Blender 3D Tips, Tricks & Training
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ChrisP’s Feature-Packed Startup File for Blender
I have put together a really handy Startup file containing
- Stage (Seamless & Room w/ individual walls)
- Lights (3-Point Studio Lighting)
- Camera (w/ Track-To and Focus Point)
- Volumetric Dust Particles
- HDRI (w/ Coordinates Controller)
- Fixed World Center Empty
- Shader Preview Orb
- Materials (Metallic Car Paint, Architectural Glass, Plastic, Procedural Scratches, Dust, …)
- Scripts (Animation Nodes rendering, Bullet Time Effect)
- Feature-Packed Compositor Node Tre (Anamorphic Lens Flares, Fake Volumetrics, Glitches, Sharpen, Glare, Color Correction/Grading, Dirt, Vignette, …)
- Practical Default Settings
The latest version will always be available to download from patreon.com/chrisp
Animation Nodes for Blender 2.8x/2.9x
Animation Nodes is an awesome free Add-On for the great 3D software Blender and was created by Jacques Lucke.
I used to publish my own builds for B2.8x here but as of October 2019 I don’t see the need any longer since there are current builds (even with extra nodes!) for Blender 2.8x/2.9x available at GraphicAll
Blender crashes when rendering animations?
The latest buildx of AN has improved this issue drastically, BUT if you still experience crashes when rendering with “Auto Execution” switched on (I found that 1 out of 5 render jobs still crash), then there are several things you can do/try:
- Best solution when you are 100% ready to render: Watch the “NO MORE CRASHES!” video
- Switch on “Lock Interface” in the Render menu
- Bake the animation to keyframes (if possible)
- Use “Viewport Rendering”
If you run into other problems with AN you might also want to check my troubleshooting video!
Material Packs for EEVEE & Cycles
Note: Patrons of level Gold Monkey (or above)
get all existing and future (!) material packs FOR FREE!
Or you can purchase material packs individually from BlenderMarket by clicking an item below:
Procedural, Realistic
Granite Material Asset Pack v2
for Blender 2.92 (and later) with Asset Manager (EEVEE & Cycles)
How-To: VIDEO
Realistic
Copper
+ BONUS: Dust-Shader
for Blender 2.8x
Updated Version for Blender 2.9x available for GOLD tier Patrons as a FREE DOWNLOAD!
Realistic
Silver, Gold, Platinum & Pewter
Procedural Material Pack for Blender 2.8
2x Granite Shader
for Blender 2.8, Procedural, EEVEE & Cycles
Blender Training YouTube Channel
Click a thumbnail to watch a video:
Geometry Nodes: A 1st Look
Introduction to GN & Point Distribution: https://youtu.be/JvBTxd2rRgk
Attribute Workflow: https://youtu.be/DTsEiCfrbXo
Animation Nodes for Video Effect
In this crazy tutorial we use the crazy “Marching Squares” node in crazy Animation Nodes to create a crazy video effect. Crazy!
Intro to “Marching Squares”
In this tutorial we use the “Marching Squares” node of Animation Nodes to create an organic, looping animation based on Metaballs!
Making a Dyson Air Multiplier AM07 Tower Fan
with
Non-Destructive Modeling in Blender 3D
Part 1 – Base Top: https://youtu.be/ivnekkGrISg
Part 2 – Base Stand: https://youtu.be/_JMtJJW5meg
Part 3 – Base Motor: https://youtu.be/5mrZSBB4cAg
Part 4 – Wing: https://youtu.be/5Us7bAGnO5s
TL;DR – https://youtu.be/5lzY3JsiDq0
Instances From Collection
Blender + AN + Physics Tutorial
In this is a follow-up to “Pillow Fight” (see below) you will learn how to randomly instance objects from a given collection, how to animation physics attributes and how you can use Blender’s particle system inside of Animation Nodes.
PILLOW FIGHT
Blender + AN + Physics Tutorial
You can use Animation Nodes instead of particle systems to give your objects (like cloth sim pillows) random starting locations and rotations AND to get even more control over the physics properties (like random, animated pressure values)
Blender Physics + AnimationNodes Tutorial
This is a walk-through of 3 different .blend files showing Animation Nodes, Physics, Materials and more
Visualize CSV Data
In this video I create a 3D heatmap of a 2-dimensional data set.
ACTION!
Let’s take a quick look at “Actions” in Animation Nodes: An easy way to copy keyframed animations of other objects, follow splines, add random motion and more!
