. Exercise 1: Monkey Sculpt3.5. Using Sculpt and Mesh Modeling Together: Retopology3.6. Summary
4. Lighting and Procedural Textures
4.1. Setting Up a Basic Scene4.1.1. Adding a Model4.1.2. Adding a Ground Plane4.2. The Scene Camera4.2.1. Aiming the Camera4.2.1.1. Tracking to an Object4.2.1.2. Tracking to an Empty Target4.2.1.3. Fixing Up the Camera View4.2.2. Lighting Techniques4.2.2.1. Lamp Types4.2.2.2. Lamp Settings4.2.3. Using the Lights Together4.2.3.1. Adding the Key Light4.2.3.2. Tracking Lights to Objects for Easy Positioning4.2.3.3. GLSL Mode4.2.3.4. Adding Fill Lights4.2.4. Changing the World4.3. Procedural Materials and Textures4.3.1. Using Procedural Textures4.3.2. Using Multiple Materials in One Mesh4.3.3. Exercise: Applying Textures4.4. Summary
5. UV Mapping
5.1. Creating a UV Map5.2. Texture Painting5.2.1. Brushes5.2.2. Saving the Texture5.3. Exercise 1: Cube Painting5.4. Projection Painting5.4.1. Step 1: Unwrapping the Base Mesh5.4.2. Step 2: Loading in a Reference Image5.4.3. Step 3: Painting the Textures5.4.4. Step 4: Save, Save, Save (Can I Say It Enough?)5.5. Exercise 2: Painting a Boxlike Model5.6. Normal Maps and Bump Maps5.6.1. Making a Normal Map5.6.1.1. Step 1: Preparing and Unwrapping Your Low-Poly Model5.6.1.2. Step 2: Selecting Both Models5.6.1.3. Step 3: Baking the Normal Map5.6.1.4. Step 4: Applying the Normal Map to the Low-Poly Mesh5.7. Summary

