viewing in blender can be one of the hardest things to get used to. after all, you are editing a 3 dimensional object in a 2 dimensional space! To view your 3D creations there are several methods, each having their own uses and advantages.
by using the number pad (of course making sure that "num lock" is on) you can view different perspectives of the object with a gridded background. pressing 1 will yield a front view of the object--like you are standing on the ground looking at the front of a building. pressing 3 will show you the side of the building; 7 the top; and 8,4,6, and 2 are orbiting tools allowing you to gradually change perspectives each number corresponding to their orientation on the number pad itself. (note: in pressing 5 we can switch from orthographic view to perspective view, meaning that the objects will appear to "pop out" at you)
the second primary method for navigation in blender is the scroll button. if you do not have a scroll wheel on your mouse, then there is, unfortunately, no reason to read this paragraph! by PRESSING the scroll button and moving the mouse you can see that the camera position orbits around the object allowing you to see those areas of your creation that the number pad may otherwise not have shown.
reasons to use the number pad method:
you are given a grid in Ortho mode so you can easily scale, measure and rotate objects with the precision necessary in 3D art.
the object is displayed exactly perpendicular to the camera so there is no doubt that when you adjust something it is happening in only one plane. (with exceptions)
Reasons to use the scroll method:
it's easy. you can easily rotate and move around in the 3D space.
you cant always see everything with the number pad and can use the scroll button to see things you otherwise would not be able to.
you can simulate camera motions when you learn to animate.
review:
8,4,2, and 6 rotate you around the object
7-top
1-front
3-side
5-perspective view
click AND HOLD the scroll button to orbit around the object
FINALLY: a bit off of the topic but while im talking about the scroll button: when in a view with a grid (or any other view for that matter)holding ctrl and scrolling will move the camera side to side, and holding shift and scrolling will move the camera's perspective up and down--just try it and you will see what i mean.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Lesson 2: Getting Started
So now you are fairly acquainted with the Blender program (or as we call it, interface), so lets get to work on some actual 3D objects.
when you open blender you will typically find a cube (this is the default). blender opens automatically in what we call "object mode". this means that the only thing you will be able to do with your project is manipulate the very basic portions of the actual object (meaning size, position and rotation), but not actually change the shape or detailed properties of the object. so lets begin by going into what we call "edit mode". to go into edit mode simply push the tab button (used to switch between object and edit modes) or find where it says object mode in the footer of the main ("3D view") window and click to select edit mode.
now we see a slightly different picture. most likely the cube will be pink with yellow edges and vertices (points where the edges meet together). when the cube is pink and the edges and vertices yellow, everything (all points) are selected on the cube. this wont help you much because when all of these vertices are selected, everything is moved at once with respect to each other when trying to manipulate the cube. the purpose of being in edit mode is to adjust each vertex individually (among other things). so to deselect these vertices press the "A" button. the a button deselects all vertices or selects all vertices (it will deselect all vertices even if only one is selected so to select all when there is only one of many preselected on the object you would have to press the "a" button twice).
now selection in blender is the last thing we will cover in this lesson before you get to play around with it a bit. to select nearly anything you MUST use the RMB or Right Mouse Button. this is probably different than anything you have done on a computer and will take some getting used to. after all vertices are NOT selected, select only one with your RMB. an odd looking three arrow...well...thing should appear around the vertex you selected. this is a transform handle. if you LMB (left mouse button) click on any of the spokes of this handle you can move the single vertex around.
additional notes:
-to select more than one (but not all) vertices at a time RMB+Shift click on the vertices.
-it is important to note that when you click a specific color of spoke on the transform handle, you will move the vertex only on that axis.
-if you click the grey circle around the vertex you have the freedom to move the vertex anywhere in 3D space
-if you think you are ready to rotate and scale some vertices or objects note and play around with these keys:
-R=rotate
-S=scale
Things to remember:
-LMB=Left mouse button, RMB=Right mouse button
-"A" key selects all or no vertices
-Press tab to go from edit mode to object mode and vice versa.
when you open blender you will typically find a cube (this is the default). blender opens automatically in what we call "object mode". this means that the only thing you will be able to do with your project is manipulate the very basic portions of the actual object (meaning size, position and rotation), but not actually change the shape or detailed properties of the object. so lets begin by going into what we call "edit mode". to go into edit mode simply push the tab button (used to switch between object and edit modes) or find where it says object mode in the footer of the main ("3D view") window and click to select edit mode.
