Quick Tip: Default Font Directory

In this quick tip I show you how to set Blender's default font directory to actually point to your default font directory. How cool is that?

Also the first competition is officially over and I am looking over all the great entries I have received and trying to decide who gets the grand prize of Filter Forge. So stay tuned. :)

In Depth Review: Hologram- Complete Project

This is an in depth review of Oliver Villar's first commercial product "Hologram-Complete Project". This review is designed to show you the good and the bad about the product so before buying you can make a better informed decisions as to whether or not the product is for you. By kind permission of Oliver himself I also get to show you actual footage from the training itself in the review.

Quick Tip: Creating an Alpha Map

In this tutorial I go over how to create a bump map of a rendered image using the compositor. These maps are useful in a variety of situations; whether you want to do some texture work and need a specific bump map or whether you want to create a brush to use while sculpting.

For blender's documentation reference here.

Modeling a Toga

Toga Party! I don't even know what that means to tell you the truth... anyway, having committed to make a tutorial on how to create a toga here it is in all of its HD vimeo glory. In the tutorial I show you how to quickly make cloth and a toga using Blender's awesome sculpting tools. So sit back, relax, and watch yourself some good toga goodness.

On a side note, due to school being in full swing and me working full time teaching; I have found it a little hard to make Blender training, but if I get enough support via views, comments, likes on facebook, etc I will continue to try to make one video every week or so. I have finished three tutorials on modeling now; and will focus on texture work for the next three videos. I have some pretty fun tutorials lined up, so stay tuned. Also make sure you go check out the competition, it is still running until the end of September.

Competition: Math isn’t cool, this poster is cool!

As many of you know, or not; I am a math teacher and it is back to school time. So as school starts to gear up I realized just how bare my walls are of any interesting art and I thought to myself, “self, I bet you could get some really cool art from the Blender community to help liven up your classroom… oh, and it would be fun to do a competition as well.” And so the first ever Blender Cubed competition was born.

So what is the competition you ask? Well basically you are creating an image that I can print and hang in my actual classroom as a poster. You submission can be inspirational, funny, mathematical, or whatever; as long as it rocks… and is appropriate for public school…and it rocks.


Theme:
Poster for math class. Create an image that could be printed as a poster for Mr. Nielsen’s math class. The submitted image can be inspirational, educational, humorous, or just plain random; as long as it would look good in a classroom.

Prize for best submission:
Free copy of Filter Forge Pro Version (Retails at close to $400), ohhh and glory. See www.filterforge.com

Deadline:
September 30th, 2011

Specifics:
-Submit your final render to porternielsen@blendercubed.com with your name and email address.

• You may have more than one submission.
• You can not submit artwork that is not your own…
• You must use only blender for the 3d work.
• You may use other software for texture creation, rendering, and touch up.
• If you are selected as the winner I must have permission to print your image on a poster and display it in my classroom.
• If you submit artwork I must have permission to showcase it for the sake of the competition.
• Resolution should be high enough to be of excellent quality if printed. Different dimensions that I can print to are: 16 x 20, 16 x 24, 18 x 24, 20 x 24, 20 x 30, 24 x 36, and 36 x 48. If you want to submit a smaller resolution then print size with the intent to submit a higher resolution if you win; that is fine.

How do you win?
Submit the best artwork.

Blender Tutorial: Modeling a Tennis Racquet

In this tutorial I teach you how to model a realistic looking tennis racquet within Blender 2.5 The tutorial covers a wide range of topics from simple modifiers, to more advanced techniques involving curves and screw modifiers.

Modeling an Ear of Corn

In this tutorial we go through the steps of how to model an ear of corn within Blender 2.58 and then touch lightly how to texture the husk and set up the material for the fibrous hairs of the corn. To start, we go through how to use the array modifier to create the cob of the corn, we then use some curves to create the leaves, and hairs to create the fibers.

Purposes and History of Blender: Video

What is the purpose and function of the Blender Foundation? What is the difference between the Blender Foundation and Institute? What is the History of Blender? Well in this quick video I talk about these questions and have fun while doing so.

