As promised we have started our first Citizen Exclusive lesson that will cover the creation of the below concept from Drew Wolf. This exclusive lesson will cover the entire of process of modeling the mechanic character based off of the concept art by Drew Wolf.
In this tutorial you will see the in-depth modeling process demonstrated, everything from blocking-in to fine detail work. You will find many techniques throughout that you may apply to your own modeling to improve your workflow.
These first two parts begin by blocking in the character and the accessories.
To download this tutorial please log into your citizen account here, or join the ranks today. Reminder that being a citizen member not only gives you access to periodic exclusive tutorials, but access to our complete source library from CG Cookie and Blender Cookie. Normally 4USD a piece. Thank you for the support and more education is on the way!
*Concept art was submitted and completed by DREW WOLF
What is Covered in this Lesson
- Setting up background images
- Creating a base for good topology
- Using the mirror modifier
- Box modeling techniques for blocking in the character and accessories
To download this tutorial please log into your citizen account here, or join the ranks today.Reminder that being a citizen member not only gives you access to periodic exclusive tutorials, but access to our complete source library from CG Cookie and Blender Cookie. Normally 4USD a piece. Thank you for the support and more education is on the way!
I love how you guys support the open source community with closed tutorials, what a bunch of hypocritical crap.
If you don’t like that they need money to keep the site running, just don’t buy it. It’s probably your loss.
They don’t “need” money to keep this site going, They could get a real job.
They have a real Job. It’s called providing a service, or in one word a business. If they’re fortunate enough to make it successful, great for them. Only a jealous mind would begrudge them otherwise
I agree completely. These guys devote hours of knowledge and experience. Kudos to them for doing it. : )
Whats the big deal, there also other “places” that have “closed” blender tutorials, like lynda.com, cmiVIX…
I am sorry you feel we are being hypocritical, as that is definitely not our intent. With citizen we are trying to offer another level of options for visitors of the site. Don’t want it, you definitely don’t have to get it, as our free education to the community will continue, and we are actually releasing a long awaited tutorial topic to be released this Saturday.
In regards to supporting the Open Source, we have donated over $1,100.00 to the Blender Foundation, roughly 50 free blender tutorials (and this is growing each week) we just launched the free stuff section where we offer free models and textures on a regular basis, and pay our blender community authors commission for each tutorial they provide for us. So they can continue to provide more education back.
We are always open to talk on ways to do things better, so drop us a line at support@cgcookie.zendesk.com. Hugs all around.
I have been using Blender for about two months now. I had no 3D experience at all, but am familiar with Photoshop and the rest of the Adobe programs. I am happy there are people out there that give people a chance to mess with software without putting up a few hundred dollars to be a casual user.After many frustrating hours of trying to figure out how to use Blender, I stumbled upon your site. What you guys are doing is awesome. Some people are just not happy with what you give them, they will always want more. Keep on doing what you are doing. I love the free tutorials and if I am ever ready to take what I have learned to the next level, I will have no problem shelling out a few dollars to get more. Peace out!
Brandon
Man, as far as I’m concerned you guys are doing things perfectly. And I’m broke. lol. But I will take advantage of what I can until I can afford more. That’s life… minus the instant gradification dysfunction. Unfortunately, you guys have to deal with the ugly, complaining ungrateful spirits such as those above. But I can tell you that I have learn so much and pledge to return in the form of donations and memberships as I become capable. Until then I will continue to learn from the free stuff you you guys put out that has proven to be very substantial to my advancement in this industry.
With respect, there is no rule against making money from blender or open source. Look at all the books out there based on Blender, the DVDs, even the Blender Foundation movies. Blender Foundation is also a company. These people spend and dedicated their lives to providing us a service and are therefore entitled to make a living and put food on their table. It would be more hypercritical for you to expect them to provide a quality service for your benefit at great cost to themselves
Free as in speech. You’re not worried about the open-ness of the tutorial, this tutorial is as open as the rest, it’s just not free as in beer. Why don’t you have this conversation with the fine programmers of Red Hat Enterprise?
