Blender Book: Free 3D Graphics Software for the Web and Video [Paperback]

Carsten Wartmann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2000

Blender is a fast, powerful, and free 3D graphics and animation tool. The Blender Book shows you how to use Blender efficiently and creatively with clear step-by-step tutorials that teach all aspects of this often tricky program. You'll learn how to enhance your Web sites, graphic designs, and videos with the 3D graphics and animations you'll create in Blender.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The Blender Book is a nifty mix of tricks and scripts—guaranteed to keep your digital kitchen spinning.” -- Dingbat Magazine

“This book is aimed at those who are looking for a cheap, fast and practical introduction to 3D graphics and animation.” -- BookNews

From the Publisher

Blender is a very popular graphics tool among the Open Source (Linux) community. This is the first English-language book about Blender and it takes a very clear approach to using what can be a very complicated product. Given that the Blender manual (for sale only) is quite cumbersome and disorganized, this book fills a very real need.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: No Starch Press; Pap/Cdr edition (December 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886411441
• ISBN-13: 978-1886411449
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #304,459 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only viable guide to Blender, June 24, 2003

By 

Stephen Scherer "sscherer" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blender Book: Free 3D Graphics Software for the Web and Video (Paperback)

I've used a total of four books for learning Blender. Three of those were from the Blender Foundation, and included 1) the Tutor Guide #1, 2) The Official Blender 2.0 Guide, and 3) The Official Blender Gamekit. When I had completed them, I wasn't sure if I was ready to tackle my projects. In other words, I wasn't ready to tackle my projects. They are pretty much terrible. The Blender Book, however, is a REAL book on Blender. I'm using the English version, and it just works. It is the only book on Blender that really covers the basics and brings you up to speed. There is a manual that is being produced by the Blender users, available on their site, that is as of this date (June 27, 3003) still incomplete. If you want to get up to speed with Blender, this is probably your only option. (Good work Carsten.)

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Using Blender is finally possible., October 3, 2001

By 

C. Young "C. Young" (West Jordan, UT United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Blender Book: Free 3D Graphics Software for the Web and Video (Paperback)

I liked the idea of a free 3D graphics tool (especially considering similar programs cost thousands of dollars), but Blender's user interface was completely baffling.

This book opened up the world of Blender to me. It is a great book explaining how to successfully use this great program. Blender's interface seems well thought out and very useful now that I understand it.

The exercises in this book help you master a lot of Blender's capabilities and puts you in a position to expand your knowledge as much as you want to.

This was the first book I read by this publisher. I was impressed and plan on reading more.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Discover Blender and become a fan, August 19, 2002

By 

Bruno A Nitrosso (Mendoza, Mendoza Argentina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blender Book: Free 3D Graphics Software for the Web and Video (Paperback)

First the subject: 3D graphism. I always wanted to tackle this area but had no previous expertise and can thell that the book works well for somebody with no previous knowledge in the area. Thru this book I tried it out and can tell that it requires the practicer some work but is a very rewarding experience.

Then the program: Blender. Blender was the choice since it is free (amidst very expensive competitors). If you are already familiar with it you can pass on the book. Otherwise this book will be of GREAT help since Blender interface, consistent and practical as it is, is yet very different and does not adopt some standards (like using right button for contextual menues, etc.)which may come at first as an added difficulty. But Blender is GREAT once you have picked up its own interface logic.And this book helps you doing so.

Last, then, the book: I consider it a great job and very useful in discovering Blender. First chapter hooks you by making you build a quick animation: a marble will roll (actually translate) under a spot-lighted camera.
Next chapter exploits this achieved enthusiasm to boringly review buttons, screens, commands and stuff. Be brave, from then on you are in for a treat.
The web is full of very good tutorials. Yet I think I would never start "blending" without a book giving me the basis.

I sure recommend you to give Blender a shot.