News: BlenderArt Magazine Issue #28 - Blender 2.5

Blender 2.5 [alpha] has been out and fairly stable for a while now, so in this issue we have a little fun with Blender 2.5 as we “kick the wheels” so to speak.

So grab your copy today.

Also be sure to check out our gallery of wonderful images submitted by very talented members of our community.

FEATURED CONTENTS

• Creating 3D contents using Blender 2.5
• I Love My Bubble
• Up to Speed
• Blender 2.49 Scripting
• High resolution rendering @speed of the light
• And Lot More…

Open publication

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

News: More Bouncing Ball Lessons on the Blender 2.5 DVD

Learn more about the BlenderNewbies Blender 2.5 Training DVD

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

News: Bouncing Ball Lesson 1 on Blender 2.5 DVD

Here are the results from one of a few bouncing ball animation tutorials that will be on the BlenderNewbies Blender 2.5 Training DVD.



Other bouncing ball animation tutorials will include:

• Multiple Bounce with Roll to Stop (yeah, I need a better title)
• Ball Bounce (with Tail)
• Animated scene with Ball & Tail character (EDIT: if there's time and disc space)

Also, there's been an announcement from the Blender Foundation that they plan to remove some features from the 2.5 release! Hopefully, this won't cause me to have to redo/rethink some of the tutorials. I definitely don't want tutorials covering features that were removed at the last minute. More info...

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

News: BlenderNewbies Blender 2.5 Training DVD Update

Development for the dvd has picked up since some previous bugs have been squashed in Blender. Texture painting and some aspects of dealing with materials are still a bit buggy, though. I experienced lots of crashes when using texture painting to clean up uv seams. The devs are aware of these issue, though, so I'm sure things will be ironed out sooner than later.

Here are a few draft examples of tutorials that will be on the dvd.

There will be several simple modeling tutorials that will involve simple uv-mapping. These will be designed to get you comfortable with the overall process.


This is an example of a project where the texturing is more complex. Yes, I will add some ketchup in the final tutorial! :)


This butterfly flight example is more involved than it might seem, even though the model is not meant to be realistic. There's 2d painting needed to prepare the wing graphics, a touch of uv-mapping, some magic applied in the graph editor, and some final touches added via the compositing nodes.


Also, close to 8 hours of reference videos have been recorded! And, I'll be including some tutorials on modeling in a cartoon style based on photo references.


Kernon

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

Shape Modeling Exercise #5 - Wrapping an Object with a Lattice-style Mesh

In this exercise, we'll be creating a lattice, or net-like, mesh that we will then wrap around our targeted object.


Watch the video tutorial...

Here's the blend file that matches the starting point of the tutorial (the reference image is packed within the blend file).

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

Tip: Moving Objects out of the Local View without exiting the Local View mode

In this tutorial, we'll take a look at how to easily move objects out of the Local View without exiting the Local View.

This feature is found in both Blender 2.49 and 2.5.


Watch the video tutorial...

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

Quick Tip: Aligning Objects in Blender 2.5

In this quick tip video, we'll take a look at how to align objects in Blender 2.5.



Watch the video tutorial...

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

Tip: Optimizing Blender 2.5 UI Interaction

In this quick tip, we’ll take a look at probably one of the most important settings to control the smoothness of Blender’s UI interaction, the Window Draw Method.



This video is hosted on BlenderCookie.

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

Timelapse: Modeling of a Perfume Bottle

This is a pretty old (at least 2 years old) timelapse that I stumbled upon while cleaning up some files. I thought I would share it instead of just junking it. Maybe it will enlighten someone.

There's no audio, so you can provide your own music if desired.

I just modeled the main form of the bottle.


Watch the video tutorial...

Here's the reference image:

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

Using ZBrush MatCaps in Blender

In this tutorial we'll take a look at how to use ZBrush MatCaps in Blender, and where to find MatCaps.

This works with Blender 2.5 and 2.49.



Watch the video tutorial...

Resources

• ZBrush MatCap Library
• ZBrush MatCap thread at Blenderartists.org
• ZBrush forum MatCap Repository
• "kwout" Firefox Extension for cutting out webpage images

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

Shape Modeling Exercise Series - #4 (Twisted Doorknob)

In this shape modeling exercise we take a look at modeling a Twisted Doorknob.

The point of these videos is not to model a complete object but to rather focus on different shapes and issues that you may encounter while modeling. So, essentially, these are exercises.

Hopefully, these videos will help you better understand how to approach modeling certain shapes, and what tools are available in Blender to make things easier.

Download the blend file, reference image, and texture.

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

Book Review: Blender 2.49 Scripting (by Michel Anders)

This book review turned out to be quite easy. In short, the book is ideal if you want to get up to speed with Python scripting in Blender 2.49.

The lessons are presented in a clear step-by-step fashion with very practical applications. And, the book covers quite a wide range of subjects. Take a look at the Table of Contents.

Also, here's a PDF of Chapter 5 (Acting on Frame Changes), provided by the publisher (Packt Publishing).

There's really not a whole lot more to say. Take a look at the Table of Contents and the sample chapter to confirm its value. If you're interested in Python scripting in Blender, then I think you'll see that this is a definite must-have resource.

BTW, the book also provides a URL for downloading the code used in the book.

Even though the Python API is changing in Blender 2.5, you'll still be ahead of the game by learning the current API. It will be quite some time before the Python API in Blender 2.5 is as complete as what's available in Blender 2.49.

The author acknowledges the pending 2.5 version of Blender, so hopefully there will be an edition released for Blender 2.5 when that becomes feasible.

