Blender 3D: Characters, Machines, and Scenes for Artists

1: Modeling the Character\'s Base Mesh
Introduction
Setting templates with the Images as Planes add-on
Setting templates with the Image Empties method
Setting templates with the Background Images tool
Building the character\'s base mesh with the Skin modifier

2: Sculpting the Character\'s Base Mesh
Introduction
Using the Skin modifier\'s Armature option
Editing the mesh
Preparing the base mesh for sculpting
Using the Multiresolution modifier and the Dynamic topology feature
Sculpting the character\'s base mesh

3: Polygonal Modeling of the Character\'s Accessories
Introduction
Preparing the scene for polygonal modeling
Modeling the eye
Modeling the armor plates
Using the Mesh to Curve technique to add details

4: Re-topology of the High Resolution Sculpted Character\'s Mesh
Introduction
Using the Grease Pencil tool to plan the edge-loops flow
Using the Snap tool to re-topologize the mesh
Using the Shrinkwrap modifier to re-topologize the mesh
Using the LoopTools add-on to re-topologize the mesh
Concluding the re-topologized mesh

5: Unwrapping the Low Resolution Mesh
Introduction
Preparing the low resolution mesh for unwrapping
UV unwrapping the mesh
Editing the UV islands
Using the Smart UV Project tool
Modifying the mesh and the UV islands
Setting up additional UV layers
Exporting the UV Map layout

6: Rigging the Low Resolution Mesh
Introduction
Building the character\'s Armature from scratch
Perfecting the Armature to also function as a rig for the Armor
Building the character\'s Armature through the Human Meta-Rig
Building the animation controls and the Inverse Kinematic
Generating the character\'s Armature by using the Rigify add-on

7: Skinning the Low Resolution Mesh
Introduction
Parenting the Armature and Mesh using the Automatic Weights tool
Assigning Weight Groups by hand
Editing Weight Groups using the Weight Paint tool
Using the Mesh Deform modifier to skin the character
Using the Laplacian Deform modifier and Hooks

8: Finalizing the Model
Introduction
Creating shape keys
Assigning drivers to the shape keys
Setting movement limit constraints
Transferring the eyeball rotation to the eyelids
Detailing the Armor by using the Curve from Mesh tool

9: Animating the Character
Introduction
Linking the character and making a proxy
Creating a simple walk cycle for the character by assigning keys to the bones
Tweaking the actions in Graph Editor
Using the Non Linear Action Editor to mix different actions

10: Creating the Textures
Introduction
Making a tileable scales image in Blender Internal
Preparing the model to use the UDIM UV tiles
Baking the tileable scales texture into the UV tiles
Painting to fix the seams and to modify the baked scales image maps
Painting the color maps in Blender Internal
Painting the color maps in Cycles

11: Refining the Textures
Introduction
Sculpting more details on the high resolution mesh
Baking the normals of the sculpted mesh on the low resolution one
The Armor textures
Adding a dirty Vertex Colors layer and baking it to an image texture
The Quick Edit tool

12: Creating the Materials in Cycles
Introduction
Building the reptile skin shaders in Cycles
Making a node group of the skin shader to reuse it
Building the eyes\' shaders in Cycles
Building the armor shaders in Cycles

13: Creating the Materials in Blender Internal
Introduction
Building the reptile skin shaders in Blender Internal
Building the eyes\' shaders in Blender Internal
Building the armor shaders in Blender Internal

14: Lighting, Rendering, and a Little Bit of Compositing
Introduction
Setting the library and the 3D scene layout
Setting image based lighting (IBL)
Setting a three-point lighting rig in Blender Internal
Rendering an OpenGL playblast of the animation
Obtaining a noise-free and faster rendering in Cycles
Compositing the render layers

15: Sci-Fi Pistol - Creating the Basic Shapes
A project overview
Creating the barrel
Summary

16: Sci-Fi Pistol - Adding Details
Finishing the handgrip
Cutting shapes into our gun
Circles, angles, and edge splits
Adding final details
General workflow for detailing
Summary

17: Texturing and Rendering Your Sci-Fi Pistol
Preparing our scene
Enabling GPU rendering
Adding materials and textures
Summary

18: Spacecraft – Creating the Basic Shapes
Shaping the body
Creating the accessories
Summary

19: Spacecraft - Adding Details
Refining our ship
Adding detail with pipes
Finishing our main objects
Do it yourself - completing the body
Building the landing gear
Adding the cockpit
Creating small details
Working with Path objects
Finishing touches
Summary

20: Spacecraft – Materials, Textures, and Rendering
Preparing the model and scene
Creating materials
Adding decals with UV maps
Other possibilities
Summary

21: Modeling Your Freestyle Robot
Modeling for Freestyle
Blocking out your robot
Creating the body with Subdivision Surfacing
Finishing the robot
Summary

22: Robot - Freestyle Rendering
Preparing the scene
Marking Freestyle edges
Creating materials
Rendering and material options
Summary

23: Low-Poly Racer – Building the Mesh
Building for external applications
Starting the truck model
Manifold versus non-manifold meshes
Adding details
Summary

24: Low-Poly Racer – Materials and Textures
Texturing workflow
Adding materials
Unwrapping and baking
Adding detail in an Image Editor
Checking the Texture Map
Summary

25: Robot Toy – Modeling of an Object
Let\'s start the modeling of our robot toy
Using the basic modeling tools
Summary

26: Alien Character – Base Mesh Creation and Sculpting
Understanding the sculpting process
An introduction to sculpting
Choosing sculpting over poly modeling
Anatomy of a brush
Creating a base mesh with the Skin modifier
An introduction to artistic anatomy
Summary

27: Alien Character – Creating a Proper Topology and Transferring the Sculpt Details
Why make a retopology?
Making the retopology of the alien character
Unwrapping UVs
Understanding UVs
The baking of an ambient occlusion
Summary

28: Haunted House – Modeling of the Scene
Blocking the house
Blocking the bases of the house
Refining the blocking
Reworking the blocking objects
Breaking and ageing the elements
Creation of the simulation of a stack of planks
Modeling the environment (8 pages)
Organizing the scene
Summary

29: Haunted House – Putting Colors on It
Unwrapping UVs
Adding colors
Doing a quick render with Blender Internal
Summary

30: Haunted House – Adding Materials and Lights in Cycles
Understanding the basic settings of Cycles
Lighting
Creating materials with nodes
Creating realistic grass
Baking textures in Cycles
Compositing a mist pass
Summary

31: Rat Cowboy – Learning To Rig a Character for Animation
An introduction to the rigging process
Rigging the Rat Cowboy
Skinning
Custom shapes
The shape keys
Summary

32: Rat Cowboy – Animate a Full Sequence
Principles of animation
Animation tools in Blender
Preparation of the animation
Animating the scene
Render a quick preview of a shot
Summary

33: Rat Cowboy – Rendering, Compositing, and Editing
Creating advanced materials in Cycles
The Raw rendering phase
Enhance a picture with compositing
Editing the sequence with the VSE
Introduction to the Video Sequence Editor
Summary