book

Learning Blender: A Hands-On Guide to Creating 3D Animated Character= s, Second Edition

Name: Learning Blender: A Hands-On Guide to Creating 3D Animated Character= s, Second Edition
Author: Oliver Villar
ISBN: 9780134665184

by Oliver Villar

April 2017

Beginner to intermediate

368 pages

9h 54m

English

Addison-Wesley Professional

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About This E-Book
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication Page
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Part I The Basics of Blender
1 What You Need to Know About Blender
What Is Blender?Commercial Software Versus Open-Source SoftwareCommercial SoftwareOpen-Source SoftwareThe History of BlenderThe Blender Foundation and Blender InstituteThe Blender CommunitySummaryExercises

2 Blender Basics: The User Interface
Downloading and Installing BlenderUsing Blender with Recommended HardwareNavigating the Blender User InterfaceUnderstanding the 3D View EditorNavigating 3D ViewManaging AreasWorking with Editor TypesSelecting ObjectsMaking an Active SelectionUsing the 3D CursorSetting Blender’s User PreferencesSummaryExercises
3 Your First Scene in Blender
Creating ObjectsMoving, Rotating, and ScalingUsing Manipulators (Basic Mode)Using Keyboard Shortcuts (Advanced Mode)Arranging Objects in Your SceneNaming Objects and Using DatablocksRenaming ObjectsManaging DatablocksNaming Your Scene’s ObjectsUsing Interaction ModesApplying Flat or Smooth SurfacesWorking with ModifiersAdding ModifiersAdding a Subdivision Surface Modifier to Your ObjectUsing Blender Render and CyclesManaging MaterialsUsing Blender Render MaterialsUsing Cycles MaterialsAdding Materials to Your SceneTurning on the LightsLight Options in Blender RenderLights Options in CyclesAdding Lights to Your SceneMoving the Camera in Your SceneRenderingRendering in Blender RenderRendering in CyclesSaving and Loading Your .blend FileLaunching and Saving the RenderSummaryExercises
Part II Beginning a Project
4 Project Overview
The Three Stages of a ProjectPreproductionProductionPostproductionDefining the StagesA Film Without Visual EffectsA Visual-Effects FilmAn Animated FilmA PhotographMaking a Character-Creation PlanCharacter PreproductionCharacter ProductionProject PostproductionSummaryExercises
5 Character Design
Character DescriptionPersonalityContextStyleAppearanceDesigning the CharacterSilhouettesBase DesignHeadDetailsRefined DesignAdding ColorFinalizing the DesignMaking Character Reference ImagesUsing Other Design MethodsSummaryExercises
Part III Modeling in Blender
6 Blender Modeling Tools
Working with Vertices, Edges, and FacesSelecting Vertices, Edges, and FacesAccessing Modeling ToolsMaking SelectionsShortest PathProportional EditingLinked SelectionLoops and RingsBorder SelectionGrow and Shrink SelectionLimit Selection to VisibleSelect SimilarSelect Linked Flat FacesSelect Boundary Loop and Loop Inner-RegionChecker DeselectOther Selection MethodsUsing Mesh Modeling ToolsBevelBoolean Operations: Intersect (Boolean) and Intersect (Knife)BisectBridge Edge LoopsConnectDelete and DissolveDuplicateEdge OffsetExtrudeFill and Grid FillInsetJoinKnifeKnife ProjectLoop Cut and SlideMake Edge/FaceMergePokeRemove DoublesRip and Rip FillScrewSeparateShrink/FlattenSlideSmooth VertexSolidifySpinSplitSubdivideWorking with LoopToolsWorking with F2Using Other Interesting Blender OptionsAutoMergeHide and RevealSnappingSummaryExercises
7 Character Modeling
What Is Mesh Topology?Choosing Modeling MethodsBox ModelingPoly to PolySculpt and RetopologizeModifiersThe Best MethodSetting Up the Reference PlanesModeling the EyesCreating an EyeballUsing Lattices to Deform the EyeballsMirroring and Adjusting the EyesModeling the FaceStudying the Face’s TopologyBlocking the Face’s Basic ShapeDefining the Face’s ShapesDefining the Eyes, Mouth, and NoseAdding EarsBuilding the Inside of the MouthModeling the Torso and ArmsModeling the Basic Shapes for the Torso and ArmsDefining the Arms and TorsoDetailing the Backpack and JacketFinishing the Belt and Adding a Neck to the JacketModeling the LegsModeling the BootsModeling the HandsBuilding the Basic Hand ShapeAdding the Fingers and WristModeling the CapCreating the Base of the CapAdding Details to the CapModeling the HairShaping Locks of HairAdding Natural Details to the HairModeling the Final DetailsEyebrowsCommunicatorBadgesTeeth and TongueOther Clothing DetailsSummaryExercises
Part IV Unwrapping, Painting, and Shading
8 Unwrapping and UVs in Blender
Seeing How Unwrapping and UVs WorkUnwrapping in BlenderUsing the UV/Image EditorNavigating the UV/Image EditorAccessing the Unwrapping MenusWorking with UV Mapping ToolsDefining SeamsConsidering Before UnwrappingWorking with UVs in BlenderMarking the SeamsCreating and Displaying a UV Test GridUnwrapping Jim’s FaceUsing Live UnwrapAdjusting UVsSeparating and Connecting UVsReviewing the Finished Face’s UVsUnwrapping the Rest of the CharacterPacking UVsSummaryExercises
9 Painting Textures
Defining the Main WorkflowPainting in BlenderTexture Paint ModeBefore You Start PaintingConditions for PaintingPaint SlotsLimitations of Blender’s Texture Paint ModeCreating the Base TexturePlacing Texture ElementsSaving Your ImagePacking Your ImagesTexturing in 2D Image Editing SoftwareExporting the UVs as an ImageLoading the UVs and Base ElementsAdding Base ColorsAdding DetailsApplying the Final TouchesSeeing the Painted Character in BlenderSummaryExercises
10 Materials and Shaders
Understanding MaterialsMaterials ApplicationHow Materials WorkMasks and LayersChannelsBlender Render MaterialsCycles MaterialsProcedural TexturesShading Your Character with Blender RenderSetting Up Blender Render MaterialsApplying Textures in Blender RenderShading Jim in Blender RenderMaking Render TestsShading Your Character with CyclesUsing Cycles MaterialsUsing Basic ShadersMixing and Adding ShadersLoading TexturesShading Jim in CyclesRunning Render TestsSummaryExercises
Part V Bringing Your Character to Life
11 Character Rigging
Understanding the Rigging ProcessWhat’s a Rig?Rigging ProcessWorking with ArmaturesManipulating BonesWorking in Object, Edit, and Pose ModesAdding ConstraintsRigging Your CharacterCreating the Base Bone StructureRigging the EyesRigging the LegRigging the Torso and HeadRigging the ArmRigging the HandMirroring the RigOrganizing the RigSkinningUnderstanding Vertex WeightsSetting Up the Model for SkinningAdding an Armature ModifierDefining WeightsCreating the Facial RigModeling ShapesCreating the Face RigUsing Drivers to Control the Face ShapesCreating Custom ShapesMaking Final RetouchesReusing Your Character in Different ScenesLibrary LinkingWorking with GroupsProtecting LayersUsing Proxies to Animate a Linked CharacterUsing Dupli VisibilitySummaryExercises
12 Animating Your Character
Inserting KeyframesUsing the Manual MethodUsing the Automatic MethodUsing Keying SetsAnimating Properties in the MenusWorking with Animation EditorsTimelineDope SheetGraph EditorNon-Linear Animation (NLA)Common Controls and TipsAnimating a Walk CycleCreating an ActionCreating the Poses for the Walk CycleRepeating the AnimationWalking Along a PathSummaryExercises
Part VI Getting the Final Result
13 Camera Tracking in Blender
Understanding Camera TrackingShooting Video for Easy TrackingUsing the Movie Clip EditorTracking the CameraLoading Your FootageStudying the Anatomy of a MarkerTracking Features in the FootageConfiguring Camera SettingsSolving Camera MotionApplying Tracked Motion to the CameraAdjusting Camera MotionTesting Camera TrackingSummaryExercises
14 Lighting, Compositing, and Rendering
Lighting Your SceneAnalyzing the Real FootageCreating and Testing LightsUsing the Node EditorCompositingUnderstanding NodesStudying the Anatomy of a NodeUsing the Node EditorPreviewing the ResultCompositing Your Scene in Blender RenderSetting Up the SceneSetting Up Render LayersCompositing NodesCompositing Your Scene in CyclesSetting Up the SceneSetting Up Render LayersNode CompositingRenderingRender SettingsOutputFinal RenderSummaryExercises
Part VII Keep Learning
15 Other Blender Features
ParticlesHair SimulationCloth SimulationRigid and Soft BodiesFluids SimulationFire and SmokeGrease PencilPie MenusGame EngineFreestyle RenderingMasking, Object Tracking, and Video StabilizationSculptingRetopologyMaps BakingIncluded Add-OnsMore Add-OnsAnimation NodesPython ScriptingSummary
Index