There's so much more to Blender when you consider the power of Python scripting in Blender, and this book will get you off to a strong start in the right direction.

The cover price of the book is $39.99, but if you order from the Packt Publishing website there's a 10% discount.
Get more details and order information...

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

News: UpComing Book Review for "Blender 2.49 Scripting"

A new Blender book has just been released by Packt Publishing called "Blender 2.49 Scripting" (by Michel J. Anders). I'll be reviewing the book after I receive it and have had time to read through it.

I was a little bit hesitant at first because its focus is on Blender 2.49. However, when you consider that the Blender 2.5/2.6 Python API has quite a ways to go before it's as good as the Blender 2.49 implementation, it may be more practical to get up to speed with Blender 2.49 Python scripting.

There's a great deal of extra power and control that can be introduced into Blender via Python scripting and it's nice to see a book dedicated to the subject. I'm sure there will be an edition released for Blender 2.5/2.6 once it becomes stabilized.

Here's a sample chapter from the book "Chapter 5: Acting on Frame Changes"

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

News: BlenderArt Magazine Issue 27 - Shadow Showdown

In this issue, we explore lighting and creation of shadows with a nice variety of tutorials and articles on various lighting tools and techniques.

Also be sure to check out our gallery of wonderful images submitted by very talented members of our community.

FEATURED CONTENTS

• Articles/Tutorials on Fun with Shadows
• I finally get it! Ambient Occlusion
• Mesh Lights
• Studio Pack Shot
• Robbie the Robot
• Using textured light to spice up a scene
• Lighting the Vault
• Lighting Troubleshooting Tips
• & more…
  

Grab your copy today!

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

Shape Modeling Exercise Series - #3 (Fenestron Tail Rotor Blade)

In this shape modeling exercise we take a look at modeling a Fenestron Tail Rotor Blade.

The point of these videos is not to model a complete object but to rather focus on different shapes and issues that you may encounter while modeling. So, essentially, these are exercises.

Hopefully, these videos will help you better understand how to approach modeling certain shapes, and what tools are available in Blender to make things easier.

Download the blend file and reference image.

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

News: Blog Layout Changes for Larger Embedded Videos and Images

Things were starting to feel a little bit cramped in the post area so I've tweaked the layout to allow for larger images and videos! It's a work in progress, but I think it's a step in the right direction. Images and videos were limited to 400 pixels in width, but now we have 600 pixels.

The third column that contained the Labels has been moved over and underneath the second column.

This should make for more comfortable viewing of the images and videos.

New shape modeling tutorial coming later today...

BTW, I tend to announce upcoming tutorials via Twitter, so it might be a good idea to follow me at http://twitter.com/BlenderNewbies

You can also see my most recent messages in the column to the right.

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

News: The first Sintel trailer is available!

Trailer for the short animation film "Sintel", the Durian Open Move project by the Blender Foundation. More information at http://durian.blender.org

The movie, created with Blender 2.5, is expected to be finished in about two more months.

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

Shape Modeling Exercise Series - #2

In this shape modeling exercise we take a look at modeling a fancy doorknob handle.


(Please excuse some issues caused by my sinus allergies. :p )

The point of these videos is not to model a complete object but to rather focus on different shapes and issues that you may encounter while modeling. So, essentially, these are exercises.

Hopefully, these videos will help you better understand how to approach modeling certain shapes, and what tools are available in Blender to make things easier.

Download the blend file, reference image, and texture file.

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

Shape Modeling Exercise Series - #1

This is the first video in a series of videos on modeling shapes in Blender.

The point of these videos is not to model a complete object but to rather focus on different shapes and issues that you may encounter while modeling. So, essentially, these are exercises.

Hopefully, these videos will help you better understand how to approach modeling certain shapes, and what tools are available in Blender to make things easier.

(The techniques demonstrated aren't intended to be the exact solution for every scenario.)

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials

News: 2.5 DVD Update

Hello there! It's been a while since my last post!

I've been busily working on the BlenderNewbies 2.5 DVD. I've gotten a lot of Reference videos recorded and have been able to draft out some cool project ideas. However, I've come to realize that 2.5 isn't quite ready for solid documentation. It's still Alpha software so, no surprise there!

More info on Blender 2.5 development...

I had hoped that my waiting so long before starting the dvd project would have me be more in line with the development cycle. But, Blender is constantly changing at this point and I can see that some of my Reference videos will have to be redone. It's no problem, though, because all of the videos that have been recorded are still in their unedited state to help minimize the amount of double work.

I must say that the developers are doing an incredible job and every day Blender grows stronger and more stable. It's just not strong and stable enough, yet. Most of the development is focused on supporting the Sintel Open Movie project so a lot of features and issues aren't a top priority at this point.

So, my initial dvd release date of May 7th cannot be met. I don't want to release a dvd based on Alpha software, and maybe not even Beta software. I want this dvd package to be as strong and reliable as possible. I apologize for any delays, but I'm sure you understand. The good news is that this allows me to refine things even more and produce a better learning resource!

I'll keep the 5% discount in effect until the dvd is released. Thanks again to all of the pre-orders as they have made my continuing efforts possible. If you're interested in the dvd, please consider ordering while the 5% discount is in effect.

Also, I'll be creating some short tutorials to help breathe some life into the site. I've had a bit of tunnel vision while focusing on the dvd to the point where I almost forgot I have a website! D'oh!

technorati tags: Blender3D, 3D, graphics, Blender tutorials