Thursday, March 31, 2011

Blender: Terms and Concepts used in 3D Graphics

http://showmedo.com/videotutorials/video?name=blenderMoyes-000-capture-terms&fromSeriesID=31

Blender: Creating a Bug Zapper

Creating a Bug Zapper - part 2 from CG Cookie on Vimeo.

In Part two of this tutorial, I go on with the Bug Zapper to create multiple materials, including the glowing blue light of the bulbs set as an Emitter, and using that to turn on the Indirect Lighting effect. I set up a few different lighting rigs before finally deciding on Spotlights with Buffer Shadows to render out the final image.

Blender: Getting Started on Interface, Modelling, Animation, Rendering & Lighting

http://www.blendercookie.com/getting-started-with-blender/

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Blender: Creating a Text Outline Effect in Blender

Creating a Text Outline Effect in Blender from Kernon Dillon on Vimeo.

In this short tutorial, we'll take a look at how you can use Blender to create text outline effects. Our goal will be to have the text appear as two-dimensional printed text as opposed to 3D text.



After viewing this tutorial and studying the included references, you will be able to:



* Add text to a Blender scene and change its font

* Setup a camera to render a scene orthogonally

* Create a window to display your rendered scene using the Image Editor

* Gain control of the bevel of a curve object

* Control the anti-aliasing of your rendered scene using the OSA filters

* Create a text outline effect

* Remove shadows and lighting from an object's material



and more...



More info: http://blendernewbies.blogspot.com/2008/02/video-tutorial-creating-text-outline.html

Blender: Wavy text in blender



Moving Camera:
Go to camera view and select camera -> Press Alt+R -> Press Alt+G -> Press 'R' and then 'x' and type 90 and grab it back on the Y axis.

GIMP: Glowing Text with Motion Blur

  Using Fuzzy Select tool (magic wand). Hold the Shift button and click on each letter

Converting text to path:
click on the text we just wrote so it becomes active. Click the button that says Path from Text in the toolbox. Now delete the layer with text on.
Create a new layer. Go to the Paths Dialog and doubleclick on the path called “I can”. This will make the path active so we can stroke it.

GIMP: Fancy Glowing Lines

http://mygimptutorial.com/fancy-glow-effects-in-gimp

MY NOTES:
Filters->Distorts->Ripple
Filters->Distorts->Whirl and Pinch (Whirl Angle to 360.)
Filters->Blur->Motion Blur (Blur Type to Zoom and Length to 150)
Filters->Distorts->Iwarp.

Working with paths tool
Select the path tool. Create an S like shape
Now first create a new layer, and then choose stroke path.
Now find Filters->Blur->Gaussian Blur.

Using Layer mask:
Add a layer mask to the layer. (right-click on the layer in the Layer Dialog and choose Add Layer Mask).
Make sure you set it to White(Full Opacity).

The layer mask controls the transparency of the layer, but unlike just setting the opacity of the entire layer, the layer mask allows you to set different transparency for different areas in your image.

So let’s put that layer mask to good use. Select the Free Select tool, and draw a selection around

First, make sure that it’s the layer mask that is selected and not the layer itself. (just click on the layer mask once in the layer dialog to select it).
Now set your FG and BG colors to black and white

Give some glow:
Duplicate the layer, then lock transparent pixels.


Monday, March 28, 2011

Blender: Shape Modeling Exercise #5 - Wrapping an Object with a Lattice-style Mesh


Shape Modeling Exercise #5 - Wrapping an Object with a Lattice-style Mesh from Kernon Dillon on Vimeo.
In this exercise, we'll be creating a lattice, or net-like, mesh that we will then wrap around our targeted object.

The blend file that matches the starting point of the tutorial can be found at:
 http://tinyurl.com/22ojhe6

(the reference image is packed within the blend file)
---------------------------------------------------
(CTRL+A) or object -> apply -> Rotation  (it zeros out the rotation of object or resets the rotation values to zero)
* using array modifier, Solidify modifier, etc.

For textures, a few good sites are:
http://www.cgtextures.com/
http://www.openfootage.net/
http://www.textureking.com/

Using ZBrush MatCaps (Material Captures) in Blender


Using ZBrush MatCaps in Blender from Kernon Dillon on Vimeo.
In this tutorial we'll take a look at how to use ZBrush MatCaps in Blender, and where to find MatCaps.

 This works in Blender 2.5 and 2.49.

