3D animation with Blender

What is the course about?

This course covers the basics of the complete 3D animation workflow in the free and powerful program Blender. We will look at Navigating the software, Modelling using different techniques, Texturing with images and procedural shaders, different Lighting approaches, Animation basics and Rendering/Exporting your work as stills and video. This course is focussed on creating simple characters and environments, but we will cover a range of techniques that can be applied to different scenarios, and introduce further more complex areas you can explore beyond the class.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

- An introduction to Navigating the 3D viewport and interface
- Basic Modelling techniques
- Simple Rigging and Animation
- Creating procedural and image based materials
- Simple Lighting and Atmospherics
- Rendering your work as video and stills.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Find your way around the Blender interface and work with the 3D viewport
- Create simple 3D objects and begin to use modelling tools.
- Add and manipulate photographic and computer generated textures
- Import premade objects into Blender
- Manipulate and animate items in your scene
- Work with lights and a camera
- Export your work as stills and video.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This is a fast-paced, technical and intensive beginners’ course. Experience using computers is essential, experience of other creative software is very beneficial but not required. Good basic computer literacy, such as opening and saving files and copying and pasting is required.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will be taught using Zoom for the live sessions with your tutor using a range of techniques including workshops, short lectures, demonstrations, tutorials, group and individual assistance, online hand-outs and assignments. You will receive an email before your session starts with details of the live session link.
Learners will be expected to join and participate in activities posted on the shared Google Classroom.
We use Google Classroom E-learning platform as a key component of the course. All notes, resources and assignments are stored in the Google Classroom, and interaction with fellow students via the class stream and peer feedback is actively encouraged. You will be sent an email with the necessary information and will need to login into your Google classroom before the course starts, please sign in before the class begins so we can get straight on with the lessons!

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You will need a PC or Mac computer or laptop, a working webcam and ideally a fully updated google Chrome browser. Please also have the latest stable release of the Blender software downloaded and running on your computer https://www.blender.org/download/ , or enough room on your computer to download it. Chromebooks and tablets are not suitable for this course as they can’t run the software.
Using headphones will block out all room noise in sessions and make it easier to follow your tutor.
You will require a good broadband connection as mobile data 3G/4G or a mobile dongle is unlikely to provide sufficient Bandwidth for live sessions.

Blender works best with a 3-button mouse and a keyboard with a numpad, though these are not essential.

Specific information on recommended equipment will be provided on the course.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

City Lit offer a range of courses in 2D and 3D Animation, Adobe Animate, Adobe After Effects, Character animation, Drawing, Editing, Sound, Illustration, Cartooning, Storyboarding, Sculpture and Adobe Photoshop to enhance your animation practice. Please check the Citylit Website using relevant search terms such as ‘Animation’, ‘Adobe’, ‘Blender’, ‘3D’.
Alternatively feel free to contact the department on visual.arts@citylit.ac.uk to discuss options with our friendly subject specialists.