Make your own menus for a faster workflow and more customized Blender.

There are so many different tools, menus, and options in Blender that it is impossible to perfectly fit everyone’s ideal workflow. Some people like big menus, some people prefer hotkeys, and others still want only iconized toolbars. Blender will never be exactly like we each want it, but luckily this is where Python comes in!

Blender’s Python integration allows us to create our own menus, toolbar panels, and other things by writing simple scripts. We can then install these scripts as add-ons and adapt our workflow how we choose.

In this tutorial you’ll learn how to write a simple add-on that creates a custom menu. After writing the script you’ll be able to easily customize the menu by filling it with almost anything you like.

Final code

The finished script is very simple, it’s only a few lines.

bl_info = {
        "name": "My Custom Menu",
        "category": "3D View",
        "author": "Jonathan Williamson"
        }        

import bpy

# Creates a menu for global 3D View
class customMenu(bpy.types.Menu):
    bl_label = "Custom Menu"
    bl_idname = "view3D.custom_menu"

    # Set the menu operators and draw functions
    def draw(self, context):
        layout = self.layout

        layout.operator("mesh.primitive_cube_add")
        layout.operator("object.duplicate_move")   

def register():
    bpy.utils.register_class(customMenu)
#    bpy.ops.wm.call_menu(name=customMenu.bl_idname)

def unregister():
    bpy.utils.unregister_class(customMenu)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    register()

You can also find the code, along with all our other scripts on the CG Cookie Github Repository

Learn how to quick re-use a previous tool or action via the Operator History in Blender.

Due to the nature of modeling and animation workflow, there’s many times that we use a tool over and over again. This may not seem like a hassle, but the time we take to access those tools can really add up. Over the course of a large project seconds become minutes and minutes become hours.

In Blender we can quickly reach a previously used tool or command by accessing the History list or via the Repeat Last operator. This can greatly improve our workflow efficiency.

You can call the History menu from the Toolbar (T) or via the hotkey F3. Alternately, you can simply repeat the last command with Shift+R, or also from the Toolbar.

The Quick Tools Add-on Improves Workflow With A Series Of Shortcuts and Macros

Blender offers a very powerful and fast workflow for many different tasks, but sometimes improvements can be made. Using the multitude of Blender add-ons available we are able to alter and improve the way we work in Blender.

In this case, the Quick Tools add-on is an extension developed by yours truly that offers a set of easy-access menus in Object mode, Edit mode, and Sculpt mode. These menus contain a series of commonly used tools and custom macros that work to speed up repetitive tasks.

Once enabled, you can access these menus from the 3D Viewport with the Q key. If you wish, you can change this hotkey easily from User Preferences > Input > 3D View > Object/Edit/Sculpt.

Download the Quick Tools Add-on

You can download the latest version of Quick Tools HERE.

Bug Reporting

If you stumble across any bugs in the add-on please submit a bug report via the Issue Tracker on our GitHub Repo: https://github.com/CGCookie/script-bakery/issues?state=open

Our users are the reason we’re still here.

There’s no doubt about it, CG Cookie would not exist today if it weren’t for all you. You, the users, are incredible and we’re so grateful to have you with us.

In an effort to continue improving CG Cookie we want to hear from you. Your feedback allows us to better focus our efforts on creating a place that is not only valuable, but also enjoyable to you.

 Fill out the survey below

Please take a moment and fill out the survey below to help us make CG Cookie even better. If the embedded form does not show up you can also fill out the survey here: https://cgcookie.wufoo.com/forms/z7p7r3/

If you have any questions or concerns comment feel free to comment below or email us directly: support@cgcookie.com

Put your skills to the test by modeling this character design by Tim Von Rueden

There’s no better way to practice your new found skill-set than to put them to use creating a real project. To help you apply the techniques and workflows you learn from the many tutorials here on Blender Cookie we like to give you an occasional exercise. These exercises are meant to be very laid back and fun, simply encouraging you to practice working in Blender. This way when the time comes to apply your knowledge to a professional project you have the experience to do so.

