CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT #5 (Feb 1, 2018): The class is officially closed! Thanks to all who participated. Be sure to check page 43 for the closing "statement" and commendations.
CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT #4 (Jan 30, 2018): The timing worked out where this week's homework stretch is 10 days instead of the usual 7. So you've got extra time to complete the assignment! I'll look for submission through tomorrow, the 31st, and then I'll do a final post to close out the class.
BTW week 4's live event is archived if you missed it.
CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT #3 (Jan 15, 2018): Week 2 is done - We're halfway through the class! Today WEEK 3 begins where the focus is digital sculpting. This is a far more artistic method of shaping 3D models, so if you struggled in week 2, week 3 should be refreshing.
- Only 1 course to watch this week: Fundamentals of Digital Sculpting
- Live Event tomorrow at 2pm EST
- Please submit homework anytime between Jan 15 - Jan 21 with "BC1-1801 Week 3 Homework Submission" at the top of your post.
Keep up the awesome work, Class! So much creativity and hard work being contributed from everyone 🤘
CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT #2 (Jan 8, 2018): Week one is accomplished! Today WEEK 2 begins. We're moving forward from basic viewport interaction and into mesh modeling; into Edit Mode and the modifier stack.
- Reminder that you have 2 courses to watch this week: Mesh Modeling Fundamentals and Modeling with Modifiers.
- Live Event tomorrow at 2pm EST
- Please submit homework anytime between Jan 8 - Jan 14 with "BC1-1801 Week 2 Homework Submission" at the top of your post.
As always, don't hesitate to ask questions in this thread!
CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT #1 (Jan 2, 2018): The class has officially started! Today we held the first live event to kick things off. The recording will be published by tomorrow at the latest is now available in "Past Events".
That means it's now up to you to watch the Blender Basics Course and submit your homework to this thread. Please add a big, bold title to your homework submission reply so I can easily tell. Like this:
"BC1-1801 Week 1 Homework Submission"Also don't hesitate to ask questions along the way. I'll be checking this thread daily to answer questions, give advice, check homework.
This thread is for CG Cookie Citizens that are participating in the "Getting Started with 3D Modeling and Blender" class! Its purpose is to serve as central communication for all participating Citizens (excluding Hobby plan Citizens) to ask me and each other questions and to post homework. As the instructor of the class, I will be monitoring this thread on a daily basis (especially Mon-Thurs) throughout the month of January to review homework and answer questions.
This thread is intended only for Citizens who are participating in the class. Free members are welcome to observe the thread but please respect that communication is reserved for Citizens.
Welcome to the CGCookie Class: Getting Started with 3D Modeling & Blender! This is the first "Class" format where Citizen members are invited to focus together on a particular topic/skill together for a month. Participation is this:
It will take place from January 2nd through January 31st and the topic is for beginners that want to get into 3D modeling. The class is based on pre-recorded courses that students are expected to watch each week along with weekly Live Events.
Download the latest official version of Blender and watch the Blender Basics course. The goal this week is to simply get familiar with the application. We’ve all been there: Opening Blender (or any 3D package), gazing at all the crazy UI, trying to orbit in the viewport, crying...Ok, maybe you were stronger than me and didn’t cry. But the reality is 3D software is daunting. There’s SO MUCH to digest especially when you’re a beginner.
This first week we’re going to overview Blender and 3D from an absolutely beginner perspective. What is Blender for? What can it do? Wait, this isn’t a juicing seminar?
During the Live Event we're also going to open the floor, ask me anything (AMA) style, so I can answer all your questions about getting started with Blender.
HOMEWORK: Create a scene out of primitive shapes. It can be anything from a landscape to a spaceship to a character. Just get comfortable with creating and positioning mesh objects. Here's an example:
Take a screenshot of your scene and post it in a reply to this thread *during the week of Jan 1-6*.
Enter the world of mesh modeling! The oldest form of building objects in 3D, in the computer. We’ll discuss the technical art of “pushing and pulling verts” as modelers often call it. First, watch the Mesh Modeling Fundamentals and Modeling with Modifiers courses to be introduced to this wild, geometric world.
Practice makes perfect here and during this week's Live Event we’ll be mesh-modeling a few objects to demonstrate tools and workflow available with Blender. It’s ideal if you practice along with me!
HOMEWORK: Model either 1, 2, or 3 unique objects using mesh-modeling techniques. They can be as simple or as complex as you like, but they can't be primitives. I want to see that you've used mesh tools to significantly customize your shapes. For example, you could model a hammer, a cell phone, a keyboard, a game controller, a picture frame, a coffee cup - choose something fun!
Take a screenshot of your shaded model + wireframe-over shaded (as pictured above) and post it in a reply to this thread *during the week of Jan 7-14*.
Digital sculpting is the more artistically intuitive method of 3D modeling. If pushing and pulling verts felt like the hard way of doing things, sculpting will be a welcomed alternative! Watch the Fundamentals of Digital Sculpting course this week.
During the Live Event, we'll discuss the pros and cons of digital sculpting as well as how it compares to mesh modeling. Again, practice makes perfect with any craft, and we will also practice sculpting. Be sure to have your pen and tablet ready!
HOMEWORK: *Submit during the week of Jan 15-21*
There’s still much more to learn about modeling with Blender. Remember, it’s a craft. Time + practice is the only way to develop your modeling skills.
This week your challenge is to dive into the Modeling in Blender Learning Flow. While the class gives you a boost, the Flow takes you further into intermediate and advanced modeling techniques/workflows. Test the waters and see how far you can go this week.
During the Live Event we'll discuss the journey of becoming a skilled modeler as well as the potential for turning it into a career. Finally, I’m going to sift through homework submissions to commend my favorites and offer critiques!
HOMEWORK: Model and/or sculpt something challenging this week! Try tackling a character or a complex vehicle, etc. Show me what you've learned; what you're capable of!
Take a screenshot of your shaded model and post it in a reply to this thread *during the week of Jan 21-31*.
Almost... Normals are still important in sculpting. Self collisions can cause problems, especially if you ever decide to 3D print the object. On the other hand, collisions with other objects are less important, particularly if you plan to retopologize. As for shape, you want it to be accurate to the form you are trying to sculpt, but more of an artistic perspective. And poly count -- as long as your computer can handle the amount, you're okay. Though if it does start to drag, a little remeshing can help reduce the poly count while keeping the form.
Retopoly helps give an even mesh that can withstand deformations and reduce poly count.
As for a cut off for low poly... a lot of that depends on what is being modeled and what the purpose of that object is as well as what system you are targeting for low poly. A book on the shelf in the background isn't going to need to be anywhere as high poly as the main character in a close up. And something being modeled for a desktop computer could possibly go higher poly than for say an old hand held.
On the holding edges, you'd use a loop cut in some way, similar to what Kent showed in the live stream this week or Jonathan Williamson did in the Loop Cut and Slide video. Though that's not the only way to hold an edge What I mean is sometimes, you want the edge to fade out. so you can start off with the edges far apart and just select which ones you want to move closer together to sharpen an edge.
Hope this helps, Tonya!
Hi everyone,
Wow I see really cool stuff here... This is so awesome.
Sorry Kent... I wasn't able to do my homework last week and could not make it to the 2nd class but I have done a little modeling... for 2nd homework.
I hope you guys like it... I am a total weapon nut so I modeled a AR 15 iron sight. The screws on the sides are "floaters" because I would like to use it later and try to bake a normal map with it... so I thought a bit ahead :)
Feedback and tips are very welcome from everyone.
Cheers :)
This is an impressive model killzone! You're making smart use of n-gons too. You know a thing or two about mesh modeling I'd say 👍 A+
No worries on missing week1 homework and this week's stream. Thanks for submitting W2 HW!
Watching the week 2-Pushing and Pulling verts. Someone asked could you change the shortcut to open the face/vert/edge menu. To do that you must go to your User Preference>Input>3D view>Mesh>Call Menu(2). There you can set the shortcut to something different instead of Ctrl+Tab.
Thanks for sharing that solution ffusion2012! Something new to learn about Blender each day.
BC1-1801 Week 2 Homework Submission (3 of 3)
Cauldron
Low-res Chest
Ceramic Mug
This is a great effort Tanya! We only get better if we keep reaching... just ... enough.
Lantern, chest, and knife are all great. Nice touch on the lighting from the lantern!
Thanks Grady! Very cool. Playing around with modifiers after Kent's, Jonathan's, and now your suggestions has definitely stoked the creative fires!
I'm down with anything you want to try that you feel will improve the learning experience. I love that you guys are constantly thinking of possible changes that would enhance what you're doing already. Rock on!
Paul that looks nice one and you even rendered it.
I like that you posted the cup, exactly this is the point of the homeworks, someone is able already to model almost everything, while others going step by step and simplier objects mean the same success.
As I recall you mentioned in your experience that you are a "refresher", very similiar scenario for me, who watched a lot of tutorials in years, but did not do too much in the practice so the cup should be also my mandatory homework.
BC1-1801 Week 2 Homework Submission
I scrolled trough the submissions and all of them were so good. It's nice to see meshes and even renders like that.
I missed the first weeks class and didn't apply for it but I watched it afterwards. This is the first time for me on a live stream lecture and I have to say that the different to recorded was so outstanding. All the questions and answering by Kent or other watchers was really big deal for me, I think that has a big part in learning. This is something I want to do more in the future, keep it up!
Anyway here's my submission for this weeks homework
It'sa meeea Marioo!
:D
Nice one... love the plant that evil smile is so accurate! Hahahaha
I think the bullet is great a example of keeping the poly count low even though it is a high poly model... With the plant pot maybe on the higher side... ;)
cheers
That rocking chair looks awesome... just the right amount of detail! Keep up the good work! :)
cheers
Zelda stuff... already a win! Awesome work...
But doesn't the sword have like kind of wing formed guards? Or is that a different sword? :o
Cheers
Great job on all three of these! I can't quite place what, but something feels slightly off on the fork and spoon. Probably has to do with the curvatures.
As for the rocking chair, keep in mind that the angle between the back of the chair and the seat would be closer to a 90 degree angle. The reason the backs seem to tilt back has to do with the rotation of everything on the rockers. Also, if you ever texture this with a wood texture, the grain of the wood should go along the length of each piece. (This is something I learned doing a similar rocking chair last summer.)
Keep up the great work!
