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 — adding keyframes in the Graph Editor


The 3D View is not the only place you can add keyframes. The Graph Editor actually gives you much better control over adding and manipulating keyframes:

  1. In the 3D View, select the camera.

  2. Using the arrow keys, move the current frame indicator to frame 1.

  3. With the cursor over the Graph Editor, use Ctrl+MMB to zoom the Graph Editor out so that you can see at least -10 to 10 on the vertical scale. Look at the left side of the Graph Editor. It's blank.

  4. With the cursor over the 3D View, press the I key and make a Locations keyframe.

  5. In the Graph Editor there are three colored lines, red, blue, and green, just like the 3D axis indicator. Since you have just made a Locations keyframe, these are F-Curves for locations in X, Y, and Z. Use Ctrl+MMB to zoom in until you can see the red and blue lines clearly.

  6. Use the arrow keys to move the current frame indicator to frame 20. Note that you can see orange dots at frame 1 on these lines. They are the...