Blender 2.9: The beginner's guide

Do you want to start creating 3D models and animations using free and open-source software? With Blender, you have the freedom to use a tool that will help you put your creativity to work for multiple formats.

The release of Blender 2.8 was a massive milestone for the software and brought a lot of attention to the software as a reliable and accessible platform to create digital content. With a revamped user interface and the adoption of simple standards from other graphical applications, you can easily state that it was a game-changer for many artists and companies.

In Blender 2.9, you find all the significant improvements from the past months with more polished user experience and cutting-edge technologies. From an artificial intelligence helper (OptiX) to improve renders and get faster images to new ways to perform old techniques like the extrude (Manifold).

With Blender 2.9: The beginner's guide, you will find a quick reference and detailed explanations about the essential tools and options.

The book uses a practical approach with examples for all topics and step by step instructions on how to do “difficult” tasks like animations, rendering, material creation, and 3D modeling.

Book about Blender 2.9

All content from Blender 2.9: The beginner's guide will take into consideration a reader that doesn't have any prior experience with Blender. You will find content focused on beginners.

Here is a list of all the chapters:

  • Chapter 1 – Blender user interface and 3D navigation
  • Chapter 2 – Object creation and manipulation
  • Chapter 3 – Tools for 3D modeling
  • Chapter 4 – Modeling techniques and resources
  • Chapter 5 – Materials and textures
  • Chapter 6 – Rendering and illumination
  • Chapter 7 – Animation and motion with Blender
  • Chapter 8 – Animation rendering and composition

Blender user interface and 3D navigation

Do you want to start from scratch with Blender 2.8? In this chapter, you will learn how to begin with Blender. We will cover topics like:

  • Handling object selection
  • Working with the user interface
  • Choosing and changing editors
  • Using keyboard shortcuts and active editors
  • Working with the 3D Cursor and the Snap
  • Moving and placing objects based on the 3D Cursor
  • 3D Navigation and zoom shortcuts

Object creation and manipulation

After we introduce the user interface and concepts like object selection, it is time to create and manipulate 3D objects. In this section you find information about:

  • How to create objects in the 3D Viewport
  • Duplicate existing objects
  • Use transformations like move, rotate, and scale
  • Take advantage of the Undo history of Blender
  • Start using Edit Mode for object manipulation
  • Control object origins with the Snap
  • Move objects with precision using the 3D Cursor
  • Organize objects into collections
  • Rename objects

Tools for 3D modeling

The path to starting with 3D modeling will begin with one of the most basic tools for modeling, which is the extrude. We will cover how to apply extrudes to transform polygons and more. You will learn in this section:

  • Use a semi-transparent mode to better select 3D models
  • Apply extrudes to 3D objects for modeling
  • Work with precision extrudes to create new shapes
  • Add cuts to models based on loops of edges
  • Connect and create new geometry based on vertices, edges, and faces
  • Separate and joint models
  • Merge elements like vertices to fix 3D models
  • Use the mirror mode to invert 3D models

Modeling techniques and resources

The extrude is a great tool for modeling, but it won't solve all problems related to modeling. We also need additional tools like modifiers! In this section you learn how to:

  • Apply and manage modifiers
  • Use the Subdivision surface modifier
  • Control the smoothness of the Subdivision Surface
  • Set the radius for the Subdivision Surface
  • Apply different types of shading for models
  • Use the Mirror modifier for symmetrical modeling
  • Compose unique shapes with the Boolean
  • Create models based on patterns with the Array
  • Make round shapes with the Spin
  • Use the proportional editing tools

Materials and textures

Any project in Blender will benefit from a good selection of materials and textures. It is time to learn how to manage and use PBR materials. You will learn in this section:

  • Apply materials to objects
  • Manage and rename materials
  • Protect materials from the purge process with a Fake user
  • Choose the best shader for a material
  • Use image textures
  • Control projection and tilling for textures
  • Apply PBR materials to objects
  • Use Nodes to control and craft materials
  • Apply glossy and transparent shaders to objects
  • Use multiple materials for the same object

Rendering and illumination

In Blender 2.8, you will find two powerful renderers that will become useful for a particular type of project. You will learn how to use and setup Eevee and Cycles! You will learn in this section:

  • Differences between Eevee and Cycles
  • How to choose Eevee or Cycles for rendering
  • Use shading modes for render
  • Control and adjust the camera
  • Adjust the focal length from cameras
  • Saving renders as images
  • Using environment maps
  • Add lights to the scene
  • Setup a project using Eevee and Cycles

Animation and motion with Blender

You will find a powerful set of tools in Blender to create 3D animations, and we will create a few animation projects using interpolation. You will learn in this section:

  • How animations work in Blender
  • Controlling and managing frames and length for animations
  • Choosing the FPS for animations
  • Add/Remove and manage keyframes
  • Creating simple animations with keyframes
  • Adjusting animation timing
  • Making linear animations using curves

Animation rendering and composition

The last chapter of the book shows you how to use additional tools for animation and also the rendering of an animation. From an image sequence to a video file. Here is what you will learn:

  • How to make a camera always look to the same object with a Track To constraint
  • Make objects follow a path in animation
  • Creating animation loops in the Graph Editor
  • Render and export video for animation
  • Use the Video Sequencer Editor
  • Edit, Cut, and compose animations with the Sequencer
  • Add backgrounds for animations in the Sequencer
  • Add titles for animations using the Sequencer

Book details

  • Release date: August 2020
  • Edition: 1st
  • Pages: 272 (Paperback)
  • Autor: Allan Brito
  • Blender version used: Blender 2.9 Beta
  • ASIN Kindle: B08G7L8TVF
  • ISBN-13 paperback: 979-8676661700

Buy now from Amazon:

  • Available in eBook format (Worldwide)
  • Available as a paperback (some regions)

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