Blender is the first and only fully-integrated 3D graphics creation suite allowing modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, and realtime interactive 3D with cross-platform compatibility - all for free. Originally developed by Not a Number (NaN) as a commercial product, Blender has since been released as free software, with the sources available under GNU GPL. The Official Blender 2.3 Guide is an introduction to the sometimes complicated Blender interface and a complete guide to everything that Blender can do. Written by the designers who created and currently maintain Blender, the book covers methods of designing models, materials, and light; rendering 3D scenes; creating 3D animations; as well as advanced topics such as using Blender as a video editor. Includes a 4-color insert and a CD-ROM containing Blender for all platforms.
The Blender Foundation is the non-profit organization that maintains Blender under the GNU GPL license. Chairman Ton Roosendaal is Blender's creator and the person who started the non-profit Blender Foundation. He co-authored The Official Blender GameKit (No Starch Press) and The Official Blender 2.0 Guide (Premier Press). Stefano Selleri is an Assistant Professor at the University of Florence, Italy. He has been working with 3D design since 1995 and with Blender since 1999.
PART I: INTRODUCTION TO BLENDER
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Installation
Chapter 3: Understanding the Interface
Chapter 4: Quickstart
PART II: MODELLING, MATERIALS AND LIGHTS
Chapter 5: Object Mode
Chapter 6: Mesh Modelling
Chapter 7: Curves and Surfaces
Chapter 8: Materials and Textures
Chapter 9: Lighting
Chapter 10: The World and the Universe
PART III: ANIMATION
Chapter 11: Animation of Undeformed Objects
Chapter 12: Animation of Deformations
Chapter 13: Character Animation
PART IV: RENDERING
Chapter 14: Rendering
Chapter 15: Radiosity
PART V: ADVANCED TOOLS
Chapter 16: Special Modeling Techniques
Chapter 17: Effects
Chapter 18: Volumetric Effects
Chapter 19: The Sequence Editor
PART VI: EXTENDING BLENDER
Chapter 20: Python Scripting
Chapter 21: Blender's Plugin System
PART VII: BEYOND BLENDER
Chapter 22: From Blender to Yafray Using Yable
Chapter 23: Yafray
PART VIII: REFERENCE
Chapter 24: Blender Windows
Chapter 25: Hotkeys In-Depth Reference
Chapter 26: Windows Reference
Chapter 27: Buttons Reference
Chapter 28: Command Line Arguments
Chapter 29: Blender 2.32 Release
PART IX: APPENDICES
Appendix A: Quick Hotkeys List
Appendix B: Supported Videocards
Appendix C: Blender 2.31 Changelog
Appendix D: The Blender Documentation Project
Appendix E: Joining the Coders
Appendix F: Licenses
Appendix G: Glossary
