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 — controlling the F-Curves with the Channel Selection Panel


With several objects and Location, Rotation, Scaling F-Curves for each, the Graph Editor is likely to get cluttered. You need a way to choose which F-Curves you are seeing. It also helps if you can lock an F-Curve so you don't adjust it when you don't intend to:

  1. In the 3D View window, move the cursor over the Cube and select it with Shift+RMB. Note that in the Graph Editor, you can see that there are now channels displayed on the left for both the Cube and the Camera, as shown in the following screenshot.

  2. On the left side of the Graph Editor, click theLMB on the triangle next to the Location channel of the Camera so it points down as in the following screenshot.

  3. The X Location, Y Location, and Z Location channels appear.

  4. Click the eye symbol next to Z Location with theLMB several times and watch the F-Curve for the Z location as you click. Scrub the Current Frame Indicator back and forth and watch the 3D View window...