Blender For Dummies. Jason van Gumster

a feature in Blender to one in another package. However, that comparison is mostly for the benefit of these other users. I write so that you can understand a concept without having to know any of these other programs.

      I do, however, make the assumption that you have at least a basic understanding of your computer. I assume that you know how to use a mouse, and I highly recommend that you use a mouse with at least two buttons and a scroll wheel. You can use Blender with a one- or two-button mouse, and I provide workarounds for the unfortunate souls in that grim state (*cough*Mac users*cough*), but it’s certainly not ideal.

      An exception is if you’re using Blender with a drawing tablet like the ones produced by Wacom. Depending on the model, these devices have quite a variety on the number and type of buttons. For that reason, I focus primarily on using Blender with a mouse, although I will occasionally point out where having a tablet is helpful. Because Blender makes use of all your mouse buttons, I stipulate whether you need to left-click, right-click, or middle-click. And in case you didn’t already know, pressing down on your mouse’s scroll wheel typically accesses the middle mouse button. I also make use of this cool little arrow (⇒) for indicating a sequence of steps. It could be a series of hotkeys to press or menu items to select or places to look in the Blender interface, but the consistent thing is that all these items are used for steps that you need to do sequentially.

      I also assume that you’re working with Blender’s default settings and theme. You can customize the settings for yourself, but if you do, Blender may not behave exactly like I describe. Bearing in mind this point about Blender's themes, you may notice that the screenshots of Blender’s interface are lighter in this book than you see on-screen because I created a custom Blender theme that would show up better in print. If I used Blender’s default theme colors, all the figures in the book would appear overly dark. I include this custom theme at www.blenderbasics.com if you who want your copy of Blender to match what’s shown on these pages.

      Icons Used in This Book

      As you flip through this book, icons periodically appear next to some paragraphs. These icons notify you of unique or valuable information on the topic at hand. Sometimes that information is a tip, sometimes it's more detail about how something works, and sometimes it's a warning to help you avoid losing data. The following are descriptions of each icon in this book.

       This icon calls out suggestions that help you work more effectively and save time.

       This icon marks something that I think you should try to keep in mind while working in Blender. Sometimes it’s a random tidbit of information, but more often than not, it’s something that you’ll run into repeatedly and is therefore worth remembering.

       Working in 3D can involve some pretty heavy technical information. You can usually work just fine without ever having to know these things, but if you do take the time to understand it, I bet you dollars to donuts that you’ll be able to use Blender more effectively.

       This icon doesn’t show up often, but when it does, I definitely recommend that you pay attention. You won’t blow up your computer if you overlook it, but you could lose work.

       Blender is a fast-moving target. Quite a bit has changed since the previous edition of this book. These icons point out things that are new or different in Blender so that you can get to be at least as effective (and hopefully more effective) with the current version as you were with past versions.

      Beyond the Book

      Blender For Dummies, 3rd Edition, includes the following goodies online for easy download:

      ✔ Cheat Sheet: You can find the Cheat Sheet for this book here:

      www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/blender

      ✔ Extras: I provide a few extra articles here:

      www.dummies.com/extras/blender

      I keep and maintain a website at www.blenderbasics.com with additional resources. I have a whole bunch of tutorials, both in written and in video format, specifically for readers of this book. Also, Blender's a big, fast-moving program. I do my best on that site to chronical changes in Blender that affect the content of this book (and perhaps share a new tip or two as well).

      Occasionally, John Wiley and Sons has updates to its books. If there is an update to this book, it will be posted at http://dummies.com/go/blenderupdates.

      Where to Go from Here

      Wondering where to start? The easy answer here would be to say “Just dive on in!” but that’s probably a bit too vague. This book is primarily intended as a reference, so if you already know what you’re looking for, flip over to the table of contents or index and start soaking in the Blendery goodness.

      If you're just starting out, I suggest that you merely turn a couple of pages, start at Chapter 1, and enjoy the ride. And even if you’re the sort of person who knows exactly what you’re looking for, take the time to read through other sections of the book. You can find a bunch of valuable little bits of information that may help you work more effectively.

      Regardless of how you read this book, though, my one hope is that you find it to be a valuable resource that allows you to flex your creative muscles and, more importantly, have fun doing it.

      Part I

      Getting Started with Blender

       Visit www.dummies.com for great Dummies content online.

       In this part…

      ✔ Getting comfortable with Blender.

      ✔ Customizing the interface.

      ✔ Working in 3D.

      ✔ Managing .blend files.

      ✔ Visit www.dummies.com for great Dummies content online.

Chapter 1

      Discovering Blender

       In This Chapter

      ▶ Figuring out what Blender is and what it's used for

      ▶ Understanding Blender's history

      ▶ Getting familiar with the Blender interface

      In the world of 3D modeling and animation software, programs have traditionally been expensive – like, thousands-of-dollars-and-maybe-an-arm expensive. That's changed a bit in the last few years, with software companies moving to more subscription-based ways of selling their programs. The entry cost is lower, but paying each month can still add up pretty quickly. There are some valid reasons for the high prices. Software companies spend millions of dollars and countless hours developing these programs. And the large production companies that buy this kind of software for their staff make enough money to afford the high cost, or they hire programmers and write their own in-house software.

      But what about us, you and I: the little guys? We are the ambitious dreamers with big ideas, high motivation … and tight budgets. How can we bring our ideas to life and our stories to screen, even if only on our own computer monitors? Granted, we could shell out the cash (and