Lesson 01 - The Blender Interface
Introduction:
Lesson #1 provides an introduction to the basic Blender interface and demonstrates some of the tools used to maneuver about in 3D space and create primitive mesh objects.
Suggested Texbook Readings:
Read Chapter 1 and 2 of the John Blain "Complete Guide to Blender Graphics" The Blender Interface and Navigation (pages19-48)
Video Tutorials:
01-01 - Blender Default Scene
01-02 - Splitting Joining Extending Editor Windows
01-03 - 3D Editor Viewport Window
01-04 - Blender For Laptops
01-05 - Manuvering Around In 3D Space
01-06 - Blender Controls
01-07 - Mesh Modeling Modes And Viewport Shading
01-08 - Blender Grid - Blender Units And Scale
01-09 - X Y And Z Axis
01-10 - Primitive Mesh Objects
01-11 - Selecting In Object Mode
01-12 - Moving Objects
01-13 - Rotating Objects
01-14 - Scaling Objects
01-15 - Opening Saving Auto Saving Files
PDF Tutorials:
 | Lesson 01 - 01A - Yellow Submarine **Lesson 01-01A.Yellow Submarine** Yellow Submarine PDF Tutorial |
Exercise:
Using some Blender primitive objects, arrange them to look something like this image. (Variation) - Give the Monkey object a baseball cap.
Lesson 02 - Manipulating Objects in 3 Dimensional Space
Introduction:
Lesson #2 continues the examination of Blender's interface and begins to focus on manipulating objects and understanding 3-Dimensional space. This is followed by an examination of the basic elements on the sub-object level (vertices, edges and faces). Here is also and introduction to the camera view.
Suggested Texbook Readings:
Read Chapter 3 of the John Blain "Complete Guide to Blender Graphics" - Creating and Editing Objects (pages 49-84)
Video Tutorials:
02-01 - Adding Mesh Objects In Edit Mode
02-02 - Naming Objects
02-03 - Deleting Objects
02-04 - Undo - Redo
02-05 - Blender Layers
02-06 - Global And Local Orientation
02-07 - Center Point Object Origin
02-08 - Pivot Points
02-09 - Outliner Editor
02-10 - Camera View
02-11 - Duplication
02-12 - Mesh Smoothing
02-13 - Camera - Lock To View
PDF Tutorials:
 | Lesson 02 - 02A - Castle Modeling **Lesson 02-02A.Castle Modeling*** Castle Modeling PDF Tutorial |
 | Lesson 02 - 02B - Castle Texturing (Optional) **Lesson 02-02B.Castle Texturing** Castle Texturing PDF Tutorial |
Exercise:
Arrange a number of scaled/modified torus objects in a configuration that looks something like this image. (Variation) - Add and angle to each of the torus objects.
Lesson 03 - Edit Mode / Mesh Modeling
Introduction:
Lesson #3 focuses on many of the basic edit mode tools used in mesh modeling. It provides a good introduction to the sub-object components of Blender meshes. It also details the Blender Extrusion tool, which is one of the most common tools used in mesh modeling. Pay particular attention to the "Loop Cut and Slide" and "Subdivide" video tutorials as both are staples of Blender modeling.
Video Tutorials:
03-01 - Vertices Edges And Faces
03-02 - Selecting Vertices
03-03 - Selecting Edges
03-04 - Selecting Faces
03-05 - Vertex Edge And Face Menus And Search
03-06 - Subdivide
03-07 - Loop Cut And Slide
03-08 - Knife Cut
03-09 - Rip Tool
03-10 - Extrude Part 1
03-11 - Extrude Part 2
03-12 - Spin
03-13 - Spin Duplication
03-14 - Screw
03-15 - Box Select - Circle Select
PDF Tutorials:
 | Lesson 03 - 03A - Shark Modeling **Lesson 03-03A.Shark Modeling** Shark Modeling PDF Tutorial |
 | Lesson 03 - 03B - Sword (Optional) Sword PDF Tutorial |
Exercise:
Start with the default cube object, add a subdivision surface modifier and model an object something like this image. (Variation) - Make the object look more like a spider.
