Blender For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)

by Jason van Gumster (Author) "Blender: an awesome little 3D content creation suite that animates characters, surprises nay-sayers, simulates physics, and gives you foot massages if you've had a bad..." (more)
Key Phrases: image editor, sharing your work, transform properties, Creating Detailed, Ipo Curve Editor, Get Animated (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
So you’ve heard about Blender, the free 3D animation software. You really want to know more about the features of Blender, where to get it, and how to use it. You’re in luck. It’s all in Blender For Dummies, including Blender software on the bonus DVD.

Because there’s a lot to learn about Blender, you’ll be glad this book takes it step by step. First, you’ll learn to install Blender 2.46 and think the Blender way. Then you’ll start creating 3D objects and setting them in motion with animations and rigging. Soon you’ll be texturing with Blender, rendering with Blender, and sharing your creations. You’ll learn how to:

• Create almost anything with meshes, save time with the Mirror modifier, and use Blender’s secret weapon, Dupliverts
• Understand texture mapping, know when to use which type of lamp, and use radiosity in animation
• Work with curves and surfaces, and add color, shades, texture, and reflections
• Rig your characters for animation with shape keys, hooks, and armatures, and understand kinematics
• Navigate in three dimensions
• Make your animations more believable, and let Blender do the animating for you
• Use the video sequence editor
• Export, render, composite, and edit for output

You’ll even get tips on common problems new Blender users face and how to avoid them. Blender For Dummies will have you creating eye-popping 3D animations before you know it.

Bonus Content: Graphics created using techniques and instructions from Blender for Dummies (Click to Enlarge)

Character Creation

Blending Techniques

Review
"The accompanying CD contains supporting scene files, a list of 10 useful websites...A comprehensive reference guide..." (3D World, May 2009)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; Pap/Cdr edition (February 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470400188
• ISBN-13: 978-0470400180
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #17,439 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great reference for beginners, January 31, 2009

By	H. Dowdy - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I officially fell in love with Blender 6 months ago after years of picking it up, staring at the screen for a few days, and putting it back down. Blender takes a certain amount of dedication, I wasn't willing to devote until recently. I consider myself still in the noob stage, but I have spent a fair amount of time doing online tutorials and familiarizing myself with the program.

This book attempts the daunting task of reigning in as much information about Blender for the beginner as possible. This is an exceptional presentation of reference material collected in one book. The title is a bit misleading, but if you are already familiar with "Dummies" books, it's no surprise. Jason runs pretty fast right out of the starting gate, and doesn't waste any time getting right into it. The order in which the book takes, is a logical one, and is similar to other methods of learning Blender. You start out learning the interface, then modeling, materials and textures, lighting, animating, etc.

What I liked about this book is that it explains certain functions and concepts, that I had never really fully understood through my adventures online trying to cherry pick bits of info here and there. There were a few Eureka! moments as I read through.

One of my gripes though is that some of the images in the book of the interface are too small and dark to see clearly, so it definitely helps to have Blender open.

If you are seriously interested in learning Blender, do not hesitate to get this. I have a couple of other Blender books like "Introducing Character Animation" and "Bounce Tumble and Splash". These are great in their own right, but they are a little more advanced and specific than I had expected. Blender for Dummies is kind of a bridge to these books.

I recommend to anyone starting out in Blender to use this book in conjunction with various online tutorials. It gives you the chance to just work with the program, and will help you to visualize the concepts explained in the book. Jason does not present the info through a bunch of tutorials, and I like that. There are tutorials coming out of the digital woodwork online, and it's great to see a book just explain why something happens the way it does. Since I have worked with Blender some, I was comfortable sitting back on the couch and reading through it. I didn't necessarily feel that I had to be tethered to the computer through a tutorial.

I will have to say, that Blender is no joke. It takes time to wrap your head around it. This book is for those who are serious about learning Blender. You may have to go over a few things many times before before your synapse screams out "I got it!". Blender for Dummies will meet you half way.

Blender to me is why I like using a computer. It really has to be one of the greatest contributions to the digital world I've ever seen, and it's free. I am completely hooked. Blender For Dummies takes a comprehensive approach to a very in depth and challenging piece of software and succeeds.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blender for Smarties, March 5, 2009

By	Perry Nally - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Blender for Dummies should be titled Blender for Smarties. It's one of the smartest purchases I've made yet. I'm pretty descent with other 3D pachages, but I'm a noob to the Blender environment. Blender for Dummies got me understanding first of all how intuitive the environment really is, then taught me all the shortcuts to doing what I want, very efficiently. I still use it as a reference guide. The speed and temperment of the book allow for an enjoyable technical read sitting in front of my computer. Thank you Dummies!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific reference, fair teaching aid for Blender, May 11, 2009

By	Jerry Saperstein (Evanston, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

Since the 1980s, I've tried my hand at a number of 3D drawing programs, always with the hope of creating something stunning. It has never worked out that way.

I stumbled upon Blender in my web wanderings and thought I would give 3D another try.

"Blender For Dummies", according to the author, is intended to be a reference with tutorials. He isn't kidding. The book is actually kind of sparse on follow-the-steps tutorials. But it is an excellent teaching reference.

Walk through this book page by page and you will most certainly learn Blender. You'll have to spend more time experimenting than you would with a bunch of "by the numbers" tutorials, but you'll learn a lot more about the product.

I learned enough to realize that I simply don't have the time and interest to learn Blender in detail. It is a massively powerful and complex program that goes far beyond my needs - and probably my artistic capabilities.

Were I dedicate the time to mastering Blender, this reference would be by my side for a long time to come.

Jerry