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Blender All-in-One For Dummies

Name: Blender All-in-One For Dummies
Author: Jason van Gumster
ISBN: 9781394204045

by Jason van Gumster

April 2024

Beginner to intermediate

768 pages

23h 41m

English

For Dummies

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Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
About This BookFoolish AssumptionsIcons Used in This BookBeyond the BookWhere to Go from Here
Book 1: Wrapping Your Brain Around Blender
Chapter 1: Discovering Blender
Getting to Know BlenderGetting to Know the Interface
Chapter 2: Understanding How Blender Thinks
Menus in BlenderLooking at Editor TypesUnderstanding the Properties EditorNavigating in Three DimensionsExtra Features in the 3D ViewportCustomizing Blender to Fit You
Chapter 3: Getting Your Hands Dirty Working in Blender
Grabbing, Scaling, and RotatingDifferentiating Between Coordinate SystemsTransforming an Object by Using ToolsCreating Custom Transform OrientationsSaving Time by Using HotkeysOther Ways to Transform Objects
Chapter 4: Working in Edit Mode and Object Mode
Making Changes by Using Edit ModeUnderstanding Datablocks: Fundamental Elements in a Blender FileAdding to a Scene
Book 2: Creating Detailed 3D Scenes
Chapter 1: Creating Anything You Can Imagine with Meshes
Pushing VerticesWorking with Loops and Rings

Chapter 2: Simplifying Your Life as a Modeler with Modifiers
Accessing Blender’s ModifiersUnderstanding Modifier TypesWorking with Commonly Used Modifiers
Chapter 3: Sculpting in Virtual Space
Adding Background Images in the 3D ViewportSetting Up Your Sculpting WorkspaceUnderstanding Matcaps: A Display Option for SculptingSculpting a Mesh ObjectSculpting with the Multiresolution ModifierFreeform Sculpting with Dynamic Topology (Dyntopo)Sculpting with Voxel RemeshUnderstanding the Basics of Retopology
Chapter 4: Using Blender’s Non-Mesh Primitives
Using Curves and SurfacesUsing Metaball ObjectsAdding Text
Chapter 5: Getting Procedural with Geometry Nodes
Discovering the Differences between Destructive and Procedural ModelingUsing the Geometry Nodes WorkspaceUnderstanding NodesWorking with NodesGetting Familiar with Commonly Used Geometry NodesThinking Procedurally: Model Like a Rigger
Book 3: Working with Colors and Materials
Chapter 1: Changing That Boring Gray Default Material
Understanding Materials and Render EnginesQuick ’n’ Dirty ColoringSetting Up Node MaterialsPlaying with Materials in Blender
Chapter 2: Giving Models Texture
Adding TexturesDiscovering Procedural TexturesUsing Color RampsUnderstanding Texture MappingUnwrapping a MeshPainting Textures Directly on a MeshSaving Painted Textures and Exporting UV Layouts
Chapter 3: Lighting and Environment
Lighting a SceneLighting for Speedy RendersSetting Up the WorldWorking with Light Probes in Eevee
Chapter 4: Exporting and Rendering Scenes
Blender’s Render EnginesRendering a SceneWorking with Assets in Blender
Book 4: Get Animated!
Chapter 1: Animating Objects
Getting Started with Animation in BlenderUnderstanding keyframes
Chapter 2: Adding Controls to Your Scene
Using Constraints EffectivelyGetting Even More Control with Drivers
Chapter 3: Rigging: The Art of Building an Animatable Puppet
Creating Shape KeysAdding HooksUsing Armatures: Skeletons in the MeshBringing It All Together to Rig a CharacterWorking with Pose Libraries
Chapter 4: Animating Object Deformations
Working with the Dope SheetAnimating with ArmaturesDoing Nonlinear Animation
Chapter 5: Letting Blender Do the Work for You
Using Particles in BlenderCreating hair and furGiving Objects Some Jiggle and BounceDropping Objects in a Scene with Rigid Body DynamicsSimulating ClothSplashing Liquids in Your SceneSmoking without Hurting Your Lungs: Smoke Simulation in BlenderCheating (in a Good Way) by Using Quick Effects
Chapter 6: Making 2D and 2.5D Animation with Grease Pencil
Getting Started with the 2D Animation Workflow TemplateWorking with Grease Pencil ToolsUnderstanding Grease Pencil MaterialsMastering Grease Pencil LayersAutomating Your Drawings with Grease Pencil ModifiersUnderstanding Grease Pencil EffectsAnimating with Grease PencilIntegrating Grease Pencil with a 3D Scene
Book 5: Sharing Your Work with the World
Chapter 1: Editing Video and Animation
Comparing Editing to CompositingWorking with the Video SequencerRendering from the Video Sequencer
Chapter 2: Compositing Images and Video
Understanding NodesGetting Started with the CompositorRendering in Passes and LayersWorking with NodesRendering from the CompositorCompositing in Real-Time in the 3D ViewportA Simple Example: Replacing a Texture without Re-rendering
Chapter 3: Mixing Video and 3D with Motion Tracking
Making Your Life Easier by Starting with Good VideoGetting Familiar with the Motion Tracking WorkspaceTracking Movement in BlenderWhere to Go from Here
Book 6: Getting Technical
Chapter 1: Working with Linked Data
Appending and Linking Datablocks between Blender FilesTaking Advantage of the Edit Linked Library Add-onWorking with Library Overrides
Chapter 2: Automating Blender with Python Scripting
Understanding the Usefulness of AutomationDiscovering Blender’s Scripting WorkspaceGetting Familiar with the Python LanguageWriting Your First Blender ScriptTaking Advantage of Templates and DocumentationAdding Custom Properties to Datablocks
Index
About the Author
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement

Content preview from Blender All-in-One For Dummies

Chapter 1

Working with Linked Data

IN THIS CHAPTER

Using data from one Blender file in another

Handling linked data more efficiently with a built-in add-on

Overriding linked data

As you start working with more complex projects that have multiple scenes, your .blend files will get increasingly complex. At that point, it starts making sense to begin using a slightly more complex project structure that involves working in multiple files. I touched on this concept briefly in Book 3, Chapter 4 when discussing asset libraries in Blender. Sometimes, though, you need something that falls somewhere between the needs of a local asset library and a global one. You need project-based assets.

As an example, consider the situation where you’re working on an animation and you have a character that needs to appear in three or four different scenes. As you work, you suddenly discover, “Oh no, this character is supposed to have green eyes!”

However, the model that you worked with has brown eyes in every scene. With a more naive workflow, you would have to go into every one of your shot files and change the color of your character’s eyes. For one change in maybe three or four scenes, maybe that’s ...

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Blender All-in-One For Dummies

by Jason van Gumster

Working with Linked Data

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.