The Complete Guide to Blender Graphics: Computer Modeling and Animation

While Blender is a wonderful free and open source program for computer modeling and animation, there has been a lack of unified, up-to-date documentation for beginners. Removing the frustration from the learning process, The Complete Guide to Blender Graphics: Computer Modeling and Animation helps beginners understand the basics of computer animation using Blender. The author begins with a detailed explanation of the Blender graphical user interface (GUI) and its method of navigation. He covers basic mesh modeling on both the object and sub-object levels. At this point, the beginner 3D modeler can create a wide variety of models. The author moves on to materials, camera, lighting, and rendering, allowing the creation of more complete models and rendered images. He also includes a section on animation. This sequence provides a solid foundation for the more advanced topics discussed in later chapters. Alleviating the difficulties in learning Blender, this book provides thorough instruction on the basics of this 3D modeling and animation program.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Computer Modeling and Animation Blender Versions Graphical User Interface Evolution Acknowledgments How to Get Blender Recommended Viewing Blender 3D Design Course: Tufts University 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 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 The Application of Materials and Material Slots Textures Introductiont to Textures Texture Mapping Displacement Mapping 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 Cameras Rendering and Ray Tracing Render Settings Rendering a JPEG Image Creating a Video Clip Ray Tracing 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 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 Meta Shapes Using NURBS Creating a Lofted Tunnel Meta Shapes 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 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 Nodes Introduction to Nodes Node Groups Material Nodes Texture Nodes Compositing Nodes The Blender Game Engine Introduction to the Game Engine Game Animation Video Sequence Editing Making a Movie The Video Editing Screen Basic Blender Commands Supplements Installing Add-Ons The Outliner Window

Review :
The major strength of John’s Blender manual is its breadth of content and its depth of detail. The material covered in the manual is extensive. All aspects of beginning to intermediate 3D modeling and rendering with Blender are covered. His language is clear and concise and is accessible to users of all ages. It is expertly illustrated with screenshots that allow even those without a substantial understanding of English to follow the flow of ideas and concepts. —Neal Hirsig, Tufts University