Overview

Master the Newest Blender Techniques for Creating Amazing 3D Characters: From Design and Modeling to Video Compositing

Now fully updated for Blender 2.78b and beyond, Learning Blender, Second Edition, walks you through every step of creating an outstanding 3D animated character with Blender, and then compositing it in a real video using a professional workflow. This edition covers the powerful new selection and modeling tools, as well as high-efficiency improvements related to other parts of the project such as texture painting, shading, rigging, rendering, and compositing.

Still the only Blender tutorial to take you from preproduction to final result, this guide is perfect for both novices and those moving from other software to Blender (open source and free software). Author Oliver Villar provides full-color, hands-on chapters that cover every aspect of character creation: design, modeling, unwrapping, texturing, shading, rigging, animation, and rendering. He also walks you through integrating your animated character into a real-world video, using professional camera tracking, lighting, and compositing techniques.

The rich companion website (blendtuts.com/learning-blender-files) will help you quickly master even the most complex techniques with bonus contents like video tutorials. By the time you're done, you'll be ready to create outstanding characters for all media—and you'll have up-to-date skills for any 3D project, whether it involves characters or not.

Learn Blender's updated user interface, navigation, and selection techniques
Create your first scene with Blender and the Blender Render and Cycles render engines
Organize an efficient, step-by-step pipeline to streamline workflow in any project
Master modeling, unwrapping, and texturing
Bring your character to life with materials and shading
Create your character's skeleton and make it walk
Use Camera Tracking to mix 3D objects into a real-world video
Transform a raw rendered scene into the final result using Blender's compositing nodes

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Learning Blender: A Hands-On Guide to Creating 3D Animated Characters

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