CSE 380 – Computer Game ProgrammingIntroduction

ITS 102 – 3D Modeling for GamesBlender's User Interface

Goals for Today

Let's learn a little Blender3D:- resize, split, and merge any Blender window- change the type of any Blender window- access user preferences- access panels containing buttons and other controls- change the viewpoint of a viewport

NOTE: The Noob to Pro book advises this is the most important part of the book. Why?

Blender GUI Windows• GUI is divided into windows

– they never overlap

– each window has a header

• Note each window's editor type

– try changing one and see what happens

• Their arrangement is called the workspace

Blender 2.69a Default GUI

Can you find:-info window?

-3d view window?

-properties window?

-outliner window?

-timeline window?

Try flipping a header

-RMB on header

Try hiding a header

-drag header edge

Blender has 15 window types

• Each has its own icon

• Each is for doing different tasks. Ex:

• File → Load Factory Settings is your friend

The Active Window

• The one that will respond to a key press

• Only one is active at a time

• Which one is active?

– the one with the mouse over it

– “focus follows mouse”

– subtle window highlighting

– on active window, try:

The Tool Shelf

• Some windows contain other windows– Ex: 3D View Window contains the Tool Shelf

Splitting & Joining Windows

• Look at top-right and bottom-left of windows

• Do you see this?

• Try dragging it left and right

Workspace Layouts

• Different tasks may require different layouts

– i,e. arrangements of windows

• Predefined layouts available from Info header

The Properties Window

• Functions for materials, animation, rendering, etc.

• Each button switches context:

RenderSceneWorldObjectObject ConstraintsObject Modifiers

Object DataMaterialTextureParticles

Physics

• Render Context– control rendering of the final images:

• which layers to render, what resolution to use, output format, performance, post processing

• Scene– scene settings– camera selection

• World– background sky color– mist– star settings– environment lighting, etc.

• Object– transformations– layer assignments– grouping, etc.

• Object Constraints– limit motion of animation object– i.e. tie motion of other objects

• Object Modifiers– for applying modifiers to geometry

• Object Data– mesh vertex groupings– text font– lamp settings– camera settings, etc.

• Material– object color– shiny/dull surface– transparency

• Texture– surface properties– different types:

• Particles– apply smoke, flames or sparks to objects– generate hair or fur

• Physics– control reaction to forces– rigid bodies– soft bodies (cloth, pillow, etc.)– flowing liquid.

3D View Window

• A rendering approximation. Some features:

– 3D Transform Widget

– 3D Cursor

– Mini Axes

– Object info

3D View Window

• Additional features:

– Current viewport

– Lamp (i.e. light source)

– Camera

– Grid floor of square Blender Units

3D View Window Modes

• Object Mode– RMB to select objects in scene

• Edit Mode– to edit shapes of objects– RMB to select vertices, edges, & faces– TAB to enter/exit mode

• Others for later:– Sculpt– Vertex– Texture– Weight

Solid vs. Wireframe

• Press 'Z' key in 3D View Window

• Solid (opaque surface)

• Wireframe (edges only)

Orthographic vs. Perspective

• Press NUM5 to toggle

• User Persp

• User Ortho

Changing the Viewport

• Zooming the viewport– MMB Scroll– NUM+, NUM-

• Rotating the viewport– MMB press with Mouse Movement– NUM2, NUM4, NUM6, NUM8

• Perfect viewport views

Perfect Views of a Monkey Head

Positioning the 3D Cursor

• Basic technique – LMB on viewport– not so precise

• To snap object to center of cursor– in object mode, select object (RMB on object)– then SHIFT-S

• To relocate cursor to origin (0,0,0)– then SHIFT-C

Dollying

• Moving the viewport left, right, up down– think strafing in a game

• CTRL-NUM2, CTRL-NUM4, CTRL-NUM6, CTRL-NUM8

• Free Dollying:– SHIFT-MMB

Centering

• To center the view on an arbitrary point:– position 3D cursor arbitrary point– press ALT-HOME

• To center the view on an object in the scene:– in object mode– press A to deselect all objects– RMB click on object to center on– press NUM. To center the view

Jumping to the Camera Viewpoint

• Toggle NUM0

Zooming into a Selected Area

• Press SHIFT-B• Then drag LMB to select size of area

– note, this does not change center

Visibility Layers

• Each scene has 20 visibility layers – every object must be assigned to one

• Have many uses:– organize your scene– simplify view while working– light objects separately

Visibility Layer Hotkeys

• Pressing SHIFT while selecting a layer– allows for multiple layers to be selected

Count your polys

Object Mode Editing

• Object vs. Edit mode

• In Object Mode:– Select cube– Add new Cube– Deselect All – Add new Cube– Do you see the difference?

• Try rotation, translation, and scaling

Edit Mode Editing

• Select Cube and Switch to Edit Mode:– Select Vertex and translate– Select Edge and translate– Select Face and translate– Select Face and eXtrude

• Try rotation, translation, and scaling

Next Time

• Editing our Scene– Object ModeAND– Edit Mode