Blender 3D: Noob to Pro

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2 Overview
The core of this book is a series of tutorials that increase
in complexity, with later tutorials building on the preced-
ing ones. While experienced users can skip ahead, begin-
ners are urged to proceed through the tutorials in sequence.
The tutorials in the core series are grouped into four
units:

1. Background — a basic orientation regarding:

• computer graphics
• the Blender user interface (UI)

2. Basic Modeling and Shading — basic techniques for

building and rendering 3D models

3. Broadening Horizons
BlenderWikiBookCover
• alternative modeling and rendering techniques
• introductions to lighting, animation, and game
1 About This Book creation

4. Taking Off
Blender 3D: Noob to Pro is a product of shared ef-
fort by numerous team members and anonymous edi- • scripting
tors. Its purpose is to teach people how to create three-
dimensional computer graphics using Blender, a free soft- • advanced techniques for modeling, animation
ware application. and game creation

This book is intended to be used in conjunction with other

on-line resources that complement it: Each unit is subdivided into sections, which are made up
of modules.
• other blender-related Wikibooks on topics such as Three appendices are also provided:
scripting and creating games;
• the Blender Wiki for technical documentation; • Reference Material — including:

• user forums, such as the Blender Artists Forum. • Frequently-Asked Questions

• Glossary
While you can learn simply by reading the book, you'll
get more out of the tutorials if you follow along. In order • General Advice — tips to help you get the most out
to do this, you'll need access to a computer with Blender of Blender
installed. You can download Blender from the Blender
Foundation's website; more detailed instructions are in • Miscellaneous Tutorials — tutorials that aren't part
the first module. of the core series

1
2 4 UNIT 2: BASIC MODELING AND SHADING

3 Unit 1: Background • Section 2C: Materials and Textures

• Overview
• Knowing before Making ⇐ START HERE
• Quickie Material
• What Blender Can Do
• Multiple Materials per Object

• Section 1A: 3D Concepts • Metal Versus Plastic

• Texture Settings
• 3D Geometry
• Image Textures
• Coordinate Transformations
• Procedural Textures
• Orthographic Views
• Quickie Texture
• Perspective Views
• Halo Materials
• Coordinate Spaces in Blender

• Section 1B: User Interface (UI) • Beyond Basics

• Overview • Blender Memory Management

• Keystroke, Button, and Menu Notation • A Common Pitfall in Older Tutorials (Align to
View Issue)
• Non-standard Input Devices
• Using Bones
• Operating System-specific Issues
• Mountains out of Molehills
• Blender User Interface
• Modeling a Volcano
• Blender Windowing System
• Penguins from Spheres
• User Preferences Windows
• Dicing With Depth (Dice Modeling)
• Properties Window
• Model a Goblet
• 3D View Windows
• Model a Silver Goblet
• Object Mode
• Model a Silver Goblet Another Way
• Spin a goblet
4 Unit 2: Basic Modeling and • Light a Silver Goblet (Early look at light-
ing)
Shading
• Simple Vehicle
• Section 2A: Your First Mesh Models • Simple Vehicle: Wheel tutorial 1
• Simple Vehicle: Wheel tutorial 2
• Meshes and Edit Mode
• Simple Vehicle: Seat
• Normals and Shading • Simple Vehicle: Rocket Launcher
• More Mesh Editing Techniques • Simple Vehicle: Body
• Quickie Lighting • Simple Vehicle: Some Assembly Re-
• Quickie Model quired
• Quickie Render • Modeling a 3D Parachute in Blender
• Enter the World • Model a Low Poly Head
• Understanding the Camera • Building a House
• Improving Your House • Pipe joints
• Lighting Suzanne: Introductory one lamp
• Section 2B: Smooth Meshes (Simple Person with a lighting
Hat)
• Curve and Path Modeling
• Extruding a Simple Person
• Smoothing Your Simple Person • Overview
• Improving Your Simple Person • Intro to Bézier Curves
• Spinning a Simple Hat • Bevelling a Curve
• Putting the Hat on the Person • NURBS Patches
 3