Porter Nielsen Artist Portfolio

Well, funny story really, I have never created an official portfolio until today. The reasoning was very quite simple, it was a lot funner (yes I say "funner") to compile personalized portfolio pieces on a per client basis... okay that was a lie. I was just lazy, and my artistic mind seems to thrive on clutter. But today I final said enough was enough, bit the bullet and made an official portfolio. Now, it is still a work in progress mind you, riddled with typos, and I still need to gather a few more pieces, but it is definitively a step in the right direction.


So what prompted me to do this now instead of several years back when I should have? Well, ever since I did the tutorial up at Blender Cookie some of my other webpages have been getting hits from people googling "Porter Nielsen Artist". The only problem was the websites these individuals were being directed to had nothing to do with me as an artist. So in hopes these "googlers" could actually find what they were looking for I created a portfolio; hence the title of this post.

So what are you to learn from all this. Well first, Porter Nielsen is such a pathetic artist that it took a big name like Blender Cookie to give him any street cred. Thanks Blender Cookie. Second, despite what conventional wisdom says; you actual can get jobs and succeed as an artist without a formal portfolio. It is just a painful, painful, painful process in which you waist a lot of time and loose a lot of clients.

So there you go, I hope you all don't judge me for my complete and utter gaff in freelancing 101; but I am making progress in the right direction, and that's what matters... right? ... RIGHT?!?

The Whys and Hows of UV Mapping

I have been recieving a lot of emails in regards to UV maps and unwrapping; and most of the questions seem to revolve around a fundemental misunderstanding of what UV maps are and what seams are. So in this video I show and explain in depth what UV maps are and how the computer unwraps models so you can predict what you map will look like before you even unwrap it. Now that is power.

Here is the blend if you want to follow along at home.

In Depth Review: Vehicle Modeling Series

In this video I review the video training series"Vehicle Modeling Series" by Jonathan Williamson, which is a video training series that covers how to make a very high detailed vehicle based off of reference images.

For a short time (Until July 31st 2011) Blender Cookie actually has a sale on the training, so now is the time to look into it.

On the video I state Jonathan is "an" owner of Blender Cookie, implying he is a co-owner; but it sounds as if I say "the" owner, which isn't the case; so please understand that going into the video.

Blender Cookie Tutorial Now Live

It isn't everyday that you get to check something off your bucket list; but today I got a tutorial posted up on Blendercookie.com Please show them support and go give it a look. It runs about an hour long and covers how to texture and create a grungy brick wall all within Blender.

Here is the link:
Creating a Grungy Brick Wall

How to make an image into a Seamless Texture

In this weeks tutorial I introduce what a seamless texture is, when it might be used, and how to make a non-seamless texture or image into a seamless beauty. The tutorial itself only goes for about 7 minutes. Short and sweet; but then I attached some random thoughts on to the end; so if you are curious what that is feel free to watch the whole video.

Also because I am a nice guy, and I love seamless textures so much; I compiled a package of 10 seamless textures I made in Filter Forge. You are welcome to download these textures and use them for commercial or personal use. You just can't sell them, redistribute, or bundle them. Also if you mentioned where you got them I would love it.

Anyway here is the link to the textures: Here They are all seamless and 2048 x 2048 resolution. Thanks again for watching and if you have any suggestions or ideas for further tutorials please let me know.

Ye Olde Book Tutorial: Part I and Part II

Part 1 of a three part series of how to model, and texture an old looking book. In part 1 I show you how to model the book.



The second part of a three part Blender tutorial helping teach how to unwrap and texture a 3d model. The tutorial goes over some very slick methods of texturing, unwraping, and even baking maps onto a model.

Also the textures used in the tutorial can be found at cgtextures.com



Third and final installation in a Blender tutorial of how to model, texture, and render a olde style book. In this part, we cover how to apply color and normal maps to a model, basic lighting and camera set up, and basic scene rendering.

In Depth Review: The Wow Factor

In this video I review the eBook "The Wow Factor" by Andrew price, which is a book that helps teach Blender's composite nodes. This is my first review, so take it for what it is.

More than trying to force my opinions on you; though I do share them, I hope to just present an informative look at what you would get if you purchased the eBook. It is brilliantly laid out, and very clear and beautifully taught; but might not be the content you are looking for; so for a further insight into what you get with the eBook; please watch the video and form your own opinion as to whether or not the product is for you.