The Blender 2.8 Encyclopedia

Welcome to The Blender Encyclopedia, the most comprehensive training course available for Blender 3D, a completely free 3D production suite.  The newest releases have seen the biggest upgrades yet, with many new features and improvements.

With the tools and techniques covered in this course by CG Masters' lead instructors Christopher Plush and Lee Salvemini, you can take full advantage of this completely free & open source software to bring all of your creative ideas to life.

The Blender Encyclopedia will be of use throughout your entire 3D journey. No matter what job you've been entrusted with, or creative idea you want to make a reality, this is the most important reference guide you'll own.

Further than the tools alone, we've made sure this course contains not just the how, but the why. Throughout the course, we've crafted example demos, as well as step-by-step projects, that will take what you've learned to the next level. The focus here is how to use this information in real life scenarios. We want to see you get that career at a top studio, or to realize your dream project that has been bouncing around your imagination.

What will you get with this course?

Over 51 hours of video training will be yours right way. We cover each topic in detail, and you'll be led step-by-step through the content. Plus, check out the resources included with the lectures throughout the course:

• All the Blender files used in the lectures, complete with models, textures and other resources. This includes starting files so you can join in!

• Diagrams used in the lectures covering Blender tool details, examples of techniques we use,  and even math related info-graphics.

• And all resources can be used in your own projects as well! Just contact us first for license details.

You will get full access to this course forever with this one-time fee, plus you'll get access to all future updates and additional content as well! We have created this course specifically for Udemy, and you will have unlimited support from us in the Q&A section of each lecture.

An Overview of the Contents of this course:

1. A complete User Interface & Navigational guide. Created specifically for you to stay ahead of the pack with Blender new 'Workspaces', and layering systems. Learn all the latest catered hotkeys, which Blender is well known for. You will appear to be playing a piano concerto to others as you zoom around the software. After these lectures, you're ready to put some headphones on with your favorite music and get in the creative zone!

   
   

2. All the chapters are made to work as single references, but we made sure to create a learning path along the way. After covering why 3D animation is possible, and the placement of all the UI and tools, it's time to learn about Modeling in Blender. Here you'll learn more than just the tools and techniques for modeling, but important concepts and technical aspects that help you truly understand what's going on.

   
   

3. Using the last decade of working as an industry animator, Lee Salvemini covers Rigging & Animation on all fronts. Lee: "Learn about Blender's unique digital skeletal system (the best 3D joint system around for rigging and animating in my opinion!). Along with the methods to easily pose or animate a simple character, all the way to an accessory or armor covered video game hero character."

   
   

4. Things get really epic from here, we move into Drivers, Constraints & Modifiers. This trinity of tool sets is your access to some of the most amazing effects possible in 3D that enable you to make the most of the software for Modeling and Animation. The outcomes from your work when combining these available tools will be outstanding.

   
   

5. The next areas covered are all about getting the realistic or stylistically believable materials for your creations. This is done through the magic of Shaders, material properties that you have access to in Blender that combine to make any and all objects you see in the world (or your imagination), such as cloth, wood, metal, and everything in between. The options here are endless, and these lectures will cover everything. You'll be amazed by how good the combination of materials look on your character, vehicle, spaceship, or anything else.

   
   

6. Next we dive into UV Mapping. Now that you know all about shaders you'll learn how UV Unwrapping works. UV Unwrapping lets you unwrap a 3D model onto a flat plane so that you can texture it more easily. This is an absolutely essential to learn about, and this section was our first new section added after publishing.

   
   

7. You're now an artisan with Blender, packed with all the information and knowledge to turn your dreams into a real, shareable output. The final stage of this process is Rendering. There are a couple of ways to do this, depending on the type of look you want to go for. The render engine Eevee is a new entry to Blender, and mimics the efficient, real-time rendering found in the AAA games you play. The other major one is Cycles: A fully ray-trace based render engine, used for realistic film VFX or Video Game cutscenes, and films like Wreck It Ralph.

CG doesn't stop there, and we don't either!

The more successful the course is, the more we can add to it! Past the main areas of Blender, the uses extend so far out, and we aim to cover as much as possible. With continued success of the course we'll be creating more and more content.  We've already added in new content such as an entire UV Mapping section, brand new Drivers section, and lots of updated lectures. And there is more to come! Our wish list is ready, and you can let us know what topics you'd like us to focus on and delve deeper into as well! We will be working closely with you all, and you will decide where The Blender Encyclopedia evolves.

See you in there, and Happy Blending!