uCreate Introduction to 3D digital modelling with Blender (online)

Pre-requisites for enrolment

N/A

Special Information

Participants must use their own computer with at least the following hardware requirements:

64-bit dual core 2Ghz CPU

4 GB RAM

1280×768 display

Mouse OR trackpad

Graphics card with 1 GB RAM

Less than 10 year old

To find the specifications of your computer follow these instructions:

Windows 10

1. For the CPU go to Settings -> System -> About. The processor and RAM will be listed here.
2. For the graphics card go to Settings -> System -> Display and scroll down and click on ‘Advanced Display settings’.
3. For the screen resolution go to Settings -> System -> Display. The Display Resolution can be viewed under ‘Scale and Layout’.

Mac OS X

1. Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your Mac.
2. This will bring up a drop-down menu. Pick the top option: ‘About This Mac’.
3. The resulting window should show you the information you need including processor speed, memory, and graphics card information.
4. You can get more details by clicking the tabs above, such as Storage (to find out how much disk space you have left) and Memory (to see how much RAM you have and whether you have room to add more).

Linux

For CPU speed open a bash terminal (Ctr + t) and type

lspcu

Your computer is 64 bit if the ‘Architecture’ heading is x86_64

Your CPU speed is found next to the ‘CPU max MHz’ heading.

To find the amount of RAM type in a terminal:

Lshw –short –C memory

The total amount of RAM is listed as ‘System Memory’

For your graphics specifications type in a terminal:

Glxinfo –B | less

The amount of RAM your graphics card has is shown next to ‘Total available memory’ and is given in megabytes. Divide by 1000 to get Gb.

Content of Course

Students will be introduced to the Blender platform and how to navigate in it, create and manipulate 3D objects and render them (i.e. develop a photo-realistic digital image).

Blender is a free and open-source software. It is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux. Blender has a wide range of tools that allow students to model, animate, render and video edit, and because it’s easy to switch between these workflows, it’s a great tool to get started with. It is a good alternative to similar expensive software such as 3ds Max, MAYA, and Cinema 4D.

In this workshop, students will be familiarised with the interface, shortcuts, and basic operations. By the end of the workshop, students will be able to create basic 3D models of physical objects and render them.

Session 1: 1.5 hrs

Students will learn how to model and render a 3D object:

• The Blender interface
• Navigation shortcuts
• Basic operations
• Creating 3D objects
• Manipulating 3D objects
• Importing 3D objects

Rendering 3D objects

Teaching method(s)

Teaching will be online over during one session.

This course includes a reference material on Blender Shortcuts.

Please complete the following steps before the designated workshop time:

Download and install the Blender application from https://www.blender.org/download/releases/2-90/

You can get help from the installation guides:

Windows https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/getting_started/installing/windows.html

Mac https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/getting_started/installing/macos.html

Linux https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/getting_started/installing/linux.htmlDownload Workshop Files:

Flower Model (obj format) https://poly.google.com/view/1SUvEuQWCD2

Vase Image (1920x1199 jpg) https://pixabay.com/photos/tulips-vase-vintage-retro-wall-3939319/

Blender Shortcuts https://uoe-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/f1ucstud_ed_ac_uk/EaRkGROCcKhGt21lZpOUDxwB6sErGMWRC_iad7h9nLUtpw?e=T76BIQ

Download and install the Discord application on your computer (https://discord.com/)

Create a Discord account by following the instructions on the Discord website.

Join the uCreate discord Server (https://discord.com/invite/cCABXxP)

Be available in the voice channel "Workshop Waiting Room" at least 5 minutes before the workshop begins.

Session1:

Please insert a short numbered description of what will be done during the session e.g.

1. Introduction to Blender interface, setting preferences, and navigation.
2. Basic operations on Blender: selecting, resizing, moving, rotating objects.
3. Modelling 3D object using a reference image.
4. Importing and modifying 3D objects.
5. Adding material, setting scene and rendering the final model.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this taster course, students should be able to:

create basic 3D models of physical objects and render them. (create a photorealisitic digital image) 

Students will learn how to navigate basic tools in 3D editing software – this will help with other editing software and general handling of digital 3D objects.

Following the online demonstration, the students will be able to work independently and ask questions.

Students will learn about using physical objects as a base for creative outcomes.

Students will have gained experience of modelling, lighting and rendering of 3D digital objects.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.