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*.
BC1-1801 Week 3 Homework Submission
Anthony H Submission
Live Event Reconstruction
Extra Submissions:
"Loafy" Loafy's sketchfab link
"Applo" Applo's sketchfab link
"Peara"
I tried using a background reference for this last picture but no matter what I just kept getting further and further away from the original image. So I just said screw it and free-handed it. Sculpting is definately a skill that requires a-l-o-t of practice, but fun once you get into the groove of things.
I went ahead and did the retopo and a quick texture on the frog cause I need the practice.
Great job! Are loafy, applo, and peara what you're primitive sculpts morphed into or is the shape sequence just coincidence? Either way it all looks good!
Did... Did... Why, that "cone" looks like a Hershey's Kiss! :D
Looks great, though I think the face on Applo seems off, esp compared to the other two... Not sure what it is about it. Of the 3, Peara's face looks most realistic, but feels out of place since it's more refined. Still, great job on all 3!
BC1-1801 Week 3 Homework Submission
01 Primitive-1
I will try again if I have time...Melvin is waiting for me...
BC1-1801 Week 3 Homework Submission (Part 1)
My results from the shape exercise.
One of my biggest problems with the Sculpting layout is that the visual reference of the brush you are using doesn't stay persistent. To get around this, I've set up this window layout where the left panel is open just wide enough to capture the T panel. I have that left panel divided into 2 so that the top part will always show the brush and I can use the lower one to browse between the options. This way, I can always see which brush I'm using. I try to use the hotkeys, but if I can't remember one, I still have easy access to find the one I want and can still see my settings so that I can change detail size, curve options, symmetry settings, and so on. (I wish that the developers would make that box that displays the brush persistent so you can always see it, but until they do, this is a work around!)
Well done Grady! You got a particularly nice sphere shape there!
Matt is correct! Nice job 
mathias67. No worries about turning in 'last minute'. I understand the weekend being the most time to complete homework 👍
Way to go bbasecode! Maximizing the assignment. Haha Melvin's backside 😂 Good sculpture of him!
Primitives look pretty nice too. The edges on the cube and cone could be a little sharper, but the shapes read clearly. I like the hershey kiss touch too!
The food-based sculpts are a fun theme. Really good work overall.
And yes, sculpting to match reference can be a tricky thing. It's different from mesh modeling to reference. Anyhoo, you did great this week. A-quality work 👏
Primitives look pretty good! Each shape is very recognizable. Overall they're a little mushy/bumpy, which is common when it comes to sculpting. I challenge you to spend some time polishing out the mushiness and bumps and tightening the edges. Or at least take that challenge with you into your other sculptures for the week.
Keep up the good work motsu!
Excellent work gradyp. Sharp edges, smooth and flat surfaces, along with recognizable primitive forms. You nailed this first part 👍
BC1_1801_Week3-Homework Submission-1
My first attempts with the pen were not very successful ;) and I doubt that I could solve these homework in less than a week.Sculpting and working with a pen is relatively new to me.
The live event helped a lot to motivate me and not to give up. In general, the stream was very well prepared , straight ahead and packed with lots of information and very useful for me.
Especially the primitive shape exercises are extremly helpful to get a feeling for sculpting and working with pen. So I tried again with new courage and forced myself to use the pen.
Now I'm glad to have used my old Wacom Touch & Pen and would like to do some more sculpts;)
It´s definetly needs a lot of practice.
Great faces! (And I love the little paper strip on the 'Hershey's Kiss'!)
BC1_1801_Week3-Homework Submission-2
It was a very hard job but I have finnished Melvin.
He is not perfect and there are too much polygons (app.180k) but near the end I was afraid to destroy the whole work doing only one touch too much ;)
So-this is my first sculpt character
BC1_1801_Week3-Homework Submission-2b
But i was wondering why Melvin is looking so stressed. Not really relaxed.
I found the answer -he needs a sister. Look at Melvina :)