Exercise: Model An Airplane Pilot

For this exercise you are tasked with modeling the pilot character that goes with our Small Airplane. This is the same design that will be used in an upcoming Citizen course on the same subject.

Instructions:

These exercises are not strict, but here’s some basic guidelines.

1. Download the concept and modeling sheet above
2. Model the character, using any techniques you wish, but preferably the end-result should be animation-ready (e.g clean topology that will deform well)
3. Submit a render of your character by clicking Submit Image below this post.
4. The deadline for render submissions is Sunday, May 12

Resources:

If you find yourself struggling at any point check out these additional resources, courses, and tutorials for guidance.

• Modeling a Small Turtle Character - http://cgcookie.com/blender/cgc-series/creating-a-little-cartoon-turtle-in-blender/
• Modeling a Little Hippo - http://cgcookie.com/blender/cgc-series/modeling-hippo-blender/
  
• Understanding Mesh Topology - http://cgcookie.com/blender/cgc-series/learning-mesh-topology-collection/

Learn how to use Dynamic Topology Sculpting in Blender

The dynamic topology system in Blender allows for a much more organic, creative sculpting process. It gives you much more flexibility in not only how, but what you sculpt by not limiting you to the original starting basemesh.

When working with dynamic topology, Blender will automatically tessellate the mesh under your brush stroke to account for the detail needed. This gives you the ability to add detail anywhere you wish, create new forms, and work with a much more optimized polycount since the tessellations are localized.

Check out CG Cookie Citizen for more sculpting training

To learn more about using dynamic topology in your workflow and creating finished sculptures I recommend you check out Kent Trammell’s training series on Creature Modeling For Production, and his Citizen course on Hard-Surface Sci-Fi Weapon Sculpting.

Learn How To Retopologize Complex, Hard-surface Forms in Blender

Through the continued improvement of sculpting tools and workflow we now have a lot of different ways we can choose to model a subject. A perfect example is Kent Trammell’s training series that looks at how to use Blender’s sculpting tools for creating a hard-surface weapon design. The techniques Kent uses rely on the dynamic topology feature, allowing Kent to create most anything he can imagine. However, these techniques and workflows don’t generally result in models that are easy to work with through the rest of the production pipeline. Dynamic topology, and sculpting in general, result in very high-resolution models that may have beautiful forms but they’re challenging to texture, render, or do much of anything with. This is where retopology comes into play.

If the retopology process is a mystery to you then this is ideal for you! Unlock the complete course by joining Citizen

Retopology is the process of recreating an existing form with a clean mesh structure that accurately represents the original form. This process is often used to yield a animation or render-ready model that’s not only easier to work with, but may also have cleaner surfaces that give the artist more freedom in the remaining stages of the complete workflow (such as texturing, shading, and rendering.)

What you’ll learn through this course

Building on Kent’s previous series, Sculpting a Sci-Fi Weapon, this Blender course will take you through the retopology process for that final sci-fi weapon model. Among other things you will learn:

• How to break the model down into key forms
• Modeling methodically to get more control over the mesh
• How to easily add sharp details with proximity loops (holding edges) and edge creasing
• How to use surface snapping for fine mesh control
• How to use the Shrinkwrap modifier for better visibility
• How to use the BSurfaces add-on as a retopology tool

Music by: FortyTwoMusic, Airtone, septahelix

100 Total Textures Ready For Use In Your Game!

I’m excited to announce we have partnered with GameTextures.com to provide top-notch, ready-to-use texture packs through our CG Cookie Shop. Each of these texture packs comes with a large number of tiled textures, complete with their diffuse, normal, specular, glossy, and height maps. All of the textures are expertly crafted, with a great attention to detail. Check them out on the shop for more details and a complete listing of all the included textures.

