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 — using groups to organize your scene


Groups are a good way to organize the objects in your scene. They let you move multiple objects at a time and each object can be a member of more than one group, so you can organize them whatever way you want:

  1. Press A to deselect everything. Select the sails of the sloop with Shift+RMB.

  2. In the 3D View header, choose Object, then pick Group, and then Create New Group from the menus.

  3. In the Properties window, select the Object button from the header, it's the fifth button from the left with the cube on it.

  4. In the Groups subpanel, under the button that says Add to Group is a text entry button. Input Sail Group into that button.

  5. Now look in the header of the Outliner window above the Properties window. There is a button that says All Scenes or Current Scene. Click on it and select Groups from the drop-down menu.

  6. You will see your new Sail Group listed. You can use it to select all the objects of the Sail Group at one time. Click on the + (plus...