Links to MatCap resources can be found at the BlenderNewbies blog.
 tinyurl.com/23b8ogo

MY NOTES:

MatCaps means Matierial Captures

http://www.pixologic.com/zbrush/downloadcenter/library/

under matcap library:

* used (check) premultiply option in material tab under image submenu

Shape Modeling Exercise Series - #4 (Twisted Doorknob)


BlenderNewbies Shape Modeling Exercise Series - #4 (Twisted Doorknob) from Kernon Dillon on Vimeo.
In this shape modeling exercise we take a look at modeling a Twisted Doorknob.

You can download the blend file, reference image, and texture at http://tinyurl.com/2epmkfm .
 ----------------------
 The point of these videos is not to model a complete object but to rather focus on different shapes and issues that you may encounter while modeling. So, essentially, these are exercises.

Hopefully, these videos will help you better understand how to approach modeling certain shapes, and what tools are available in Blender to make things easier.
 ----------------------
MY NOTES:

Some key elements of video:

* Making groups of vertices (16:00min)
* Using simple deform modifier

* Adding Texture: (26:00min)
Texture Tab -> Change Type to: Image or movie ->  In 'Image' submenu click 'open' -> under 'Mapping' submenu, select for coordinates 'Normal'

Go to Material Tab:
Under 'shading' submenu click shadeless.

Press N -> Under 'Display' -> Select Shading as GLSL in dropdown.
and Set Viewport Shading to Textured.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Blender: Shape Modeling Exercise Series - #3


Shape Modeling Exercise Series - #3 (Fenestron Tail Rotor Blade) from Kernon Dillon on Vimeo.
In this shape modeling exercise we take a look at modeling a Fenestron Tail Rotor Blade.

You can download the blend file and the reference image at http://tinyurl.com/266qxu2 .
 ----------------------
 The point of these videos is not to model a complete object but to rather focus on different shapes and issues that you may encounter while modeling. So, essentially, these are exercises.

Hopefully, these videos will help you better understand how to approach modeling certain shapes, and what tools are available in Blender to make things easier.

MY NOTES:

To create a little gap b/w the outer rim and inside circular section:
Select the rim (alt + left)
Shift+D to duplicate
Mesh -> Vertices -> Seperate (by selection)

* also check using proportional editing (at 25:00)

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Blender: Shape Modeling Exercise Series - #2

Shape Modeling Exercise Series - #2 from Kernon Dillon on Vimeo.

In this shape modeling exercise we take a look at modeling a fancy doorknob handle.



(Please excuse some issues caused by my sinus allergies. :p )



You can download the blend file, the reference image, and the texture file at http://tinyurl.com/29v6uu4



----------------------

The point of these videos is not to model a complete object but to rather focus on different shapes and issues that you may encounter while modeling. So, essentially, these are exercises.



Hopefully, these videos will help you better understand how to approach modeling certain shapes, and what tools are available in Blender to make things easier.



(The techniques demonstrated aren't intended to be the exact solution for every scenario.)

Blender: BlenderNewbies Shape Modeling Series - #1

BlenderNewbies Shape Modeling Series - #1 from Kernon Dillon on Vimeo.

This is the first video in a series of videos on modeling shapes in Blender.



The point of these videos is not to model a complete object but to rather focus on different shapes and issues that you may encounter while modeling. So, essentially, these are exercises.



Hopefully, these videos will help you better understand how to approach modeling certain shapes, and what tools are available in Blender to make things easier.



(The techniques demonstrated aren't intended to be the exact solution for every scenario.)

Blender: Changing Cameras during an Animation in Blender 2.5

Changing Cameras during an Animation in Blender 2.5 from Kernon Dillon on Vimeo.

Blender: Tip: Moving Objects out of the Local View without leaving the Local View mode


Tip: Moving Objects out of the Local View without leaving the Local View mode from Kernon Dillon on Vimeo.

Moving objects out of local view without having to exit the local view.

Isolate objects: Select object -> View -> View Global/Local (num/)

Sending few objects from local view to
Select objects -> Object -> Move to Layer (M)
(There are no layer options in a local view but we can use the same key stroke to get to Global view.)

Blender: Tip: Aligning Objects in Blender 2.5


Aligning Objects in Blender 2.5 from Kernon Dillon on Vimeo.

Object -> Transform -> Align Objects
(This is available only in object mode)

Align Objects: Align Mode: Postive Sides (means top side)

Relative To: Scene Origin (the intersection b/w x and y axis (green and red)).

Blender: Tip: Optimizing Blender 2.5 UI Interaction

Tip: Optimizing Blender 2.5 UI Interaction from CG Cookie on Vimeo.

