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Book Review: Blender 2.49 Scripting

dreamsgate — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:15:52 +0000

“The wait for a comprehensive book on Python scripting in Blender 2.49 is over”. I said this in my mind when I got to review the book titled “Blender 2.49 Scripting” by Michel Anders (and published by [PACKT] Publishing). I only hope this book had come out earlier, but I guess its better late then never. What follows is my review of the book, arranged into sections.

Introduction

Blender is a premier open source tool for 3d content creation and its tool set and work flow has helped many an artist to realize his creativity into reality. Apart from its built-in tools, having the ability to extend the tool set and customize the software in a pipeline with Python was a bonus. The community has risen and developed quite a number of tools ranging from simple to complex using the Blender Python API.

But there was a dearth of good tutorials on Python scripting in Blender and on using the API to create better animations and such. The books from Blender Foundation really helped bridge the gap between the software and novice users, but the missing link was a book for Python.

The wait is over. Enter “Blender 2.49 Scripting”.

What this book assumes?

This book assumes that the reader is already familiar with using Blender and understands the data system. But, the basic concepts, needed to script using Python in each chapter are reviewed.. for example Object and DataBlock system, IPO and their uses, Poses etc., are reviewed so that one has good theoretical grounding before jumping into scripting.

The first chapter sets the ground by helping with installing Python and also explaining how Python scripts are automatically integrated into the menu system, help system with simple examples.

Learn By Example

One of the big strengths of this book is the breadth of programming/scripting examples across various aspects of Blender’s tool-set. From simple examples to intermediate and complex ones, the author lays down steps of the algorithm in simple English and then goes on to build the python code.

Especially the scripts/drivers for animating an IC engine and their design with illustrations is very commendable. I have learnt a lot of new stuff that i was not aware of about using pydrivers and designing custom constraints.

Another thing the author did was to make use of Python library modules (internal and external) to create some very interesting scripts. For example, using Python’s wave module to animate meshes using shape keys was a very good example of creating a complex systems using existing tools. Render management has also got good coverage and the examples for stitching images from various cameras was excellent (And using Python Imaging Library is a very good example of system integration to get a job done well!)

The best part for me was understanding how to extend the Python’s built-in script editor by writing plugins. On top of that the examples on integrating the editor with SVN is simply amazing.

Thank You!! Support Files

Support files (blends, py scripts) provided with the book are indispensable and go hand in hand with reading the book.

Some of the chapters deal with writing complex tools, for which the author provides a nice code walk through of the important pieces of the code and the full source code is provided with instructions on usage in Blender. Also, the references chapter is a nice addition to the book. And links to Wikipedia pages that cover the theoretical details of some of the example scripts was really helpful in illustrating the importance of research before implementing an idea.

What could have been Better?

I believe that this book would have satisfied a much wider audience if there were very simple scripting examples at the beginning of every chapter. Especially the chapter on programing custom mesh objects in Blender would have benefited.

Also, in some cases, when the code for complex scripts is explained, the paragraphs could have been broken down into smaller ones for better readability.

More examples on adding OpenGL overlays to the 3D View would have been useful. I believe that ability to do OpenGL programming in Blender is a really awesome feature and good examples on how to achieve the same are few and far in between.

In Summary

In summary, Blender 2.49 Scripting is a great technical and programming book for anyone interested in learning about the process of designing and implementing Python scripts for Blender. Also Animators will benefit a lot to create better rigs and create complex animations using the python integration into the animation system in Blender.

review by Satish Goda

1st Hebrew Translation of Blenderart Magazine available

dreamsgate — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:06:03 +0000

We are pleased to announce that Shlomi Israely (aka sijp) has translated issue #27 of Blenderart Magazine into Hebrew. The Blenderart staff appreciates his hard work.

You can find it on our Issues Page, along with all the other wonderful translated issues.

Update on the Weta digital design competition

dreamsgate — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:13:17 +0000

Press Release from the RayGun Shootout contest
Cassie Merrick
Marketing Support Representative
InterGrid Limited

By golly, by hokey, April! What a month it has been…
Dr. Grordbort has worn his brain thin trying to distinguish which of your feeble attempts is worthy of one of his glorious prizes
Greg Broadmore and Richard Taylor came to his aid and helped him make this tremendous decision!
A winner was reluctantly chosen for the April competition ‘the most futuristic Raygun’

And the winner is…

The ”String Manipulator XII” has won for its swirling‐ice‐cream‐cone‐of‐death good
looks, and minimal effort required to fire. jrobot will receive a Righteous Bison for their efforts

The winner for the most popular design (erhh the one at the top of the leader board) is
P4blo for his ‘Age Accelerator HWG’ which you buffoons voted to top place so well done
to him, jolly good job.
He will receive a prize of a mini Goliathon 83 for his exertion also.

So for those of you who have had your posteriors clenched with anxiety I guess the wait is over…
But alas you might be one of Dr. Grordborts less fortunate spot prize winners.