So, are you opposed to paying for services always, or is it just services for open source software that should never cost money?
I paid money for my instruction to get my linux+ comptia certification, and when I do linux server maintenance I don’t do that shit for free either.
Guess I’m a hypocrite as well?
God damn delusional kids and their entitlement issues.
And Marina, how do you suppose the open source community is going to get commercial level support if it’s all provided for free on a volunteer basis?
If a service (customer support, training materials, whatever the hell else) is good enough compared to the free (beer) alternatives that someone can make a living out of it, how can that POSSIBLY be considered anything but a real job?
And, good instruction leads to well trained professionals creating good content. If one of you clowns ever get proficient enough with blender to actually make a career out of it, should you be able to, or would creating non-open content with the app be hypocritical as well?
You sir seem to not understand that in order to support a website like this you need to generate money. Plus the membership is only 10 bucks I mean come on your going to complain about that? You pay more for a lunch at bk then you do for a month of education.
By the way, this series looks promising.
Is there hope the next part will be up very soon, like early week? ^^ And what will we expecting to see in it? Would be nice if you could give a little preview.
Maybe I’ll sign up for citizen too, although I think there is not yet enough tuts around. Hmhm. :s
Looks interesting.
The preview idea is a great one! I don’t think we will have the next one up that soon, with our current schedule, but with the exclusives when we settle down, will come about once or twice a month.
The next part is being recorded still, and will cover more refinement of the mesh, and getting nitty gritty on the detail involved from the concept. Keep an eye out and feel free to check in on it by e-mailing us.
Cheers,
W
What’s John Jameson’s problem! Like there’s not enough quality FREE tutorials on Blender Cookie.
Some people just want everything for nothing! If you support the site they will be able to produce more free tutorials and resources.
He’s just mad, because, his mommy and daddy did not give him his allowance this week. “Start saving your lunch money, John! Bum a quarter here and there! One day You will get enough money to share that $10 with the rest of the world! ”
As a full time animator, modeler, and Graphic designer for a TV Station in the Caribbean. I have to say that Blender Cookie is the best website on the internet to learn from; for what I do and anyone else That is in my field. I have learned a lot from these guys(Blender Cookie/CG Cookie). I even apply what Blender Cookie has taught me in Blender, to other software.
Ya’ll have my full support! Keep up the good work Blender Cookie!!! More good things are coming your way!!!
Word, dude! Farkin’ W.O.O.O.O.R.D!
Parabéns pelo trabalho ,sempre fico impressionado pela simplicidade e riqueza dos trabalhos ,aqui no Brasil tem muita gente boa fazendo coisas boas mas ainda não conseguem “ganhar ” dinheiro como vocês
Parabéns mesmo !!!!!!!!
Congratulations on the job, I am always impressed by the simplicity and
wealth of work here in Brazil has a lot of people doing good things
good but still can not “earn” money as you
Thank you again !!!!!!!!
First off, ‘open source’ doesn’t always mean ‘free’. Look at a software like QCad. If you want it ready-to-go, you will have to pay (but a nice price compared to other CAD softwares). On the other hand, you can can get the source code for free, and compile it if you know how to do it.
Secondly, as we say in French : “every work deserves a wage”. And without funds, Blender Cookie and even Blender itself would improve such a good way. Getting money helps things go faster and better. Moreover, the open-source spirit is preserved : there’s no commercial purpose here, all profits go to the development of the website and software. So, it benefits to the community and returns to you by the way. So, when you donate, buy a book (like PackT publisher do), or suscribe to citizenship here for instance, you don’t lose money as you, the community and Blender will gain in knowledge and improvement.
Third, noobody’s forced to suscribe, and the one who doesn’t want to be a member won’t be put apart from interesting material. Just understand that it’s normal to get a few advantages when you get citizenship. And if you just don’t want to suscribe, ressource here is already a great job and helpful. So nothing hypocritical here. As far as I’m concerned, I haven’t sucrcibed yet, but I don’t complain : I’ve found enough excellent stuff for my learning so far. And I’m looking forward to getting citizenship because I know it will be worth it. And to be honest : it is fair cheap, isn’t it?
