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 — playing with the Blender windows


Now we are going to investigate the structure of the windows. Start up your copy of Blender. In the largest Blender window, at the lower-left corner there is a small button that looks similar to the button on the left as shown in the following screenshot. It has a white cube on it. This is the Current Editor Type button. Every window has this button, so you can change the type of editor that is in the window.

In the main 3D View window, click on the Current Editor Type button with the left mouse button (LMB) and the Editor Type menu pops up with the 16 different kinds of editors that you can display in that window as shown in the following screenshot:

  1. Scroll up the menu shown previously and select Text Editor. The window changes and it is now blank. The Text Editor is for you to enter text such as production notes and has other uses.

  2. Now go down to the window below it and click the left mouse button (LMB) on the Current Editor Type button...