Introduction to Blender 2.79 Animation Tools

Name: Introduction to Blender 2.79 Animation Tools
Rating: 4.7 (11 reviews)

Learn to use the animation tools in Blender, the free and open source 3D creation suite!

Created byThomas Burnley

Last updated 2/2019

English

What you'll learn

Learn to use the animation tools and editors found in Blender 2.79
Download, install, and set up Blender for 3D animation
Understand the main concepts of CG Animation
Learn to use Blender’s 3D View, Timeline, Dope Sheet, Graph, and NLA Editors to create and adjust your animation
Use other animation tools in Blender to complete your animated shot
Bring audio and video footage into Blender to use as animation reference
Render your shot to see it played back in real time

Course content

8 sections • 36 lectures • 3h 29m total length

Introduction1:34
Installing Blender2:29
The Splash Screen and Blender Interface3:01

Using Blender Files1:23
Open, save, and export Blender projects using the .blend format, manage recent files from the information editor panel, and import or export formats for cross-application use.
Linking and Appending Resources Into a Scene5:22
Learn how to bring external assets into a Blender 2.79 scene using linking and appending, including creating proxies for rigs and working with linked data for lightweight files.
Setting Up User Preferences for Animation5:14
Simplifying Scenes for Better Animation Performance1:22
Custom User Interface Configuration and Setup7:14

The Graph Editor - Introduction15:29
Explore the graph editor in Blender 2.79 to fine-tune animation timing with F curves (function curves), key frames, interpolation, and handles, alongside practical view and editing tools.
Graph Editor - Using Function Curves8:14
Graph Editor - Using Handles7:08
The Graph Editor - Extrapolation and Modifiers4:34
Master the Blender graph editor by applying extrapolation and modifiers to create looping bounce and forward motion, using cyclic and linear extrapolation, location keyframes, and edits.
The NLA Editor11:25
Explore Blender's non-linear animation editor, the NLA editor, to mix multiple actions—bounce, squash, spin, and progress—using action stashes, track ordering, and blending with f curves for efficient, repeatable animation.

Copying, Pasting, and Pasting X-Flipped Poses6:02
Visual Keying2:39
Using Constraints6:12
Using the Ghost Tool3:47
Visualize and refine animations in real time using the ghost tool for armatures, adjusting range and steps, and viewing ghost frames across key frames and the graph editor.
Using Motion Paths7:08
Blender's Grease Pencil6:44
In-Between Tools3:41
Refine animation between key frames with in-between tools such as breakdown, push, and relax to adjust the midpoint and create ease in and out.
Setting Up and Using the Pose Library3:34

Requirements

You will need a computer capable of running the latest stable version of Blender
An internet connection is required to download Blender and the character rig used in the course

Description

Introduction to Blender 2.79 Animation Tools is designed to get you familiar with and comfortable using the tools and resources within Blender that you can use for animating. This course begins by covering the process for installing and working within the application. Then, we review the principles of computer animation and take an in-depth look at Blender's animation editors and tools that can be used to create your animation. Finally, we look at methods for using reference audio and video and rendering tests of your work.

This course covers:

How to download and install Blender
Setting up Blender and customizing the user interface
Key concepts of computer animation
Using the 3D View Editor for animation
The Timeline Editor
The Dope Sheet Editor
The Graph Editor
The NLA Editor
Other animation tools available in Blender
How to import audio and video to use as reference
Rendering animation footage to review in real time

When you're done with this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to use Blender to create your animations!

*** This course is based on the current stable release of Blender, version 2.79b. Updates will be made to address the animation tools in Blender 2.80 once that version becomes more stable ***

Who this course is for:

This course is for beginning animators who want to learn the editors and tools in Blender designed specifically for animation.

Introduction to Blender 2.79 Animation Tools

What you'll learn

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Course content

Getting Started3 lectures • 7min

Setting Up Blender for Animation5 lectures • 21min

Key Animation Concepts in Blender1 lecture • 8min

Blender Animation Editors Part 1 - The 3D View6 lectures • 28min

Blender Animation Editors Part 2 - The Timeline and Dope Sheet5 lectures • 44min

Blender Animation Editors Part 3: The Graph Editor and the NLA Editor5 lectures • 47min

Additional Blender Animation Tools8 lectures • 40min

Using Reference and Rendering Your Shot3 lectures • 15min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: