van Gumster - Blender for Dummies

Blender For Dummies

by Jason van Gumster

Blender For Dummies

Published by
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Copyright 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2008942698

ISBN: 9780470471593

Manufactured in the United States of America

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About the Author

Jason van Gumster got into animation when he realized that he wanted to create movies... but that actors are generally intolerant of having pianos dropped on them. Using open source tools at nearly every step, Jason has produced animations and visual effects for television, film, and video games in his official capacity as a Production Monkey for Hand Turkey Studios, the company he helped start in 2005. A Blender user since 1998, Jason has given numerous live demonstrations and workshops on Blender internationally and his Advanced Blender Fluids training DVD from cmiVFX is recognized as one of the best learning resources for Blenders integrated fluid simulator. In January of 2008, Jason worked with the Blender Foundation to assemble the Blender Certification Review Board and lead the launch of the Blender Foundation Certified Trainer (BFCT) program. He also periodically writes for BlenderNation (www.blendernation.com), the primary news Web site for Blender users. Based in Richmond, Virginia, Jason can often be found in cafs and diners drawing, espousing the virtues of open source software, or catching confused looks from strangers as he contorts his body to better visualize a scene hes animating.

Dedication

To my friends and family, which I consider one and the same. You tolerate my eccentricity, encourage my success, and give me a swift kick to the pants when Im completely full of it. I couldnt appreciate you more.

Authors Acknowledgments

My first thanks go to Blenders team of developers, lead by our benevolent dictator, Ton Roosendaal. Without them, Blender would never exist in the state that it does today. Of course, equally deserving of gratitude is the overall Blender community, without which Blender would never have been made open source.

Thanks, also, to everyone at Wiley, particularly my acquisitions editor, Kyle Looper, and my project editor, Linda Morris. They are refined professionals, and Im grateful for their ability to keep me on task and (mostly) on schedule. Id also like to thank Bassam Kurdali for agreeing to work as the books technical editor. Hes one of the most knowledgeable and talented members of the Blender community, and I hate to think of how little sense this book wouldve made without his input.

Id also like to give a quick thank-you to the first human who learned to filter water through coffee grounds. Without your precious discovery, Im certain that not just this book, but many of my accomplishments wouldve never occurred.

And finally, Id like to thank my fellow Hand Turkeys, Warren Belfield and Roberto Rubet. Not only are these guys talented artists and business partners, but they are definitely true friends whose feedback (and insults) I value greatly.

Publishers Acknowledgments

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Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development

Project Editor: Linda Morris

Acquisitions Editor: Kyle Looper

Copy Editor: Linda Morris

Technical Editor: Bassam Kurdali

Editorial Manager: Jodi Jensen

Editorial Assistant: Laura Moss-Hollister

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Cartoons: Rich Tennant (www.the5thwave.com)

Composition Services

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