• Deforming Meshes using the Curve Modifier • The Ways of the Animator
• Animation Editors
• The Empty Object
• Introducing the Graph Editor
• Animation Rendering
• Using Reference Photos
• Lattice Modifier
• Background Images
• Bouncing Ball with Lattice
• Aligning Vertices with a Guide Image
• Creating Basic Water Animation
• Modeling a Wolf from Guide Images
• Flying Through a Canyon
• Using Bézier Curve to Model a 3D logo from
• Using the Sequencer to Compile Frames into
a 2D logo
an Animation

• Further Materials and Textures • External tutorial about regular 2D video

editing, with lots of illustration. (key-
• Subsurface Scattering words: sequencer, NLE)
• Ray Tracing
• Using Textures • Further Rendering Options

• Using a texture to make a material partially

• Particle Systems
transparent
• Creating Basic Seawater • Overview
• Mountains Out Of Molehills 2 • Fire
• Basic Carpet Texture • Fur
• The Rusty Ball • Fireworks
• Creating Pixar-looking eyes • Particles forming Shapes
• Procedural Eyeball • Billboard Animation
• Putting It All Together: A Dragon!
• Soft Bodies
• Soft Body Animation
5 Unit 3: Broadening Horizons • Simple Cloth Animation
• The UV/Image Editor • Soft Body with Wind

• UV Maps - Pasting photos to 3D surfaces • Blender Game Engine

• UV Map Basics • Blender Game Engine Basics- Rolling Ball

• Realistic Eyes In Blender • Platformer: Controls and Movement
• Maze: Force and Multiple Levels
• Lighting • Platformer: Improving the Physics
• Beginning Lighting • How to Make an Executable
• Understanding Real Lights • Build a Skybox
• Understanding Blender Lights • Basic Mouse Pointer
• Basic Lighting Rigs • Text in BGE
• Faked Global Illumination with Blender inter- • Platformer: Creating the Engine with Python
nal

• Practicing Good Parenting 6 Unit 4: Taking Off with Ad-

vanced Tutorials
• Basic Animation
• Overview • Python Scripting
• Introduction to Keyframing • Introduction
4 7 APPENDICES

• Anatomy Of An Addon • Armature Object in Edit Mode

• A User Interface For Your Addon • Armature Object in Pose mode
• Adding A Custom Property • Mesh Object
• Connection between Armature and
• A Separately Installable Addon
Mesh
• Object, Action, Settings • Envelope
• Vertex Groups & Weight Paint
• Advanced Modeling • Shape Keys
• Overview • Lip-Sync with Shape Keys
• High Dynamic Range imaging (HDRi) • Constraints
• Copy Location
• Creating a Light Probe
• Copy Rotation
• Landscape Modeling with Heightmaps
• Track-To
• How to Do Procedural Landscape Mod- • Floor
eling • Locked Track
• Landscape Modeling I: Basic Terrain • Follow Path
• Landscape Modeling II: Texture Stencil- • Stretch-To
ing
• IK Solver
• Landscape Modeling III: Exporting as a
• Timeline Window
Heightmap
• IPO Window
• Data Type
• Advanced Materials and Textures
• NLA Window
• Bump Mapping • Introduction To NLA Editor
• Normal Mapping • The Stride feature
• Texture Normals • Relative Vertex Keys
• Color Map Normals • Working Example: Bob
• Building the Rig
• Nodes • Deform the Mesh
• Introduction • Create a Walk Cycle
• Texture Nodes • Working example: Piston, Rod and Crank
• Material Nodes • Working example: Cutting Through Steel
• Compositing
• Advanced Game Engine
• Further Compositing: A Portal Effect
• Overview
• Advanced Rendering • Advanced Game Engine Techniques (GUI)

