Blender 3D: what it is and what it does?
Getting Acquainted With Blender — Blender Serie — Episode#05
Blender is open-source 3D modeling and animation software.
It is under the GNU-GPL license, which guarantees end users the freedom to run, study, share and modify the software.
My point here is to have fun \o/ with Blender: the act of striving to gain or accomplish something useful. This series was intended to show that complex technology does not necessarily need a huge learning curve to start having fun. A practical approach. Let’s hit the ball as far as possible!
When it comes to taking lecture notes quickly I have to go for it!
To get started, let’s think about text editors.
We have editors of texts like MS Word, which allows us, among other things, to write texts, to format these texts, to change the colors of letters, their sizes, writing order, insert images, rotate and resize objects, import tables and even other files into the document.
Gimp, an image’s editor, free too, the same situation happens. We create images, change ready-made images, change colors, insert text, import some external file types, change dimensions, rotation, and so on.
Blender is a kind of 3-D editor. In it we create scenes, objects, alter the properties of this object, such as colors, dimensions, locations, rotation among other countless possibilities.
Blender 3D Modeling
It functions as a modeling tool for general purposes. Be it in the creation of models, internal environments, mascots, humanoids, and even mechanical objects, with Blender there is a world of possibilities!
Essential 3D Blender Concepts:
Modeling: Model+Material+Lights — Mimics the shape of real-world objects — Express your imagination — 3 types: Mesh Model / Curve Surface Model / Meta Model;
UV mapping: U V=XY — 2D image in wrapping it around a 3D object;
Texturing:(CGI) Map detail to surfaces by project images and patterns onto those surfaces (color, specularity, reflection, transparency, fake-3d, dimension depth); ex: the texture of electronic equipment;
Rigging: Armature+Editing+Skinning+posing — Process of attaching a skeleton to your character mesh object so you can deform and pose it in different ways;
Skinning: To peel off the skin (but here it is just the reverse) covering the armature with skin;
Animation: Move an object position, orientation, size in time;
Simulation (Fluid, Rigidbody, etc): Simulate real physical phenomena such as smoke, rain, dust cloth, water, jello;
Scripting: Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented - It incorporates modules, exceptions, dynamic typing, classes in a clear syntax - Areas can be scripted: animation, rendering, object creation, repetitive tasks, etc;
Rendering: Camera+Lighting+Material-creating a 2D image from the 3D scene; Types: Blender Render and Blender Cycles;
Composition Nodes: Allow you to assemble and enhance an image (or movie);
VFX: Visual effects top 12 tools: SolidWork; Blender; Tinkercad; Autodesk, Fusion 360; Leopoly; Pixologic; Sculptris; FreeCAD; OpenSCAD; SketchUp; Autodesk;
Game Creation: Blender Game Engine
Cross-Platform (OpenGL GUI — Customizable with Python script):
As Blender 2.x is still being developed, and I’m starting to have fun with it I think it’s too early to deal with issues like Python script, and outstanding features of the program.
There is a long way to go… kick the ball forward, as we say here in my country:)
There are a number of interesting features and cool things that can be done in Blender and I will do now…
As I learn, I will be posting for my future references and you’re invited to please suggest improvements/corrections and new ideas as I walk :)
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I’ll leave you two to get acquainted… Bye!
References & Credits:
3D Printing: 3D Modeling Software
Episodes: #01 — #02 — #03 — #04 — #05 — #06 — #07 — #08 — #09 — #10
