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*.
Monaloren just in the case if you would not be aware - you are talented!
Great idea it is unbelievable that noone thought to Melvina yet :-)
I tried to sculpt various things. However most of them are very difficult and failed.
The latest my failed piece is "A shantak-bird (Cthulhu Mythology)".
Uh... :(
But now, I start to sculpt Melvin with course videos.
As long as you're learning something, it's a total success. You will want to have this image to look back on a year or two hence. Good luck with Melvin!
It's important to do what you think is cool and inspiring but too often those things are way too complicated when just learning to use the program. You should re-sculpt all of those you called fails after Melvin and it will be whole different, keep going
BC1-1801 Week 3 Homework Submission - Part1 Primitives
During the exercise I was just considering, how to scuplt also a Torus?
The version what thought out by myself that is taking the sphere and in Object mode adding beside a Cylinder and by the Boolean modifier substracting a hole in the middle, then going to Scuplt mode and forming the mesh.
From the point of view of the mesh quality can be that correct approach? Or the Boolean might creates somewhere bad geometry, although I did not perceive, applied the Dyntopo during the process so presumably it does not matter how the base mesh was created
BC1-1801 Week 3 Homework Submission
I only got one model made along with the primitives and I'm not sure if it is even fully finished. I'm forced to work on laptop next week and I've only tried texture painting in Blender with it and that worked fine, but I'm not sure how it runs modeling overall. I'll be with you in the next weeks lesson of course (looking forward to it very much) but what that piece of junk of mine is able will be seen when I try to make the next homework.
Got up early this morning to make hair for my model but now the pen has been packed and it's time for me to catch the train.
Here's my Melvin I made few weeks back
BC1-1801 Week 3 Homework Submission
Melvin
Thanks, John and jere !
I, I did it. It's my first Melvin. But my right hand needs rest...
# By the way, here we can't insert Sketchfab view ?
BC1-1801 Week 3 Homework Submission - Part2 Melvin
There are some issues I know, but again learnt a lot, from 180k polygons went down to 55k, probably that also has some side effects :-)
Yeah, boolean modifiers can result in bad topology, but so does dyntopo, so it doesn't matter. You really nailed the cube. Good work!
Want to know a secret? This ISN'T a failed piece! This is actually a great base and a good start. Just refine with detail one step at a time. Most of the larger forms are actually pretty good. Some areas are a little thin, but that can be fixed or retessalated. I think if you keep working on it, it can be a really good piece!
BC1-1801 Week 3 Homework Submission
I've been following the course since lesson 2, but this my first homework submission for the class. The class has been great so far. It is a really good addition to normal courses and very cool to see what other people are submitting. Hope to be able to attend the next session live.
I already did the Melvin sculpt a while back (link). It took me a whole day back then, so I chose to skip it this time and go straight to part 3, instead of doing the same sculpt twice.
Any guidelines on how to sculpt touching surfaces? I had some trouble sculpting the hands for the platypus. It feels a bit weird leaving the palms of the hand connected to the body even though it is not visible. Or should I change my mindset while sculpting and not care about topology at all?
I know I'm a week behind. Family was sick all week and didn't get to work on anything. Not expecting a grade or anything, but wanted to post anyway, for maybe some feedback. Playing catchup now and working on sculpting project. Thanks and sorry for the late addition.
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