At last, I address to Blender Cookie staff all my congratulations for the great piece of job they provide here. Thumbs up to you guys!
All blender tutorials should be free
(and I don’t have any money right now)
Neither do I, but I understand the need for business, and I don’t agree all blender tutorials should be free. Blender Foundation would be dead with out their books and store and donations
Bare that in mind. Keep up the practice and if you have any questions feel free to contact me or anyone on the Blender Community
This looks pretty good. I just might have to use some of my Christmas money on a subscription here.
To the blender cookie/cg cookie people. Keep up the good work, I have enjoyed both sites so far. I would also like to let you know that in the new year I plan to get a subscription to citizen, so I will be looking forward to what you will have in the future. Thanks.
Great looking tutorial. Will there be non-character ones that are advanced like this?
I just subscribed. Why? Not for the free stuff. Simply to support the people who take the time to put out quality tutorials. Keep up the good work and I look forward to more in the future.
I have to say I really hate Paying for these tutorials, they are “okay” But not worth money. You should be ashamed to charge for blender tutorials. This isn’t what blender is about.
Do ever you use open source software, such as Red Hat, Fedora, or Ubuntu Linux? Or any other company that provides you with their software, which has thousands of hours put into it, for free? And have you ever wondered how these companies manage to stay alive? It certainly isn’t through having other “real” jobs. Definitely not. It’s because they offer more advanced features and support at a small charge to people who choose to buy it.
This is exactly the same. The guys here at Blender Cookie have devoted hours upon hours to creating this material for you and the rest of the public, surely they have the right to charge a small fee for some of the better work they put out. Unless, of course, I forgot, they don’t deserve to ask for payment, they have to do it all through the “good of their hearts” so that other people who feel like helping others isn’t a real job can revel in having great instructional materials for free!
Well actually if you read Tom’s statement on Blender, making money is what it is all about for the user, in fact he encourages it
What???!!! Come on, man!!! Are you complaining about this one tutorial that is for citizens and for people who want to keep these guys doing what they are doing??!!! Did you happen to notice all the other tutorials that are free on the site(cg cookie/ Blender cookie)!!!
Here are some questions for you. Do you make money doing graphics using the knowledge of the free tutorials? Do you use blender to make a living? Have you ever donated to Blender? Where have you found better tutorials? Is all your other software pirated and free as well? Do you Like free packages of Ketchup from fast food joints? Free refills of soda? etc.
Here is the donations page to Blender http://www.blender.org/blenderorg/blender-foundation/donation-payment/ These guys work hard to give you the software that you use. For Free! Try donating to them. $10 from you will help them continue their development. Blender cookie / Cg Cookie work hard to give you the knowledge of how to work your free software(Blender).For Free! All it is, is a freaking contribution! You already have the egg with the free tutorials. All they are asking, is, if you are willing is to spend a little money (to help them out) to get the omelet. Not much even!
Please go rethink your statement and get back to me in the morning…
Well They could just do this as a hobby.
Be reasonable. A hobby can hardly put food on your table and pay for rent if you don’t pull a few bucks out of it. The beauty in online services is that many people pay little money to get a good deal. I can’t exactly afford Citizenship either but i still consider it quite a good idea and with the rest of tutorials being released free of charge or in bargain bundles, there’s NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT at this stage of BlenderCookies’ development. Quite the contrary.
Tobey out.
I see your point, but people that cant afford these tutorials are really missing out.
No, they are not missing out because is people didn’t pay for something no one would get anything. Plus look at the many other tutorials and free stuff that this site offers.
Do you know how much does a 5-day class in a private institute cost to teach you the basics or so of Blender in France? The average cost is……. €1500!!!!! And this is just for the basics. If you want further more training on animation, texturing etc, add €1500 for each. And each time it lasts just 4-5 days.
