Blender For Dummies [Paperback]

Jason van Gumster (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470400188 | ISBN-13: 978-0470400180 | Publication Date: February 3, 2009 | Edition: 1

The exciting new book on the exciting new Blender 2.5!

If you want to design 3D animation, here's your chance to jump in with both feet, free software, and a friendly guide at your side! Blender For Dummies, 2^nd Edition is the perfect introduction to the popular, open-source, Blender 3D animation software, specifically the revolutionary new Blender 2.5. Find out what all the buzz is about with this easy-access guide. Even if you?re just beginning, you'll learn all the Blender 2.5 ropes, get the latest tips, and soon start creating 3D animation that dazzles.

• Walks you through what you need to know to start creating eye-catching 3D animations with Blender 2.5, the latest update to the top open-source 3D animation program
• Shows you how to get the very most out of Blender 2.5's new multi-window unblocking interface, new event system, and other exciting new features
• Covers how to create 3D objects with meshes, curves, surfaces, and 3D text; add color, texture, shades, reflections and transparency; set your objects in motion with animations and rigging; render your objects and animations; and create scenes with lighting and cameras

If you want to start creating your own 3D animations with Blender, Blender For Dummies, 2^nd Edition is where you need to start!

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (February 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470400188
• ISBN-13: 978-0470400180
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #453,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jason van Gumster got into animation when he realized that he wanted to create movies... but that actors are generally intolerant of having pianos dropped on them. As a Production Monkey for his company, Hand Turkey Studios, he's produced animations and visual effects for television, film, and video games. With a couple rare exceptions, he exclusively uses open source tools such as Blender, GIMP, and Inkscape.

Most active in the Blender community, Jason's given numerous workshops and demonstrations on Blender internationally. In January of 2008, he worked with the Blender Foundation to assemble the Blender Certification Review Board and lead the launch of the Blender Foundation Certified Trainer (BFCT) program. He also periodically writes for Blender Nation, the primary news website for Blender users.

Jason can often be found in cafes and diners drawing, espousing the virtues of open source software, or catching confused looks from strangers as he contorts my body to better visualize a scene he's animating.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 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)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Blender For Dummies (Paperback)

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.

22 of 23 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)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Blender For Dummies (Paperback)

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!

21 of 24 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
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Blender For Dummies (Paperback)

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