Smoothly Leads Users into the Subject of Computer Graphics through the Blender GUI Blender, the free and open source 3D computer modeling and animation program, allows users to create and animate models and figures in scenes, compile feature movies, and interact with the models and create video games. Reflecting the latest version of Blender, The Complete Guide to Blender Graphics: Computer Modeling & Animation, 2nd Edition helps beginners learn the basics of computer animation using this versatile graphics program. This edition incorporates many new features of Blender, including developments to its GUI. New to the Second Edition Three new chapters on smoke simulation, movie making, and drivers Twelve updated chapters, including an entire chapter now devoted to add-ons installation Numerous new examples and figures In color throughout, this manual presents clear, step-by-step instructions for new users of Blender. Many visual diagrams and images illustrate the various topics encompassed by Blender. After mastering the material in the book, users are prepared for further studies and work in computer modeling and animation.

Table of Contents:
The Blender Interface The Blender Screen The User Preferences Window Preset Interface Arrangements The 3D Window Window Modes Layers Moving in 3D Space The Blender View Menu The Properties Window Blender Controls Blender Windows Add-Ons Multiple Scenes Navigation Navigate and Save Windows Explorer The Append or Link Command Packing Data Importing Objects Creating and Editing Objects Working with Basic Meshes Placing Objects on the Screen Edit Mode and Object Mode Mesh Types Cursor Placement Moving Objects Scaling Objects Rotating Objects Precision Manipulation The Transformation Widget Mesh Vertex Editing Selecting Vertices Edit Mode Selection Options Creating Vertices Center Points Object Display Smooth and Flat Shading Options Extruding Shapes Proportional Vertex Editing Creating Ground Edge Loop Selection Joining and Separating Meshes Deleting Vertices, Edges, or Faces Adding Faces Modifiers The Knife Tool Sculpt Mode Materials Introduction to Materials Material Settings Material Buttons Material Colors Adding a New Material The Preview Tab The Diffuse Tab The Specular Tab The Hardness Value Ramp Shaders Transparency Halo Settings Vertex Painting Materials and the GUI The Outliner Window Multiple Material Slots Assigning Texture Color Textures Introduction to Textures Material Textures Texture Display in the 3D Window Texture Mapping Displacement Mapping Texture Surface Displacement UV Texture Mapping Selective UV Texture Mapping Unwrapping with Seams Texture Paint World Settings Introduction to World Settings Mist Stars Texture as Background Image as Background Image as Template Lighting and Cameras Lighting Types and Settings Lamp Settings Cameras Camera Settings Options Camera Switching Camera Tracking Rendering and Ray Tracing Rendering an Image or Movie Rendering a JPEG Image Rendering a Movie File Playback More Movie File Rendering Video Codecs Making a Movie Ray Tracing Cycles Ray Trace Rendering Animation Basics Introduction to Animation Moving, Rotating, and Scaling Viewing Your Animation The Graph Editor Window Editing the Curve Other Types of Curves Modifying Curves Automatic Key Framing Animating Other Features Keying Sets Wind Strength Animation Animation Following Curves Displacement Sound Animation Control 3D Text Introduction to 3D Text Creating 3D Text in Blender The Object Data Button Creating Text on a Curve Converting Text to a Mesh Object Converting Text to a Curve Elefont 3D Text NURBS and Metashapes Using NURBS Creating a Lofted Tunnel Metashapes Modifiers Introduction to Modifiers Modifier Stacks Modifiers for Generating Modifiers for Deforming Modifiers for Simulating Particle Systems Overview Setting Up a Particle System Particle Settings and Material Influence The Particles Panel Starting a Particle System Material Influence on Particles Particle Interaction Wind Sample Particle Settings Keyed Particle Systems Boids Particle Systems Hair Particle Systems The Assignment Tab Child/Parent Relationships and Constraints Child/Parent Relationships Introduction to Constraints Transform Constraints Tracking Constraints Relationship Constraints Duplicating along Curves Extruding along Curves The Follow Path Constraint Armatures Adding an Armature Single Bone Armatures Armature Display Types Multibone Armatures Deforming a Mesh Object Armature Modifiers Humanoid Armatures Disconnected Bones Vertex Groups or Field of Influence Inverse Kinematics IK Constraint Character Rigging Shape Key and Action Editors Introduction Shape Key Editor Action Editor Fluid Simulation Introduction to Fluid Simulation Basic Setup (Scenario 1) Basic Setup (Scenario 2) Fluid Simulation with Particle Objects Fluid Simulation with Control Objects Smoke Simulation Smoke Generation Creating Smoke from Scratch Create a Domain Smoke from a Mesh Object Flow Object Rendering Domain Settings for Rendering Material Buttons Smoke Generation Settings Using Particles Fire Color Ramp Summary Nodes Introduction to Nodes Material Nodes Texture Nodes Compositing Nodes Node Groups The Blender Game Engine Introduction to the Game Engine Game Animation Rigid Bodies – Dynamics Making a Movie Making a Movie The Video Editing Screen Storyboard Video Sequence Editor Summary Drivers Blender Drivers Randomize Object Properties with Drivers The Array Modifier Shapes Keys Randomizing Property Values Using Drivers Python Script Register the Script Set Up the 3D Window Rotation Driver Properties Alternative Method for Activating Drivers Another Method for Re-Evaluating Drivers Scale Properties Driver x-Axis Scale Driver (Scripted Expression) y-Axis Scale Driver (Max, Min, Sum, Average Values with Variable) z-Axis Scale Driver (Single Property with Variable) Material Property Drivers Duplicating the Object Installing Add-Ons Finding the File Installing the Python Script Activating the Script Using the Script Bibliography Appendix: Basic Blender Commands Index