now we see a slightly different picture. most likely the cube will be pink with yellow edges and vertices (points where the edges meet together). when the cube is pink and the edges and vertices yellow, everything (all points) are selected on the cube. this wont help you much because when all of these vertices are selected, everything is moved at once with respect to each other when trying to manipulate the cube. the purpose of being in edit mode is to adjust each vertex individually (among other things). so to deselect these vertices press the "A" button. the a button deselects all vertices or selects all vertices (it will deselect all vertices even if only one is selected so to select all when there is only one of many preselected on the object you would have to press the "a" button twice).
now selection in blender is the last thing we will cover in this lesson before you get to play around with it a bit. to select nearly anything you MUST use the RMB or Right Mouse Button. this is probably different than anything you have done on a computer and will take some getting used to. after all vertices are NOT selected, select only one with your RMB. an odd looking three arrow...well...thing should appear around the vertex you selected. this is a transform handle. if you LMB (left mouse button) click on any of the spokes of this handle you can move the single vertex around.
additional notes:
-to select more than one (but not all) vertices at a time RMB+Shift click on the vertices.
-it is important to note that when you click a specific color of spoke on the transform handle, you will move the vertex only on that axis.
-if you click the grey circle around the vertex you have the freedom to move the vertex anywhere in 3D space
-if you think you are ready to rotate and scale some vertices or objects note and play around with these keys:
-R=rotate
-S=scale
Things to remember:
-LMB=Left mouse button, RMB=Right mouse button
-"A" key selects all or no vertices
-Press tab to go from edit mode to object mode and vice versa.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Lesson One: Getting to know the program
The very first thing you will want to do is...Download Blender!!!
after blender is downloaded and installed open it.
Blender is what we call a 3D interface or simply a way of making three dimensional objects through a computer. Because it is an interface and has so many options and views and modes and modules, Blender's screen is made up of any combination of windows. The biggest window you will see is called the 3D view window. when editing a specific object in 3D you will almost always work in the 3D view window. when making any edits to the object put your cursor in the 3D view window.
underneath the 3D view window is the Buttons Window. this is the window you will use when altering the specific properties (not the shape or size) of the selected object.
Some may have trouble viewing objects in 3D and grasping their positions in space. One solution to this may be to move your view around the object. to do this, simply place your cursor in the 3D view window and press MMB (middle mouse button) click and drag your view around. another solution may be to change the view from orthographic to perspective. to do this either press number pad button 5 (with num lock on) or go to the view tab in the lower margin of the 3D view window and select perspective.
as a side note, if you forget any of the Hot Keys in blender, you can simply find the action in one of the menus and beside it will be the Hot Keys. in addition to this you can also find hot key lists for Blender online.
after blender is downloaded and installed open it.
Blender is what we call a 3D interface or simply a way of making three dimensional objects through a computer. Because it is an interface and has so many options and views and modes and modules, Blender's screen is made up of any combination of windows. The biggest window you will see is called the 3D view window. when editing a specific object in 3D you will almost always work in the 3D view window. when making any edits to the object put your cursor in the 3D view window.
underneath the 3D view window is the Buttons Window. this is the window you will use when altering the specific properties (not the shape or size) of the selected object.
Some may have trouble viewing objects in 3D and grasping their positions in space. One solution to this may be to move your view around the object. to do this, simply place your cursor in the 3D view window and press MMB (middle mouse button) click and drag your view around. another solution may be to change the view from orthographic to perspective. to do this either press number pad button 5 (with num lock on) or go to the view tab in the lower margin of the 3D view window and select perspective.
as a side note, if you forget any of the Hot Keys in blender, you can simply find the action in one of the menus and beside it will be the Hot Keys. in addition to this you can also find hot key lists for Blender online.
Welcome to Blender For Beginners
Although i am by far not one of the premier experts on the super powerful 3D Creation and Render engine of Blender 3D, i do know enough about it to get someone started! If you are interested in learning the very basics of blender and the simplest way to do so, then this is the site for you!
I hate to see when people attempt to teach a subject on Blender and speak as though blender is the hardest and most technical program on earth! Although Blender is, at first glance, very complex, it takes very little learning and effort to do a lot!
So follow these blogs as you get started on your way to becoming a new Blender...er.
I hate to see when people attempt to teach a subject on Blender and speak as though blender is the hardest and most technical program on earth! Although Blender is, at first glance, very complex, it takes very little learning and effort to do a lot!
So follow these blogs as you get started on your way to becoming a new Blender...er.
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