Citizenship here at Blender Cookie just costs $10 a month, $25 for 3 months or $88 a year. The avarage for buying a book dealing with general or specific training costs about €30. Same for a DVD. You can also find e-books for an average cost of €20. If take Citizenship you can also have a 20% dicsount on custom classes at Mavenseed. The rest of the learning here or over the community is free and good quality. And each time you pay for stuff made buy the coummunity it improve Blender and the quality of tuition. On the other hand, when you go to a private institute, you just increase the institute’s profits and nothing goes to the community.
So, regarding the rates, let’s be honest : it’s waaaaaay cheap! They don’t ask you to pay a fortune. And if you don’t want or can’t pay, you don’t miss anything either. Whether you like it or not, nowadays it is impossible to provide good quality without funds. And even if some money is asked for some stuff, it is just peanuts compared to other kinds of class in private institutes (€1500 for 5 days, that is quite expensive isn’t it?)
Last point : just take for instance the $10/month suscription here. For the same price I can go to a fast food (I take the same example as in Citizenship advert here). Honestly, I guess the quality/price ratio is way better for Citizenship. And I bet some here that say they can’t afford Citizenship go to a fast food at least once a month… so don’t be hypocritical!
If you have enough money for a fancy computer and a broadband connection I don’t see how a few dollars is too much too ask.
Just a question, does anyone know if I choose a one month subscription can I change it to three months or a year subscription later?
I couldn’t agree more!
This site is an example of the spirit “Open Source”. The school passed through his tutorials provides the freedom of ideas, development techniques, satisfaction and joy of learning a tool is as good as Blender. Both your site back to Blender, Blender Cookie, on the other site, the CG Cookie is excellent, presenting several studies of other software.
I nominate this site to everyone I know and all those who visit my blog. For the knowledge should not be kept inside in a box, and yes, spread like seeds in the wind. To grow in the lands more distant, devoid of knowledge. So, everyone will have the opportunity to learn.
Thank you for your excellent work and wish to pass your knowledge.
Animandré from Paulista/PE-Brazil.
the developers and staff definitely have a right to charge for the content they choose, and i agree that it is pretty cheap compared to a lot of the other commercial stuff or classes out there — so by no means are they trying to commit highway robbery or do a get-rich-quick scheme. if anything, anytime i do get to buying a Blender book or DVD, i don’t feel as bad buying it because it is supporting Blender and the people putting in the hard work to give us Blender for free, not some mega corporation where all the big-wigs are the ones really profiting from it. i can’t afford everything, unfortunately, although i’d love to have it all and support Blender at the same time. but really, there is enough free stuff out there to become a really advanced Blender artist without having to pay a cent. having access to paid tutorials will not necessarily make a difference. it’s up to the artist to make it happen. i think the artists deserve to make something back for all the work they put in, and that’s why i greatly respect the artists that have paid content for sale but still continue to put out free stuff at the same time.
making all Blender stuff free seems a bit extreme. it’s almost like asking people who work at charities, nonprofits, and goodwill centers to not get paid. we can’t expect everything to be volunteer pro bono work in a money-driven capitalistic society. reality bites; we need to put food on our tables and have a roof over our heads. what sucks is when the money is laundered in “administration fees”, scandals, and corruption, and i highly doubt that is happening at the Blender Foundation. and i bet if the staff got so-called “real jobs” and just did this as a hobby, they wouldn’t have the time anymore to make this site, the software, and community as great and awesome as it is. or worse yet, Blender development would stop, and the companies like Autodesk that actually do make boatloads of money off its software at $5k/license will continue on, because they actually have the funds to support a development team.
lots of kudos and props to the Blender peeps who keep it going. i’d hate to see Blender crash and burn, because then we’d all be forced to shell out mad amounts of $$$ for commercial stuff like Maya, Max, C4D, etc.
I just can’t believe the aggression of the first comment on people who give so much for free.
CG/ Blendercookie is THE site. No other has has ever put out so much high quality training in such a short time for free.
Shame on you, John Jameson.
What have you given to the community? If you are going to offer better training for free, drop me a line.
hypocritical crap?
What is hypocritical about offering a service for money?
Get a brain and a therapy.