Asylum Texture Pack

Originally designed as their first actual theme pack, this texture package has some incredible textures which will allow you to construct an old, gross asylum in no time flat. Check out the Padded Wall Textures, the heavy set steel locked doors, and all of the rest of the decorations to match.

Sci-Fi Texture Pack

The GT Art Team built this package slowly over the last year, and includes all of the gems in our sci-fi material library. You’ll find walls, floors, blast doors, crates, laser blast marks, ship damage, and much much more inside. Having this arsenal of tools in your pocket will allow you to create any sort of space station, mars research station, or abandoned asteroid mining ship with ease and speed.

Medieval Texture Pack

Inside, you’ll find beautiful brick walls, shiny used castle (and commoner!) doors and windows, ground textures and more! This pack was created over the course of the last year, and has quite a few of our favorite materials which are sure to make your dungeon, castle, village, or throne room stand out.

Be sure to check out GameTextures.com for even more textures.

]]> http://cgcookie.com/blender/2013/04/19/game-texture-packs-available-now-from-the-cg-cookie-shop/feed/ 14 http://cgcookie.com/blender/2013/04/15/blender-python-scripting-task-automation/ http://cgcookie.com/blender/2013/04/15/blender-python-scripting-task-automation/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:00:15 +0000 Jonathan Williamson http://cgcookie.com/blender/?p=48762 Learn how to automate tasks in ]]>

Learn how to automate tasks in Blender with Python scripting

There are lots of things we do over and over again in a normal workflow. It might be that you need to add and apply a modifier to a hundred objects, or change the display traits of many objects, or any other repetitive task. These things add up quickly and increase the time it takes to finish our project. Luckily for us Blender has a complete Python API  that allows us to access most of Blender’s tools and settings via scripting.

Python scripting in Blender is straight forward and relatively easy to learn but it can be very confusing if you don’t know where to start. In this tutorial I will take you through the process of writing a very simple script that allows you automate adding and applying Subsurf modifiers to all your selected objects.

The techniques you’ll learn in this tutorial can be applied to many, many different tasks in Blender. I am only scratching the surface of Python scripting in Blender in this tutorial.

 What you’ll learn:

Below you can see the final script that you’ll be learning how to write. I’ll be showing you how to write it and what each part is.

import bpy

scene = bpy.context.scene
selected = bpy.context.selected_objects
object = bpy.ops.object

for obj in selected:
    scene.objects.active = obj

    object.modifier_add(type="SUBSURF")

    for mod in obj.modifiers:
        if mod.type == "SUBSURF":
            bpy.context.object.modifiers[mod.name].levels = 2
            object.modifier_apply(apply_as="DATA", modifier=mod.name)

Find more scripts

You can check out more scripts from the CG Cookie Crew via our GitHub repository: https://github.com/CGCookie/script-bakery

Vehicle Modeling Course in Blender

The Vehicle Modeling DVD was released in the first quarter of 2011, after the Intro to Blender and Character modeling series. It was our first physical DVD ever shipped and has shipped more than any other training DVD we’ve ever produced. However, now that the series has reached the ripe age of 2 years, it is being inducted into the CG Cookie Citizen library, making it accessible to all Citizen members.

Trade the value of a couple lattes for complete access to our Citizen training library

What you’ll learn

In this intensive, mesh modeling training series, you will be taken through the complete process of modeling a very detailed, sci-fi vehicle in Blender. The series makes use of modeling sheets and concept art by David Revoy. This series is presented in such a way to be ideal for all levels of users. Each tool used is explained along the way for new users but the topics presented will intrigue even the most advanced modelers. Throughout this series you will learn extensive modeling techniques, mesh topology, and workflows for creating a manageable model in relatively little time.

Beauty renders of the final model

Included in the download

The source files for this series contain the original concept art and modeling sheets by David Revoy, a video breakdown form David himself showing how the concept came together, and all the .blend files for the final model.