6. Curves and NURBS
6.1. Metaballs6.1.1. How Meta Objects Work6.1.2. Exercise 1: Mud Monster6.1.3. Meta Object Properties6.1.3.1. Standard Options6.1.3.2. Edit Mode Options6.2. Curves6.2.1. Bezier (Curve and Circle)6.2.2. NURBS (Curve and Circle)6.2.3. Path6.2.4. Modifying a Curve6.2.5. Path Editing6.2.5.1. Adding Points6.2.5.2. Deleting Points6.2.5.3. Controller Handle Types6.2.5.4. Making a Circle6.2.6. 2D and 3D Curves6.2.6.1. Modeling with a 2D Curve6.2.6.2. Modification and Bevel Parameters6.2.6.3. Width6.2.6.4. Extrude6.2.6.5. Depth6.2.6.6. Resolution6.2.6.7. Modeling with a 3D Curve6.2.6.8. Using Other Objects to Define a Custom Curve6.2.7. Hooks6.2.8. Exercise 2: Curve Bugs6.3. Spin6.3.1. Spin Properties6.3.2. Calculating the Spin Angle6.3.3. Using Spin6.4. NURBS6.4.1. Controlling the Points6.4.2. NURBS Modeling Example: A Simple Shark6.5. Summary
7. Basic Rigging and Animation
7.1. Keyframing with the Timeline7.1.1. Automatic Keyframing7.1.2. Exercise 1: Flying Monkey7.2. The Dopesheet7.3. Parenting7.4. Graph Editor7.5. Pivot Point: The Center of Rotation7.5.1. Restricting the Movement7.5.1.1. Transform Locks7.5.1.2. Constraints7.5.2. Exercise 2: Making a Robot7.6. Basic Tracking: Eyes That Follow7.7. Rigging with Bones7.7.1. Types of Bones7.7.2. Making Bones Work with a Mesh7.7.3. Using Bone Envelopes7.7.4. Weight Painting7.7.5. Dividing the Two Techniques7.8. Rigging a Simple Character7.8.1. Applying the Bone Envelopes7.8.2. Adding Weight Painting7.8.3. B-Bone Body7.8.4. Animating the Figure7.9. Summary
8. Advanced Rigging
8.1. Forward Kinematics vs. Inverse Kinetics8.1.1. Making an IK Arm8.1.2. Setting a Custom Bone Shape8.1.3. Exercise: Creating an IK Leg8.1.4. Reverse Foot Rig8.1.5. Single-Bone Finger Control8.2. Blender 2.5 Rigs8.2.1. Unofficial Mancandy 2.58.2.2. Ludwig8.2.3. KM8.3. Walk Cycles8.3.1. Pass 1: Contact Positions8.3.2. Pass 2: Passing Poses8.3.3. Pass 3: Peeling the Feet8.3.4. Pass 4: Adding Some Finesse8.4. Shape Keys8.4.1. Symmetrical Facial Expressions8.4.1.1. Creating Symmetrical Models8.4.1.2. Creating Asymmetrical Shape Keys8.5. Lip Syncing8.5.1. The Basis Shape Key8.5.2. Smile and Frown8.5.3. Wide and Pucker8.5.4. Puff and Suck8.5.5. Sneer_L and Sneer_R8.5.6. Grimace_L and Grimace_R8.5.7. Toplip_out and Toplip_in8.5.8. Bottomlip_out and Bottomlip_in8.5.9. Preparing the Sound for Lip Syncing8.5.10. Moving the Lips8.5.10.1. Phase 1: The Jaw Movement8.5.10.2. Phase 2: Refining Mouth Shapes with Shape Keys8.5.10.3. Phase 3: Enhancing with Expression8.6. Summary
9. Making Movies
9.1. Before We Begin9.1.1. Disabling Color Management9.1.2. Rendering Formats9.1.3. What Is Alpha?9.2. The Compositing Node Editor9.2.1. Setting Up for Instant Feedback9.2.1.1. Method 1: The F11 Key9.2.1.2. Method 2: Separate Render Window9.2.1.3. Method 3: Background Images9.2.2. Managing Node Clutter9.2.3. Give It a Go9.3. Lighting Adjustments9.3.1. How Color-Mixing Nodes Work9.3.2. Mixing Images Together9.3.3. Depth of Field9.3.3.1. Creating the Scene9.3.4. Greenscreen Filtering9.4. A Practical Example of Compositing9.4.1. Before You Begin9.4.2. Setting Up Your Windows9.4.3. Setting Up the Background Movie Footage9.4.4. Positioning the Objects in the Scene9.4.5. Materials and Lighting9.4.6. Greenscreening the Hand9.5. The Video Sequence Editor9.5.1.9.5.1.1. A Few Things Worth Remembering9.6. Crash Management and Rendering Speed9.7. Summary
10. Particles and Physics
10.1. Making Particles10.1.1. Particle Appearance10.1.2. Particle Behavior10.1.2.1. Emission Area10.1.2.2. Velocity Area10.1.3. External Forces10.1.4. Exploding Rocket10.2. Making Hair10.2.1. Separating the Wig10.2.2. Creating a New Material Ready for the Hair10.2.3. Making the Hair Strands10.2.4. Hiding the Wig, and Strand Render10.2.5. Hair Texture: Creating Fine Ends10.2.5.1. Strand Thickness Variation10.2.5.2. Alpha Material Blend10.2.5.3. Maximizing Control Through a Ramp10.2.5.4. Shaping the Hair10.2.5.5. Base Settings10.2.5.6. Children10.2.5.7. Freehand Editing10.3. Fluid Dynamics10.3.1. Exercise: Tsunami Simulation10.3.1.1. Pouring Liquid from a Cup10.4. Smoke10.4.1. Rendering the Smoke10.4.2. Improving the Smoke10.5. Soft Body Physics10.6. Cloth Dynamics10.7. Summary
11. The Game Engine
11.1. Game Engine Physics11.1.1. Exercise: Marble Slide11.2. Creating Your Own Droid11.2.1. Step 1: Making the Droid11.2.2. Step 2: Setting Up the Logic Bricks11.2.3. Step 3: Dealing with the Falls11.2.3.1. Method 1: Creating a Logic Brick Safety Net11.2.3.2. Method 2: Using Python11.2.4. Step 4: Debugging the Movement11.2.5. Step 5: Setting Up a Chase Cam11.3. Silly Soccer Game11.3.1. Step 1: Making the Playing Field11.3.2. Step 2: Making the Ball11.3.3. Step 3: Making the Players11.3.4. Step 4: Making the Goals11.3.5. Step 5: Setting Up the Score11.3.6. Step 6: Setting Up the Camera11.4. A Change of Scene11.5. Shooting Things11.5.1. Step 1: Creating the Bullet11.5.2. Step 2: Setting Up a Bullet Emitter Object11.5.3. Exercise: Shooting Spaceship11.6. Summary
