Create Amazing 3D Characters with Blender‎:‎ From Design and Modeling to Video Compositing Learning Blender walks you through every step of creating an outstanding animated character with the free‎,‎ open source‎,‎ 3D software Blender‎,‎ and then compositing it in a real video using a professional workflow‎.‎ This is the only Blender tutorial to take you from preproduction to final result‎,‎ and it‎'‎s perfect for both 3D novices and those who‎'‎ve used other 3D Software‎.‎ Focusing on Blender 2.71 and above‎,‎ 3D‎-professional Oliver Villar explains all the basics‎,‎ including Blender‎'‎s interface‎,‎ controls‎,‎ and how to manipulate objects‎.‎ Once you‎'‎ve mastered the fundamentals‎,‎ you‎'‎ll follow a realistic 3D workflow through a complete project‎.‎ You‎'‎ll find chapters on every aspect of the character creation‎:‎ design‎,‎ modeling‎,‎ unwrapping‎,‎ texturing‎,‎ shading‎,‎ rigging‎,‎ and animation‎.‎ Once your character is ready and animated‎,‎ you‎'‎ll learn how to integrate it into a real video using camera tracking techniques‎,‎ lighting‎,‎ and compositing‎.‎ Each skillset is taught hands on‎,‎ and available online video tutorials ‎(‎more than 5 hours‎)‎ will guide you through Blender‎'‎s trickier tasks‎.‎ By the time you‎'‎re done‎,‎ you‎'‎ll understand how the whole process fits together‎,‎ and how to use Blender to create outstanding characters for all media‎.‎ You‎'‎ll also build strong Blender skills you can apply in any 3D project‎,‎ whether it involves characters or not‎.‎ Learn How To * Master Blender‎'‎s innovative user interface‎,‎ navigation‎,‎ and selection techniques* Create your first scene with Blender and get comfortable with its core tools* Prepare for projects so they‎'‎ll go as smoothly as possible* Use modeling tools to create a 3D character* Bring your character to life with color‎,‎ textures‎,‎ and materials* Create your character‎'‎s skeleton and make it walk* Make the most of Blender‎'‎s Camera Tracking tools* Add lights to your 3D scene* Render with Blender Internal or the powerful new Cycles render engine* Composite your 3D character into a real video* Switch to Blender from 3ds Max‎,‎ Maya‎,‎ or XSI Register your book at