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 — making a basic object


Well, you're not really making it; Blender will make it for you. But now is a good time to briefly look at what is available.

  1. Open up Blender, or select New from the File menu. You already have our first basic object, the cube.

  2. Press Ctrl+MMB, and use the mouse to zoom in close to the cube, so that you can see it well.

  3. Press the X key to delete the default cube.

  4. Now, you can make a new object. Press the Shift key and the A key at the same time. The Add Object menu will pop up, as seen in the following screenshot. There are quite a few kinds of objects that you can add, from Meshes and Metaballs, through to Text or Cameras. So, to start by making a mesh object, move the cursor over Mesh, then select Plane with theLMB.

  5. You just made a plane. It can be a building block for a larger object, used as the ground or the surface of the ocean.

  6. Press the X key to delete the plane.

  7. Press Shift+A to open up the Add menu, and select the circle. The circle has no face...