Particle Nodes: First Look & Thoughts
The “New Particle Systems” of the “Everything Nodes” development are finally starting to appear in Blender 2.91 and I am taking a first look and have some thoughts about it…
Visualize Real-World JSON Data
3D Charts / Graphs from JSON data in Blender & Animation Nodes
Disgusting Animation Nodes
Intestine, Bowel, Gut, Alien, Tentacles
MORE Nondestructive Modeling
Create mechanical parts with a minimum of mesh
Introduction to Animation Nodes
Tutorial Series for AN Beginners
01 How & Why … https://youtu.be/FBGzZuQaQVs
02 Node Trees … https://youtu.be/4adXZsNRh1w
03 Data Types … https://youtu.be/CgJpKUqQ4q0
04 Inputs to Outputs … https://youtu.be/dO728H3FqA4
05 Object Instancer … https://youtu.be/lD3xzT2Zy9s
06 Falloff … https://youtu.be/bVj0OlCldUU
07 Animate … https://youtu.be/w6vJsUhsoaA
08 Mesh & UVs … https://youtu.be/GUoNy6Z5qE0
09 Groups & Loops … https://youtu.be/YJ5ksvlTKUM
10 Materials … https://youtu.be/WTcfbJykDFk
Find Shortest Path
Animation Nodes Tutorial
Practical Cloth Sims
Intro: https://youtu.be/-Ci5Pdh6an0
Part 1: Cloth Sims 101 https://youtu.be/gDZ1jISqMNI
Part 2: Pressure 1 https://youtu.be/n2HAXlK6sXE
Part 3: Pressure 2 https://youtu.be/QxQ1GIGwslk
Part 4: SkyDancer https://youtu.be/d-bCEFgtU0Y
Part 5: Clothing https://youtu.be/QRMwV7RAxzo
Bullet Time Effect
In this video I’ll show you how to quickly and easily create a camera fly-around which – since the first Matrix movie came out – is also known as a “bullet time effect”!
Particles Emitting Particles Emitting Particles…
In this video I will show you
- how to emit particles from particles … from particles … from particles
- how to change the material based on the age of a particle
- how to have particles follow a smoke simulation
- and how to have certain particles only be affected by certain force fields
Logo to Stained Glass Window/Mosaic
TLDR: https://youtu.be/Tp_wGAX75qQ
Full Tutorial: https://youtu.be/fxODjPnJbs4
How to make SNOW FLAKES
and other Fractals in Blender
TLDR (60 seconds): https://youtu.be/R2MQc7kg1Hk
Full Tutorial: https://youtu.be/rcLd_hBKGAE
Animation Nodes for SCI-FI HUDs/UIs
In this tutorial series you will learn how to build REUSABLE subprograms in Animation Nodes and create cool SCI-FI HUDs!
- Part 1: https://youtu.be/hkE39HN1_Vw
- Part 2: https://youtu.be/Im_NRTg7VNs
- Part 3: https://youtu.be/eAoTeGd7mlk
- Part 4: https://youtu.be/NEiHo6fEEiY
Thor Ragnarok Bifrost Bridge
EEVEE Material in Blender 2.8
Free Video Tutorial
Beam Me Up!
Animation Nodes + EEVEE in Blender 2.8x
Free Video Tutorial
Samsung Note 10+ Aura Glow
EEVEE Procedural Material Study
Blender 2.8x
Huawei P6 Brushed Metal
EEVEE Procedural Material Study
Blender 2.8x
Sci-Fi Body Scanner Effect
Animation Nodes in Blender 2.8 Tutorial
Procedural Material Study: Redmi K20 Pro
Advanced, 100% procedural EEVEE Material
Infinite Particles Loop (“Plexus Effect”)
Animation Nodes in Blender 2.8 Tutorial
Sci-Fi Laser 3D Printer Effect
Animation Nodes in Blender 2.8 Tutorial
00:22 … 3D Print
04:40 … Random points on printed surface
09:00 … Lasers (Animation Nodes)
Single Axis SubDiv
Parametric Non-Destructive Modeling
3 more tips for modeling the camera lens of the previous videos including using a Bevel modifier to create parametric subdivisions on 1 axis only.
Slow AutoFocus with Animation Nodes
Simulating a slow manual focus pull or laggy continuous auto-focus using the free add-on Animation Nodes in Blender 2.8 (EEVEE and Cycles)
Parametric Non-Destructive Modeling Practice
In these 2 videos we discover how we can use modifiers in Blender to create – and later modify – objects in a non-destructive way to create a product visualization of a camera lens.
Part 1: https://youtu.be/v9CXeprYW1M
Part 2: https://youtu.be/YclX1A9bkEE
Product Visualization in Blender 3D
3. Parenting, Instancing, Arrays & Variations
This video is about some “technical” stuff in blender – useful (not only) for product visualizations!
- Parenting – how and why
- “Transform Modifier”
- Instancing using Empties
- Array Modifier + Instancer Mesh
- Random Variations using Animation Nodes
Product Visualization in Blender 3D
2. Plastics
We look at how to create a clear plastic that doesn’t darken objects behind it, play with SSS (Sub-Surface Scattering) and use per-material AO (Ambient Occlusion) to bring back some contrast for a more pleasing final product presentation!