I’ve covered the reasons why I think this is well worth it here
http://mgctwotw.blogspot.com/2009/12/you-get-what-you-pay-for-and-more.html
hope it helps people understand where I’m coming from
Blender is an excellent software and how these people have covered it in their tutorials is amazing. A lot of effort has been put into the tutorials. If you compare them with other sites, you can see the knowledge these people portray in the videos. What this site is charging for the Citizen membership is cheap and is very affordable seeing the quality of tutorials we are getting. Keep up the good work Blender cookie. You are really helping the community.
OK, after all I’ll comment on this discussion with a big “*LOL*”
I’m about as old as Wes, so we see things a bit different as kids like Marina. I really don’t wanna write anything unfriendly or cynic, though I’m really itching to do so, but it would be just as unfair as some of above stuff.
1) This has been the first tutorial on CG/Blendercookie EVER that needed to be paid for. All the others you can watch for FREE.
2) If you hate paying, don’t. Watch all the tuts, except for this one, for free. I LIKE paying. Gives good things greater value. My earnings are slightly above official poverty level, yet I always manage to put aside some cash for my education, because EVENTUALLY it will pay back (and my wife doesn’t even bitch!). Already started to do so with my first commercial work a few weeks ago. So, theoretically, if you’re smart, you’ll figure how to get it ALL for a few bucks… Can’t get fairer than that. Or watch crappy tuts on YouTube for free. NP, your choice. I started that way, too, but I was happy to find QUALITY here.
3) Nothing in life comes entirely for free. Just wait until you have to pay for living. Like Wes does. So don’t get stingy on the Cookie – fast servers cost money, the Vimeo account for displaying the high quality FREE tutorials costs money. Receiving Paypal payments too, and taxes as well. I’m sure Wes would hate to pay for all that, too, especially when treated with thoughtless disrespect.
4) I totally subscribed. I also am a Mavenseed customer. I didn’t regret a single penny I paid here. Already got the software for free. Blender Cookie put out so much, more than I can currently follow. You won’t get that for free. EVER.
Damn, just close comments. This stuff is to political and I’d like it to be all 3D. Good work. I’ll think about joining Citizen program.
Hey John Jameson!
You can make better tutorials? Spend a lot of hours to give something to the Community without needing the support of others? Maintain a website from own expenses without needing the support of others? And after you done that I will bow before you oh mighty one!
These guys have other jobs, they most likely have families with children. And they take the precious time away which they you could spend with their loved ones. And besides maintaining a site costs money. Nobody expects from them, that they should spend their own money for giving knowledge to such dorks like you are. I bet you are just a little boy, with no experience in real life. Mommy, daddy buys for you everything you need, and all is right with the world.
I bet you never gave one cent to the Blender Community. Never bought a book or something to give them something back for the great work they are doing.
Dear Marina!
Tell me what is Blender all about?
You tell me they don’t deserve any credit for their work? You can’t buy food from a simple applause. If you are so into Open Source Community, then please make new 3D software without any funds. They spend many-many years to make a great program. I bet you never made any programs in your life. Because you would know how hard it is.
And the same goes for you too what I’ve written to John.
You don’t go into a supermarket and take all the goods you need without paying.
You don’t go into a barber shop and use services for free. Or any other service.
If you don’t like it go buy 3DMx for a hell lot of money. Go to educations for another hell lot of money. And don’t come here ever again.
And don’t use Blender. Because you don’t know what this is all about.
And please get a job and live in the real life, and You will see “Nothing in life is free” (like “Cage the Elephant” says).
And for the others. Sorry for these harsh words. I just cant stand such blind people. They think they know everything. But they just plain stupid.
This is the major problem with Open Source Community. They give a lot to people. But there are always such hypocrites, who never done anything for the Community, but when they have to give something back. They are the loudest of all.
We love BlenderCookie. Period. Bitching useless
L.O.V.E. – understand, dudes & dudesses? LUV! So no whining, please.
@Sandking: join, no thinking required. For real! Total server swipe, man, think about THAT!! And you can actually READ all interface buttons that way. And Jonathan sounds much sexier without the strong compression (that’s for Marina)
All I’m gonna say is that knowledge (in general) is free. However, if you want to be taught, then you need to pay. Otherwise, learn it yourself.
