Book Image

Blender 3D Basics

Book Image

Blender 3D Basics

Overview of this book

Blender is by far the most popular open source graphics program available. It is a full featured 3D modeling, animation and games development tool used by millions all over the world ñ and it's free! This book is for those looking for an entry into the world of 3D modeling and animation regardless of prior experience. Blender 3D Basics is the entry level book for those without prior experience using 3D tools. It caters for those who may have downloaded Blender in the past but were frustrated by its lack of intuitiveness. Using simple steps it builds, chapter by chapter, into a full foundation in 3D modeling and animation. Using Blender 3D Basics the reader will model a maritime scene complete with boats and water, then add materials, lighting and animation. The book demystifies the Blender interface and explains what each tool does so that you will be left with a thorough understanding of 3D.
Table of Contents (20 chapters)
Blender 3D Basics Beginner's Guide
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
3
Controlling the Lamp, the Camera, and Animating Objects
Index

Time for action — seeing how the lighting looks without rendering


Sometimes you want to get an idea of how a scene looks without rendering. You can do this with the Viewport Shading menu as shown in the following screenshot:

  1. On the header at the bottom of the 3D window, there is a blank white circle, as highlighted in the previous screenshot.

  2. Click theLMB and a menu appears as shown previously.

  3. Scroll up to the circle with the checkerboard and the word Texture.

  4. Press theLMB.

  5. Press 7 on the Numpad to see the top view.

  6. Move the lamp close to one corner of the cube as shown in the following screenshot.

  7. Press 1 on the Numpad to see the front view.

  8. Move the lamp close to the cube.

  9. Press 0 on the Numpad to see the view from the camera.

  10. Move the lamp. What happens? The difference is illustrated on the left and right of the following screenshot.

What just happened?

You changed the Viewport Shading method from Solid to Texture and shifted to the Top View to move the lamp close to the cube. Then you switched...