The Complete Guide to Blender Graphics: Computer Modeling & Animation

BlenderTM is a free Open Source 3D Computer Modeling and Animation Suite incorporating Character Rigging, Particles, Real World Physics Simulation, Sculpting, Video Editing with Motion Tracking and 2D Animation within the 3D Environment. Blender is FREE to download and use by anyone for anything. The Complete Guide to Blender Graphics: Computer Modeling and Animation, Sixth Edition is a unified manual describing the operation of the program with reference to the Graphical User Interface for Blender Version 2.82a. A reader of the Sixth Edition should use Blender 2.82a when learning the program and treat it as a training exercise before using any later versions Key Features: The book provides instruction for New Users starting at the very beginning. Instruction is presented in a series of chapters incorporating visual reference to the program's interface. The initial chapters are designed to instruct the user in the operation of the program while introducing and demonstrating interesting features of the program. Chapters are developed in a building block fashion providing forward and reverse reference to relevant material. The book is also available in a discounted set along with Blender 2D Animation: The Complete Guide to the Grease Pencil.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Download and Installation The Author Acknowledgements Preamble CH01 Understanding the Interface CH02 Editors and Workspaces CH03 Navigate and Save CH04 Objects in the 3D View Editor CH05 Editing Objects CH06 Editing Tools CH07 Modifiers CH08 Editing with Generate Modifiers CH09 Editing with Deform Modifiers CH10 Editing Using Curves CH11 Editing Techniques and Examples CH12 The Outliner and Collections CH13 3D Text CH14 Viewport Shading CH15 Scene Lighting and Cameras CH16 Nodes – Materials and Textures CH17 Rendering CH18 Animation CH19 Constraints CH20 Armature and Character Rigging CH21 Shape Keys and Action Editors CH22 Particle Systems CH23 Physics and Simulation CH24 Dynamic Paint CH25 Installing Add-Ons CH26 Grease Pencil – 2D Animation CH27 Video Sequence Editor CH28 Drivers CH29 Cycles Render CH30 Internet Resources Appendix A Index

About the Author :
John M. Blain has become a recognised expert in Blender having 5 successful prior editions of this book to date. John became enthused with Blender on retirement from a career in Mechanical Engineering. The Complete Guide to Blender Graphics originated from personal notes compiled in the course of self learning. The notes were recognised as an ideal instruction source by Neal Hirsig, Senior Lecturer (Retired) at Tufts University. Neal encouraged publication of the First Edition and in doing so is deserving of the author's gratitude. Gratitude must also be extended to the author's wife Helen for her continuing encouragement and patience as new editions of the book are compiled.

Review :
Blender 6th Promotion Material The Complete Guide to Blender Graphics 6th Edition introduces the Computer Graphics Modeling and Animation program Blender version 2.82a. The 6th Edition continues the philosophy, from earlier versions of the book, introducing the features of the program through the Graphical User Interface (GUI). Knowing where controls and tools are located and what they do is the key to understanding how Blender operates. The Blender program continues to evolve with new features being added and improvements being made. The Complete guide to Blender Graphics originated when Blender transformed from version 2.49 to 2.50. At that time a dramatic change to the GUI took place. Following this change there has been a continual evolution of the program with yet another major change to the GUI when Blender version 2.70 was released and then again at the release of 2.80. Changes are not made on a whim but occure to facilitate additions and improvements. At the release of The 6th Edition of the Complete Guide to Blender Graphics the latest version of Blender is version 2.82a. This version has made the program completely stable with the inclusion of a reborn Physics System using Mantaflow for liquid/gas simulation and improving cloth physics. The Mantaflow system allow the creation of fantastic fire and smoke simulations. At the same time a new FLIP solver produces lifelike liquids. Other improvements, features and additions to the program are; The popular tiled-based UV mapping system is fully integrated in Blender's pipeline. Blender now supports Pixar's open source Universal Scene description (USD) with Blender's approach being much simpler. Blender incorporated the EEVE Render Engine for on the fly visual viewing, the Cycles Render Engine for photorealistic image and video production and the Workbench Render Engine for reduced render times during scene construction. Cycles itself has been greatly improved with the addition of new nodes. Rendering times on Windows has been significantly reduced by employing BVH build time with better memory allocators, making it similar to Linux and macOX. The Grease Pencil 2D Animation Workspace is incorporated in the Blender pipeline with significant development. In the later versions of Blender the Game Engine for the creation of interactive computer games has been disbanded with a recommendation to use external engines. Much of the foregoing may be daunting for a new user but The Complete Guide to Blender Graphics 6th Edition starts at the beginning of the learning process catering for the new users and leads them gently into this facinating and rewarding world of creativity using Blender. Blender 6th Promotion Material The Complete Guide to Blender Graphics 6th Edition introduces the Computer Graphics Modeling and Animation program Blender version 2.82a. The 6th Edition continues the philosophy, from earlier versions of the book, introducing the features of the program through the Graphical User Interface (GUI). Knowing where controls and tools are located and what they do is the key to understanding how Blender operates. The Blender program continues to evolve with new features being added and improvements being made. The Complete guide to Blender Graphics originated when Blender transformed from version 2.49 to 2.50. At that time a dramatic change to the GUI took place. Following this change there has been a continual evolution of the program with yet another major change to the GUI when Blender version 2.70 was released and then again at the release of 2.80. Changes are not made on a whim but occure to facilitate additions and improvements. At the release of The 6th Edition of the Complete Guide to Blender Graphics the latest version of Blender is version 2.82a. This version has made the program completely stable with the inclusion of a reborn Physics System using Mantaflow for liquid/gas simulation and improving cloth physics. The Mantaflow system allow the creation of fantastic fire and smoke simulations. At the same time a new FLIP solver produces lifelike liquids. Other improvements, features and additions to the program are; The popular tiled-based UV mapping system is fully integrated in Blender's pipeline. Blender now supports Pixar's open source Universal Scene description (USD) with Blender's approach being much simpler. Blender incorporated the EEVE Render Engine for on the fly visual viewing, the Cycles Render Engine for photorealistic image and video production and the Workbench Render Engine for reduced render times during scene construction. Cycles itself has been greatly improved with the addition of new nodes. Rendering times on Windows has been significantly reduced by employing BVH build time with better memory allocators, making it similar to Linux and macOX. The Grease Pencil 2D Animation Workspace is incorporated in the Blender pipeline with significant development. In the later versions of Blender the Game Engine for the creation of interactive computer games has been disbanded with a recommendation to use external engines. Much of the foregoing may be daunting for a new user but The Complete Guide to Blender Graphics 6th Edition starts at the beginning of the learning process catering for the new users and leads them gently into this facinating and rewarding world of creativity using Blender.