When you go to college/university, you pay them, right? So how would this be any different? It’s just that it’s online now.
‘Every one wants to be a critic, no one wants to be a buyer’ I do not know whar I heard this quote or who made the comment but is sums up the attitude of those who think this is wrong. I agree with Gary, only I have been struggling with Blender a lot longer, mainly because job and family tend to come first:-),or at least better.
Money is tight but some of us are tighter, I am glas to see tut’s that willhelp me onver the hurdles I have been facing for a very long time. You guys are awsome and at 10 a month or 4 per lesson this is a steal.
Thanks!
Thanks a lot for all the help guys. Jonathan, Wes, and Kernon have helped me tremendously with improving my 3d skills. I hope the critics notice that these tuts are THE Best out there. I have looked and I hope they make million off of this, but with deadbeats that just want free shit they never will. I was debating about the citizenship earlier, but I’m sold now. If nothing else just to rub it in the faces of those who don’t really understand what this work involves. So Mr. Jameson if you think you’re so much better please post some material and show us how your free work is any better than theirs.
I just downloaded Blender 3D not because it’s free but because of the features it appears to have and the large community that supports it. I just watched part of a car modeling and alien rigging tutorials for free here and they were more detailed than those I’ve seen offered on membership sites that cost hundreds of dollars. The above tutorial on human modeling sounds quite promising and detailed, and worth $10 alone considering what a book or magazine would cost with just stills and photo’s to go by. Does anyone have any useful feed back about the tutorial? Once I familiarize myself with blender I’ll be back to check it out.
Hi crackpotgolfer,
Here is what a couple of people have said about the Mechanic tutorial series so far:
“Just finished watching it and very pleased to be a citizen now. The modeling on the hands was awesome, watching those triangles disappear into smooth clean flowing topology took my understanding to a new level! Just hope that I can pull that off on my models, I had to watch the magic a few times to be sure. I can’t wait for the closure on this one, any time frame? I can’t believe this video was released on the 3rd it seems like yesterday.
Thanks!-
Adin“
“Wow! I’m so happy to be a citizen! This tutorial is very inspirating… you really rock Jonathan! Can’t wait for the other parts! Do you think to cover skin material? Thanks over and over again!“
Thanks for the feedback Jonathan, after my first look at blenders UI I have a feeling it’s going to be a while before I tackle something as advanced as the mechanic lol.
I know its a little late to join this old discussion, but I became a citizen a couple of monthes after discovering cg cookie, and not just to get at all the citizen tutorials, because there were so many free ones that were great and more than I could learn in the next year, and I am still trying to finish the alien tutorials by David ward (two more to go). I became a citizen of cg cookie because I regonized a very great thing there and wanted to support and be apart of it. And lets face it 88$ a year for all they offer is dirt cheap. If you really can’t afford the small price to join there is plenty to learn here for free, and keep anyone goung for a very long time. Why complain and bring in all the negative energy?
old tutorial but only just got in to blender and decided to become a citizen. loving the work you guys do and looking forward to cracking on
Sorry to hijack this thread but do you have any advice on how to optimize a mobile friendly website on a sub-domain.
You could certainly see your expertise in the paintings you write. The arena hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. All the time follow your heart. “We may pass violets looking for roses. We may pass contentment looking for victory.” by Bern Williams.
Will this work with 2.6?
“When you don’t get what you want, you suffer. If you get it, you suffer too since you can’t hold on to it forever.” – Peaceful Warrior, on the fallacy of attachment
I just finished the first part and i feel like i’m an expert. LOL
You know it kills me to see fussing over a great service like CGCookie.
I spent months looking for the best program to do 3D modeling with, I found out there are a few that are free. but most cost big $$$. If you don’t like Blender for Free, and pay a few $$ for the membership to get more tutorials and models, then go buy 3DS Max for $5000 and see if you get any better tutorials for your money!
hello all
is there anything on cg cookie with some intro tutorials regarding photoshop and textures?
thx
Jeremy