• Introduction to Cycles • Creating Pop-Up Menus

• Creating Dropping Menus
• A Glass Material in Cycles
• The “5-Layer” Button
• Dealing with Firefles in Cycles • Creating Object Outlines
• Firefles in Cycles, Continued • Advanced Game Engine Techniques (Python)
• Procedural Eyeball in Cycles
• Introduction to Freestyle • Hacking Blender
• Introduction to Game Engine Source
• Advanced Animation
• Overview
• Introduction
7 Appendices
• Guided Tour:
7.1 Reference Material
• Armature Object
• Armature Object in Object Mode • Glossary
7.3 Miscellaneous Tutorials 5

• Frequently Asked Questions • Match Moving/Motion Tracking with Icarus and

Blender
• Tutorial Links List
• Create a Clayman
• Hotkeys
• Organic Modeling
• Output Formats
• Understanding the Fluid Simulator
• Image Portfolio
• Creating a jewel in Blender
• Blender Glossary
• Modeling a picture
• Materials Directory: Every Material Known To Man
• Modeling with the Spin Tool
• Sources of free 3D models - Sources of free 3D
models for additional study • Spin Tool Introduction
• Illustrative Example: Model a Wine Glass
• All Blueprints Links – blueprints from all over the
• Illustrative Example: Model a Mug (No page)
Web
• Creating Ogg-Theora movies using Blender Should
• Materials, Textures, Photos - Sources of free mate-
this page be moved here?
rials, textures and photos
• Creating animated GIFs using Blender and Gimp
Should this page be moved here?
7.2 Advice
• 3D Tiling Backgrounds For The Web Should this
General advice: page be moved here?
• Cool Things That Aren't That Obvious in Blender
• Asking for Help Should this page be moved here?
• Tips for a Successful Project • Troubleshooting Common Technical Issues and
What to do About Them Should this page be moved
• Modeling Realistically
here?
• Modeling tips
• Creating Blender Libraries Should this page be
moved here?
Performance tips (for making Blender run faster):
• Add some depth with stereo
• Cheat the 3D • Ways to create a “fluffy” effect (materials and lights)
• Performance vs. Quality • Human Body
• Rendering Information
7.3 Miscellaneous Tutorials
• Using Blender Libraries
This is our attic, mostly tutorials that could be useful to • Beginning Modeling Final Project
some extent if they would be revamped completely, but are
of little use at the moment. If you can contribute to some • Using Inkscape to make advanced Bezier curves
of them, go ahead and rewrite them to your liking!
• Light Mapping
• Modeling a Gingerbread Man • Platonic Solids

• Modeling a simple space-ship • Modeling techniques and Workflow (No page)

• Create an animated GIF wallpaper (Blender/GIMP) • Polygonal Modeling

• Box Modeling
• Part 1 - Preparing the Scene
• Illustrative example: Model a Chair
• Creating Weapons based on 2D Images (Swan Chair)
• Model a Chair-Preparations
• Modeling with Meta Balls
• Model a Chair-The Seat
• Match Moving • Model a Chair-The Feet
6 8 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Illustrative Example: Modeling a

Simple Human Character
• Modeling a Human Character -
Preparations
• Modeling a Human Character -
Modeling
• Illustrative Example: Model a Car
(Box) (No page)
• Illustrative Example: Model a
Dragon (No page)
• Polygon by Polygon modeling
• Illustrative Example: Model a
Woman Face (No page)
• Illustrative Example: Model a Car
(Polygon-By-Polygon) (No page)
• Blocking with Primitives (No page)