In this quick tip, we'll take a look at probably one of the most important settings to control the smoothness of Blender's UI interaction, the Window Draw Method.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

GIMP: How to Make Your Photos Look Vintage! Old Photo Effect -- GIMP Tutorial



Colors -> Brightness and Contrast -> (Brightness: 0; Contrast: 20)

Colors -> Hue Saturation -> (Hue: -10; Lightness: 0; Saturation: 20)

Colors -> Curves -> Select Red Channel -> and make changes to curves. Similarly make changes to green and blue channels.

Colors -> Hue Saturation -> (Hue: -10; Saturation: -20)

GIMP: How to make a Disintegration Effect



Filters -> Renders -> Clouds -> Plasma (Random Seed: 0; Turbulence: Maximum)

Filters -> Map -> Displace (x-dis: 26, y-dis:27, all other settings as default)

Monday, March 21, 2011

Blender: UVs & Textures (Part 1)

Uvs & Textures (Part 1) from Oliver Villar Diz on Vimeo.

Blender: Introduction to UV Unwrapping

Introduction to UV Unwrapping from CG Cookie on Vimeo.

In this Blender 2.5 video tutorial we introduce you to the concepts and methods of UV unwrapping. Using three progressively more complex primitive mesh objects you are shown the basics of unwrapping, how to set seams, how to reduce stretching, how to assign materials to use the UVs and more.

Blender: Creating a Glowing Stripes Effect

Creating a Glowing Stripes Effect from CG Cookie on Vimeo.

In this special Holiday Blender 2.5 tutorial we go about recreating the infamous glowing stripes effect from Tron. Although the subject is not seasonal in its self, many of you have probably made it one of your holiday movies. The tutorial covers the processes of creating the materials, lighting, rendering, and post processing of the scene.

Blender: Rendering with a Background Image

Tip: Rendering with a Background Image from CG Cookie on Vimeo.

In this quick Blender 2.5 video tip we show you an easy way to render your scene with a background image. This technique makes use of the Node-based compositor to overlay the scene on an image of your choice.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Blender: Organize a scene (Learn: Layer, Scene, Groups)

How to Organize your Scene (Layers, Groups & Scenes) from Oliver Villar Diz on Vimeo.

Blender: Video Sequence Editor - Title Slides and Callout Video

"Video Sequence Editor - Title slides and Callout Video" from CG Cookie on Vimeo.

In this tutorial, I import a video clip into the Video Sequence Editor as a "base" clip. Then I import a second video, which I show how to overlay onto the first one by using a "Transform" strip effect, resizing and positioning with the controls in the Properties Panel. Next I go into Gimp and create a title slide png, and import that back into Blender, and superimpose it on top of the first two video clips. Finally I bring in an audio clip, and export out to mpg.

Blender: Create a Fluorescent Light Bulb.

Lightbulb Revisit - Energy Saving! from CG Cookie on Vimeo.

Are Touchscreen Tablets Effective Design Tools?

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/03/18/are-touchscreen-tablets-effective-design-tools-review/

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Monday, March 7, 2011

GIMP: Create a Pencil or Charcoal Sketch from Photo.



1. Duplicate the Photo
2. On Duplicate layer: Color-> Colorize the image-> Set Saturation to '0'.
3. Duplicate this color-less layer again.
4. Now choose Filters / Blur / Gaussian Blur, value: 5 by 5 and hit 'ok'.
5. Then use Colors / Invert. Then change the opacity of the layer to 50% to get a grey layer that shows the photo’s edges very weak.
6. Merge the layer with the layer down: right-click the layer in the Layers window and choose “Merge down”.
7. Duplicate the merged down layer And change the mode to 'Dodge'.
8. Then merge down 3rd and 2nd layer. Duplicate it again and select the 3rd layer and set the mode to 'Multiply' and merge them down.
9. Repeat the process - the features become more detailed and looks more like a charcoal drawing than a pencil drawing.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

GIMP: How To Make An Icon From A Picture

http://gimp-tutorials.net/How-to-make-an-icon-from-a-picture

A Good Tutorial for image resize, canvas(grey and white square screen) and boundary size(image boundary).


"Image>Canvas Size..." [to clip a part]
Right-click on the layer now, and select "Layer to Image Size." The layer boundary (the black and yellow line) should now be the same as the canvas.

Select the Scale Tool (or press Shift+T), and shrink the image to 256x256.
Go to "Image>Fit Canvas to Layers" now the canvas should match with the layer boundary.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

GIMP: Glow Effect

http://gimp-tutorials.net/gimp-glow-effect
Nice tutorial to learn 'Layer mode: Dodge'.