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 — converting the surface to a mesh


Now it's time for a big change. Make sure that you saved the file at the end of the previous Time for action — section. You are going to covert your Subdivision Surface to a mesh object:

  1. Make sure you are in Object Mode. Rotate the hull so you can see it well.

  2. Press Alt+C to convert the surface into a mesh object. Select Mesh from Curve/Meta/Surf/Text from the menu with theLMB as shown in the following screenshot:

  3. Press Tab to go into Edit Mode. The control points are gone. You now have a boat hull.

  4. Press A to deselect any selected vertices

What just happened?

This was a short but important step. Objects can be changed from one type to another. You needed to save your work before doing this, because you cannot convert the object back.