Blender Tutorials

Computer Animation Students will learn 3-D open source animation program Blender by working through tutorials and in-class instruction (with Alex Honeywell) to foster a better understanding of the program's capabilities. In order to give students credit for their time and efforts put into learning the program, students will be given in-class participation/progress credits. If students are absent during that time, they can submit tutorials that help with the creation of their animation pieces.
Some helpful tutorials are listed on previous posts.

Each Session/1 hour tutorial/Blender challenges will be marked out of 5. There are 10 days/tutorials for a total of 50 marks. Students are to save their tutorial files to Computer Animation folder in the Student Share network. Label a folder with your name and save your Blender files there- Let me know when you have save your tutorials there.

Here are a few Blender skills that we tried:

1. Intro to Modeling
2. Intro to Animation
3. Basic Shading & Lighting 
4. Adding Materials 
5. Modifiers
6. Adding faces/deleting faces/extrude
7. Animating in Blender 
8. Animating the Camera or Light
9. Painting Textures onto mesh
10. Adding Images onto your mesh
11. Modelling a toaster  
12. Lighting
13. Particles- hair, adding particles
14. Rigging Character- armature
15. Adding an Armature to a tube- snake?
16. Character Animation
17. Combining Files
18. Rendering/Compositing  
19. Any tutorials relevant to your animation.

Hey class! Here are some notes on creating characters:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18QAjlnYwV5d4fBB06H9yDKlVQr5LpWTCapvkQO1Z3DI/edit?usp=sharing

Here is Alex's email address:
alexander.honeywell@gmail.com

Blender Shortcut Keys

Here are some keyboard shortcuts we know so far:

g = move object
r = rotate object
s = scale object

control-z = undo
shift-s = place cursor in center
tab = change between EDIT or OBJECT mode
w (in edit mode) = subdivide
control-r (in edit mode) = add loop to model

control-p = parent object
alt-p = remove parent
control-j = join 2 or more meshes together

Blender Animation Assignment

You have been learning Blender basics thanks to Alex and online tutorials. Finally, here is the 3-D Animation Assignment:

Create a character and 3-Dimentional environment using Blender and then animate a short narrative sequence. You can work in groups or on your own:

Character Modeling- Combine shapes, edit points and sculpt to create a character. Use colours, and textures to create a character with personality.
Spatial Modeling- Establish a simple scene for your character. Either urban or rural interior or exterior. Start with a plane and see where you go.
What happens? Narrative storyline. Establish an introduction, conflict and resolution.
Movement- Animate your character through the space.
Lighting- Create the mood through lighting- angles, distances, types of lighting.
Creative use of 3-D Space- Unique, Eye catching and Entertaining.
Sound-  This is for bonus marks.
Credits- Opening/ Closing.

Theme Prompt-  Journey, Surprise, and/or discovery.

More Tutorials

Hey everyone!

Here are a more tutorials and places to get useful tutorials. Pick a few from below and use what they're teaching in your own animation.

Skin Modifier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4pSjOd94Lw
Another skin modifier tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezZjV6yfbbE

Another Way to give Characters bones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-rhD4PV1Fc

Character Animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGvalWG8HBU

Particles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8cluXxEK6E

Explosions: http://cgcookie.com/blender/2011/12/02/tip-creating-quick-explosions/

Crumbling simulations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHVYYMG3QVY

Trees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5qQNq_T8eI

Modelling a Building: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJJRC2ebvSE

Modelling a human head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOc4ATqZetk

Sculpting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2unpm-Gr5I8

Basic Animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0VspDUOErE

Animation Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj44hGZj3y8
Another animation tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0VspDUOErE

Bouncing Ball Animation: http://cgcookie.com/blender/2010/09/29/creating-a-bouncing-ball-rig/

UV Texturing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6t3tehdsHU

Painting textures onto mesh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPkqbpoTgD0

Lighting: http://bensimonds.com/2010/06/03/lighting-tips-from-the-masters/

Adding Sounds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKcCR2d7PtE

Render an animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd5RT8rEPqU

Here are awesome places to get many great tutorials:

The Blender Website: http://www.blender.org/support/tutorials/
Blender Cookie: https://cgcookie.com/blender/category/tutorials/
Blender Guru: http://www.blenderguru.com/tutorials/
BlenderArtist: http://blenderartists.org/forum/index.php

Always look for new things!

Good Luck!

Animation Sharing

Save your Stop motion animations to the Computer AnimationShare folder, or save the links here:
Animation Google Doc

Claymation Ideas Development

1. Develop your character(s).
2. Brainstorm your animation ideas
3. Sketch out your idea, props, expressions, background.
4. Write a short "pitch" of the story idea.
5. Storyboard your animation in sequence/order significant frames or changes. This is the most important time in your creative process:

• Make sure to establish your scene, consider medium shots to establish your character, and close-ups to show details and expressions, cut aways, and frame composition. 
• Also plan your mood: lighting, background details, texture, and movement within and between frames. 
• Consider the space between, pauses, and thoughtful moments.

6. List out what you will need for your set-

• Materials- Recycled paper. Clay? Paper? Whiteboard? String/yarn? Lights?
• Image capturing device? Camera needs.
• Equipment needs : Tripod, lighting equipment, background stand...
• Backgrounds: Paper, fabric, or location.
• Location: School, home, room?
• Additional ideas:

7. Test shoot, lighting, scene, composition.
8. Create an X-sheet for timing, sound ideas, and production notes.