Book: Introduction to Character Development in Blender 2.5 – Now Shipping!
Jonathan Williamson’s new book ‘Introduction to Character Development‘ is now available.
The blurb:
Written for everyone from beginning Blender artists to experienced animators and game developers, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN BLENDER 2.5 shows readers how to model believable characters using Blender, a free, open source 3d animation package. Covering the technical, artistic, and theoretical aspects of character development, the book provides an in-depth look at Blender’s modeling tools and includes information on modeling, sculpting, materials, lighting, rendering, and more. Written in a tutorial style with step-by-step instructions the book also includes an accompanying CD-Rom that features the Blender 2.5 software and sample art.
Jonathan writes:My new book, Introduction to Character Development in Blender 2.5 has just started shipping! The book is meant to give a solid introduction to both Blender and the whole character modeling process. Some of the topics covered include: Blender basics, character modeling, sculpting, retopology, UV uwnrapping, normal map baking, and more.
The book is available directly from Blender Cookie or from Amazon.
Table of contents:
PART I: MAKING YOUR WAY AROUND BLENDER 2.5.
1. The Interface and Navigation.
2. Objects.
3. Customizing Blender.
PART II: GETTING COMFORTABLE WITH MESHES.
4. Mesh Objects.
5. Modifiers.
6. Sculpting.
PART III: MODELING THE CHARACTER.
7. Blocking Out the Form with Box Modeling.
8. Refining the Mesh with Poly-by-poly Modeling.
PART IV: UV MAPPING THE CHARACTER.
9. UV Maps.
PART V: ADDING COLOR WITH MATERIALS AND TEXTURES.
10. MATERIALS.
11. Textures. P
ART VI: LIGHTING AND RENDERING THE CHARACTER.
12. Lighting.
13. Rendering.
great! I’ll buy as soon as I can! It’s very important that documentation walks aside to software development!
Just ordered it through amazon. Very excited about it.
Congrats with the book Jonathan!, no need to hide behind it :) …. went straight on my wishlist :)
Thanks for the support everyone! I hope it’s received well, I’m anxiously awaiting reviews :)
-Jonathan
Wait, no rigging?
Sounds interesting, I wonder if there is any FREE chapter (PDF) or something to really see what kind of characters you are designing. Does it include monsters and beasts? How many examples do you provide? Caricature style? or realistic ones? or both? That would be very good information before investing some money.
haaaa ese DVD que me compre no me sirvio de nada asi que me desanime en comprar mas
DVD
AnimaticoideX, will be modeling the model on the cover
So glad that written documentation hasn’t taken the wayside to video.
This would definitely fill a couple gaps in the process.
2.5 Rigging would be a seller though. That could be its own book right there…
I am looking for a buddy in Flanders (Mechelen). They are still scarcer than books. I am still wrestling through the book for dummies. I have all the time because of a
broken finger.
This is a great Blender book. I already read through it, great for artist who wanted to understand the production from character concept, to modeling, to texturing.
Did I miss the post for the nature academy?
Looks like an interesting book and I’ll be picking it up at some point.
That said, there’s been a proliferation of character modelling training (this book, Blenderella, BlenderCookies 2010 training series and so on) so I think the modelling side is pretty well covered – some rigging training for 2.5x wouldn’t be bad :)
I think CGMasters are the only ones with something in the wind at the moment.
@ CorsairX:
There is a new book for animation and rigging:
http://www.packtpub.com/blender-2-5-character-animation-cookbook/book
Promo video: http://vimeo.com/25286653
Congrats for the book Jonathan
I recall, once, seeing a reference book of random numbers. You can’t just
make up your own?
Virgilio Vascocelos’s book Blender 2.5 Character Animation Cookbook from Packt publishing has some rigging in it. It is a great complement to Jonathan’s book.
My book PLZ
:D
For those asking about rigging there is this new book:
http://www.amazon.com/Blender-2-5-Character-Animation-Cookbook/dp/1849513201
I haven’t got it yet but thinking about adding it as one of 5 for $45 ebooks special on Packt website. If anyone has it I would like to hear a review.
Interesting books, I think it well worth reading.