Dr. Grordbort took a bit of fancy to Alltaken for his BRMCO brain Ray Mind Controller 3
And Praxedes for his Phlogistonic Perterburator
A copy of Doctor Grordbort’s Contrapulatronic Dingus Directory will be on its merry way
to these not so deserving winners.
For those of you who failed to impress Dr.Grordbort with your appalling efforts, stop
being a crybaby and get to work on producing your entry for this month’s design –
The finest alien Raygun!
So come forth, stride to victory, good man!
www.raygunshootout.com

GreenButton’s new US$10 capped rate

dreamsgate — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:00:56 +0000

GreenButton…your own personal (super) computer!

GreenButton is a high performance cloud computing solution that offers a plug-in which enables you to process your work from right within the application you are using.

With the power of the servers that were used to render the “Lord of the Rings” behind them – Green Button offers an easy to use service which renders your work at rapid speed.

Go to www.greenbutton.net to sign up and download the GreenButton plug-in.

GreenButton’s new US$10 capped rate:

Our crazy new marketing guy has decided that all jobs run on GreenButton will cost no more than US$10.00 – he has managed to convince our finance department, who initially freaked, but have now agreed!

So we are excited to announce GreenButton’s new US$10 dollar capped rate available until the end of June 2010!

This means you can run any job with GreenButton and it will cost you no more than $10 dollars.

Go to www.greenbutton.net now to start submitting your jobs

Blenderart Mag Issue #26 now available

dreamsgate — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:01:39 +0000

Update: Due to some layout errors, we have uploaded a corrected issue for download.
This issue we not only take a look at how Blender is used in various game production pipelines, but we see two very creative uses for Blender’s internal game engine and how those uses have helped children.

So grab your copy today.
Also be sure to check out our gallery of wonderful images submitted by very talented members of our community.

Table of Contents:

Making of – Circolino
Making of – Going Retro With the BGE
Making of – Blender in 2.5D Games
Making of – Big Pixel
Making of – Infinite Skies
Making of – Pahelika Artwork
Making of – Shootin’ Annie
Making of – Mii School

And Lot More…

New BAM translated issues available #18 French, #24-25 Russian

Nam — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:57:03 +0000

This week, we’re proud to announce several new translated issues of Blenderart Magazine. The French translation team has released issue #18 and the Russian translation team has released issues #24 & #25 now available for download on the issues page.

Special thanks to both groups for their dedication & translation skills, and for helping us reach out to more Blender users!

Editor’s Note

dreamsgate — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:23:43 +0000

It would seem that I have upset the order of the Blender universe by posting Issue #26’s Call for Content before we had released Issue #25. That was not my intention. Issue #25 is on schedule to be released in about a week or so. You have not missed it, it isn’t canceled. It is coming.

I have been monitoring the number of articles submitted for each issue and the time needed by the writers to complete their submissions and came to the conclusion that a little more time would be helpful. So as a test run, I released Call for Content early to see if more time helps both the writers and my staff out.

Sandra

Blenderart Magazine Issue #17 Now Available In French

Nam — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:53:40 +0000

The French translation team has released another issue of Blenderart Magazine in French. Issue #17 ‘Lights, Camera, Action!’ or as they say in French ‘Lumières, Caméra, Action!’ is now available for download on the issues page. Blenderart Magazine would like to thank the French translation team for all their hard work and for being so dedicated to providing a French translation for the French community. This month we’ve seen the speedy work of the French translation team as it has been only several days ago since we last posted issue 16! We have no doubt that issue 18 is close at hand.

Blender 3D 2.49 Incredible Machines Book

Nam — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:14:25 +0000

Packt Publishing, publisher of previously released book ‘Blender 3D Architecture, Buildings and Scenery‘, have announced that they will be releasing a new Blender book entitled ‘Blender 3D 2.49 Incredible Machines‘ expected to be released sometime in November 2009. We’ll be receiving our copy shortly so look out for our review of the book in our December issue.

This book touches on modeling, rendering, and animating realistic machines with Blender 3D.

Contents:
• Walk through the complete process of building amazing machines
• Model and create mechanical models and vehicles with detailed designs
• Add advanced global illumination options to the renders created in Blender 3D using YafaRay and LuxRender
• Create machines such as a handgun, a steam punk spacecraft, and a transforming robot
• & More!!!

View sample content from the book here (Chapter 6 ‘Steampunk Spacecraft’ 1.7mb PDF)

You can view details and pre-order the book at http://www.packtpub.com/blender-3d-2-49-incredible-machines

Issue #9 of BAM now available in Spanish

dreamsgate — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:04:44 +0000

The Spanish translation team has finished translating another issue (#9) of Blenderart Magazine.

Other issues available in Spanish (#1), (#2), (#3), (#4), (#6), (#7)

Translating is a time consuming labor of love and I’m sure they would appreciate any help from volunteers. You can contact the Spanish translation team at:

Spanish Translation Team Contact info:

Juan C. Garcia
jcggoviedo@gmail.com