12. Going Further
12.1. Common Problems12.1.1. Interface-Related Problems12.1.1.1. I'm trying to select items, but they won't select, and this funny circle keeps snapping to my mouse clicks.12.1.1.2. Can I select multiple items?12.1.1.3. Can I edit multiple selected items?12.1.1.4. What is the orange dot in the middle of my object?12.1.1.5. For some reason, I can move my objects but not rotate or scale them. I haven't put on rotation constraints or anything like that.12.1.1.6. Where did my window header go?12.1.1.7. The button or menu I'm looking for is missing.12.1.2. Viewport-Related Problems12.1.2.1. My objects disappeared.12.1.2.2. My model has gone all see-through.12.1.2.3. How do I easily move the view around to look at what I want?12.1.2.4. How do I line the camera up to where I want it?12.1.3. File Management Problems12.1.3.1. Where did my saved render actually go?12.1.3.2. Blender never told me my work wasn't saved when I closed it! How can I get it back?12.1.3.3. I've noticed there are .blend1 files in my project folders. What are they and can I delete them?12.1.3.4. How else can I recover work after a crash?12.1.3.5. Can I combine Blender files into one?12.1.4. Surface Texture Problems12.1.4.1. I have black lines/faces on my mesh.12.1.4.2. My UV textures aren't showing in 3D view.12.1.4.3. How do I get alpha (transparency) to work?12.1.5. Physics-Related Problems12.1.5.1. Why do my particles stop at frame 250?12.1.5.2. Can I Make a Self-Running Application with Blender?12.1.6. Migration Problems12.1.6.1. What happened to the old spacebar menu?12.1.6.2. How do I merge/split windows in the newer Blender versions?12.1.6.3. Can I open an old file without it spoiling my window layout?12.2. Resources12.2.1. Render Farms12.2.1.1. The BURP Project12.2.1.2. Loki Render12.2.2. Sound Editing12.2.3. Paint Programs12.2.3.1. GIMP12.2.3.2. MyPaint12.2.3.3. Alchemy12.2.3.4. Vector Drawing12.2.4. Camera Tracking12.2.5. BlenderArt Magazine12.2.6. Getting Blender12.2.6.1. Cutting-Edge Releases12.2.7. Community12.2.7.1. BlenderNation12.2.7.2. The BlenderArtists Forums12.2.7.3. Noob to Pro12.2.7.4. BlenderNewbies12.2.7.5. Blender Guru12.2.7.6. Blender Cookie12.2.8. Free Blender File Resources12.3. Summary
A. Companies That Use Blender
B. Blender and GPL Terms of Use
B.1. In a few sentences, what is the GPL?B.1.1.B.1.1.1. In a few sentences, what is the GPL?B.1.1.2. Can I sell my Blender creations?B.1.1.3. So I can make games without having to worry about the GPL, right?B.1.1.4. So I own the copyright to all output?B.1.1.5. What about the splash screen and icons?B.1.1.6. What if I take screenshots of the Blender interface?B.1.1.7. How does the GPL and Blender benefit me?B.1.1.8. Can I distribute the official Blender.org releases under my own branding and name?B.1.1.9. Can I license .blend files myself?B.1.1.10. What about my Python scripts?B.1.1.11. Can I give Blender to my coworkers or employees?B.1.1.12. Can I change Blender and give it to my coworkers or employees?B.1.1.13. Can my organization use Blender internally without giving up our valuable changes to our competitors?B.1.1.14. Can I sell my own version of Blender?B.1.1.15. Can I sell plug-ins for Blender?
C. GNU Public License
C.1. GNU General Public LicenseC.1.1. PreambleC.1.2. GNU General Public LicenseC.1.2.1. Terms and Conditions for Copying, Distribution and ModificationC.1.2.2. No WarrantyC.2. How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs
D. OpenContent License
D.1. OpenContent License (OPL)D.1.1. LICENSED.1.1.1. Terms and Conditions for Copying, Distributing, and ModifyingD.1.2. NO WARRANTY

Overview

A new world of creative possibilities is opened by Blender, the most popular and powerful open source 3D and animation tool. Blender is not just free software; it is also an important professional tool used in animated shorts, television commercials and shows, as well as in production for films like Spiderman 2. Lance Flavell's Beginning Blender will give you the skills to start shaping new new worlds and virtual characters, and perhaps lead you down a new professional path.

Beginning Blender covers the latest Blender 2.5 release in depth. The book starts with with the creation of simple figures using basic modeling and sculpting. It then teaches how to bridge from modeling to animation, and from scene setup to texture creation and rendering, lighting, rigging and ultimately, full animation. You will create and mix your own movie scenes, and you will even learn the basics of games logic and how to deal with games physics.

Whether you are new to modeling, animation, and game design, or whether you are simply new to Blender, this book will show you everything you need to know to get your 3D projects underway.

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