Product Visualization in Blender 3D
1. Lighting
In this first video of the series we take a look at how to quickly and easily improve lighting for product shots by creating highlights and shadows to show shapes, surfaces and materials and how to create a nice, seamless surface for the product to sit on.
EEVEE Reflection Catcher
Based on the concept from the last video we create a “reflection catcher” for EEVEE.
Tags: Blender 2.8 EEVEE, Reflection Plane Probe, Compositor
Improved Reflection Catcher in Blender Cycles
In this tutorial I show you how you a few tricks how to create a really nice looking “reflection catcher” for Blender Cycles!
Bonus Tip @ 33:22 … How to remove HDRI reflections from a ground plane while keeping them on the main subject
Watercolor Effect + Ink Outlines in Blender 2.8
In this 2-part tutorial series I show you
- how to create a simple, reusable Toon-Shader
- how to create interesting black ink outlines using the built-in “Fresstyle” feature
- how to use the compositor to create a watercolor effect, put everything together and make it look like a painting on paper
Part 1: https://youtu.be/Hlw6qyyNkfw
Part 2: https://youtu.be/vQH8Q-adE4c
Blender 2.8 – Answering Community Questions
00:30 … Fixing Crashes in Blender + Animation Nodes
06:30 … AN for Blender 2.8
07:16 … Hardware
08:52 … Smooth Shrinkwrapping
13:39 … 3D Handwriting/Drawing Effect
14:24 … Change Color, Alpha and Size of Particles over their lifetime
3D Handwriting/Drawing Animation
Some of my subscribers have asked how I have made my Logo Signature Intro that I have used in all of my latest videos.
In this tutorial I show you step by step how it’s done.
Level: BEGINNER
Rotating Multiple Objects on their Normals
Animation Nodes in Blender 2.8 Tutorial
00:30 … What’s the problem?
01:56 … “Direction to Rotation”
08:56 … Putting it all together
23:10 … Examples
Remove Unwanted Reflections
in Blender Cycles
In this tutorial I show you how to remove specific reflections from certain surfaces while keeping perfectly placed highlights exactly where you want them … perfect for Product Visualization! (Shadow and Reflection Catcher)
3D Animated Halftone w/ Colors
Animation Nodes in Blender 2.8 Tutorial
Adding color to the photo halftone effect from the previous video!
You should watch the “3D Animated Halftone Photo” video first 😉
3D Animated Halftone Photo
Animation Nodes in Blender 2.8 Tutorial
In this video tutorial I show you how to use Animation Nodes in Blender 2.8 to create a Photo Halftone Effect in 3 dimensions.
Check out the next video on how to add colors!
More Fun with Audio
Animation Nodes in Blender 2.8 Tutorial
Taking the “memory” concept from the last video to the next level to visualize music in 3D
Audio + Peak-Meter
Animation Nodes in Blender 2.8 Tutorial
In this tutorial video we create an animated audio-spectrum visualization using Animation Nodes and add cool peak-level markers!
Flying Letters
Animation Nodes in Blender 2.8 Tutorial
Motion graphics (mograph) e.g. for a logo signature animation of movie production company.
Making Waves with Math
Animation Nodes in Blender 2.8 Tutorial
In this Animation Nodes video tutorial you will learn how to move objects based on very simple mathematical functions.
EEVEE Shadow Catcher Hack QuickTip
This is a quick tutorial on how to fake a “shadow catcher” in EEVEE.
High Voltage
Animation Nodes in Blender 2.8 Tutorial
Here we use Animation Nodes to create curves and randomly displace their control points for a lightning/spark effect.
Wiggle It
Animation Nodes in Blender 2.8 Tutorial
This video is the start of my Animation Nodes tutorial series for Blender 2.8.
In this first part I show you how to install and set up AN and then use some very simple but effective nodes to randomly move a bunch of Meta-Balls around for an interesting effect.
Render Multiple Cameras
to Various Image Resolutions
In this video I am going to show you how you can automatically render multiple cameras – even with different backgrounds and various lighting setups – to separate files with varying resolutions!
Silver Gold Platinum Pewter Material Pack
for Blender 2.8 EEVEE + Cycles
In this video I show you all the features and how to get the most out of this shader pack.
Materials available at: blendermarket.com
Copper Material Pack
for Blender 2.8 EEVEE + Cycles
In this video I show you all the features and how to get the most out of this shader.
Material available at: blendermarket.com
Practical UV-Mapping
“How to put labels/stickers/bumps on hard surface models”
In my last video I showed you a timelapse and some tips on hard surface modelling.
I got several requests on Youtube and in various Facebook groups about “how do you do UV mapping and create all the labels by hand?”
So in this video I will show you that process.
Quick Tip Tutorials & First Looks at EEVEE
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