• Animation Notes and FAQ

• Customization

• Mist - Make Objects Opaque

8 Additional Resources
• Blender Wiki PDF Manual (1,426 pages)
 7

9 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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• Blender 3D: Noob to Pro Source: https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Blender_3D%3A_Noob_to_Pro?oldid=3022258 Contributors: Omega-
tron, DavidCary, Furrykef, Robert Horning, Alerante, Mats Halldin~enwikibooks, Geocachernemesis, Mkn, Argento, Panic2k4, Tu-
alha, Qrc, Koos Jol, ManuelGR, StarryTG, Spiderworm, ZeroOne, Goeland86, Surphaze, Dan-aka-jack, Kellen, Jonon~enwikibooks,
Uncle G, 01mf02, Serge, Wwwwolf, Bmud, Crouch, Popski, Yosofun~enwikibooks, Saysaknow, Astronouth7303, Derbeth,
Jclee, Snarius~enwikibooks, DuLithgow, Wikibooks is Communism, Trident~enwikibooks, Camel, Gabriel~enwikibooks, Ben Rus-
sell, EatMyShortz~enwikibooks, Allefant~enwikibooks, Darklama, Oracleoftruth~enwikibooks, Jmartens, RobinH, 1983, Randolf
Richardson~enwikibooks, Rocastelo, AM088, Dragontamer, Soylentgreen, Leinad13, Whiteknight, Alabandit, Chw333, Ideasman42,
Pld~enwikibooks, Crawmm, Wavez, Klowner, Joe 042293, WeirdHat, Kernigh, ParallaxTZ, Darkonc, Xerol, Jomegat, Iluvblender,
Greensweater, Osxrules, SchmS, Gabio, David Osborn, Vault, Super3boy, Milky~enwikibooks, Mastermind 007, Halley, Pietrodn, BimBot,
Jguk, Joystick Game, Hagindaz, Joystick Tutorial, Wcsc, DanMan, Fr~enwikibooks, Ordigdug, Orbisonitrum, Zaknafien~enwikibooks,
Jogai, Jawboot, Mdd4696, LION~enwikibooks, Sumoncil, Webaware, AndyD, Aragan Jarosalam~enwikibooks, Cleobod, Wynnmc,
Aidan.Sullivan, Cürps, Scottpledger, Damyeon, Freakazo v2.1, Arch dude (usurped), Justthisguy, Lee Carre, Dirk Gently~enwikibooks,
Charybdis~enwikibooks, Swift, Bootaleg, Skyguy, Az1568, Ikarsik, Nivix, Tannersf, Xania, Read-write-services, Herbythyme, Rm5248,
NCS Digiboy, Romainbehar, DanAvner, Moreejt, Twentytortures, Hrakaroo, Zeviion, Dolsson5, AverieZen, AdRiley, Rwst~enwikibooks,
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bot account, SergeantOreo, Adolfohm, Neo5842, Moohasha, Grawp the Giant~enwikibooks, Sailer, Chelseafan528, IJstLrndAlotAbout-
StargateAtWP, Morerunes, Pi zero, TwistedWeasel, Ramac, Neoptolemus, Malaz, Robert Valík, Thecheet123, Noob1230, Big Bill57,
Mach1723, Embri, Soeb, Jackechan, ThomasShepard, Xemkis12, Radialronnie, Geekboy2000, Goodgirl4, Dokuro, LightningIsMyName,
OekelWm, Ricvelozo, Waldir, SoylentGreen, CarsracBot, Dallas1278, Turtle Man, BobbyMatt, Miyazaki~enwikibooks, Kayau, Buller-
cruz1, Mrkat, Tom soderlund~enwikibooks, Sureshgn, Magicink, Cbh, Nuclearpidgeon, James.Denholm, Billinghurst, QuiteUnusual,
Nick.anderegg, AttilaMH, Tempodivalse, BANZ111, Sigma 7, Adrignola, Arch dude, Zilch~enwikibooks, Null Point, Rosver~enwikibooks,
Sendoshin, Electro, GeForce3, Tyrant monkey, Ftiercel, Camp, Whitepaw, Jona, Harry107, Morrolan, Tjb0607, Dobz, Woodstocket, Io-
drome, Admijr, Wentam, 492star, Jywhltj, Dirk Hünniger, Reyk, Admiral Spencer, Hoo man, Pearts, Ldo, Bourriquet 42, JimRester,
Stepheng3, Stryn, Frigotoni, Vi3gamehkr, Invoker~enwikibooks, Othmanskn2, JamesNZ, Guoyunhebrave, XDraconian, VB4231, Cubic-
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