Blender Materials: the World

Introduction

In Blender, the world is the environment in which everything exists. In the real world, it primarily consists of the sky whole primary color is blue but can be any other color.

Practical Learning: Introducing the Project

1. Start Blender
2. In the Properties window, click the Object button
3. In the Outliner, click the Restrict Viewport Visibility butt (the eye) of Lamp to hide it
4. In the Outliner, click the Restrict Viewport Visibility butt (the eye) of Camera to hide it

Practical Learning: Starting a Window

1. The default cube shoold be selected (if you have doubts, right-click it to select it).
   In the Object tab of the Properties window, click Cube to select the name
2. Type Sample Window and press Enter
3. In the Transform section, change the following values:

   Location - X: -4.85
              Y: -.45
              Z: 1.15
   Scale    - X: .3
              Y: .05
              Z: .25

4. While the cube is selected, position the mouse in the work area, press M and, in the Layers window, click the second box

Practical Learning: Starting the Foundation of a Townhouse

1. In the Tools window, click the Create tab
2. In the Create tab of the Tools window, click Cube
3. In the Transform section of the Properties window, change the following values:

   Name:      Foundation
   Location - X: -4
              Y:  1
              Z:  .2
   Scale    - X: 1.5
   		     Y: 1.5
   		     Z: .2

Practical Learning: Starting a Townhouse

1. In the Tools window, click Create
2. In the Create tab of the Tools window, click Cube
3. In the Transform section of the Properties window, change the following values:

   Location - X: -4
              Y:  1
              Z:  1.65
   Scale    - X: 1.5
   		     Y: 1.5
              Z: 1.25

4. Position the mouse on the cube and press Tab to switch to Edit Mode
5. Position the mouse on the top face, press Ctrl + R and move the mouse to get a line parallel to the red arrow (the X axis)
6. Click twice to confirm the cut:

   

7. On the menu bar of the 3D-View, click the Edge Select button
8. Right-click the top edge to select it
9. Press G to move the line
10. Press Z to move up
11. Type 1 and press Enter:

    

12. On the menu bar of the 3D-View, click the Face Select button
13. Right-click one of the top two faces:

    

14. If necessary, move the view so you can see the other top face.
    Press and hold Shift
15. Right-click the other top face
16. Release Shift:

    

17. Press P and, on the menu that appears, click Selection
18. Press Tab to switch to Object mode
19. Right-click the top of the house to select the roof
20. Press S to resize
21. Type 1.1 and press Enter:

    

22. Press Tab to switch to Edit Mode
23. Press A to select both sides of the roof
24. Press E to extrude and press Enter
25. Press G and press Z to move vertically
26. Type .05 and press Enter
27. Press Tab to switch to Object Mode
28. In the Numeric Pad, press 3 to display the right view
29. In the Numeric Pad, press 5 to work in orthogonal projection
30. Move the roof down to the top of the house:

    

31. In the Numeric Pad, press 1 to display the front view
32. While the roof is selected, press and hold Shift
33. Right-click the body of the mouse to add it the selection
34. Right-click the bottom cube (the foundation) to add it the selection
35. Release Shift:

    

Practical Learning: Starting Townhouses

1. While the selection is still made, press Shift + D to copy
2. Press X to move the duplicate horizontally
3. Move the new house to the right of the other:

   

4. Select the body of the new house and its roof:

   

5. Press S to resize it
6. Press Z to resize it only by its height
7. Move the mouse slightly down to shrink it, and click:

   

8. Move the mouse a little bit down to align its bottom border to the top border of the foundation. Here is an example:

   

9. Move the view so you can see the house in perspective
10. Add the second foundation to the selection and move the group a little behind the front line. Here is an example:

    

11. Right-click the first foundation to select it
12. Press and hold Shift
13. Right-click the body of the first house
14. Right-click the first roof
15. Release Shift
16. Press Shift + D to copy the selection
17. Press X to move horizontally
18. Move the new house to the right of the others and a position it so its front is aligned between the front of the first house and the front of the second house. Here is an example:

    

    

19. Right-click the first foundation to select it
20. Press and hold Shift
21. Right-click the body of the first house
22. Right-click the first roof
23. Release Shift
24. Press Shift + D to copy the selection
25. Press X to move horizontally
26. Move the new house to the right of the others and a position it so its front is aligned behind the fronts of the other houses. Here is an example:

    

Practical Learning: Modeling a Window

1. On the menu bar of the 3D View, in the Visible Layers section, click the second button
2. Zoom in to have a large face facing you
3. Right-click the box to select the cube:

   

4. Press Tab to display in Edit Mode
5. On the menu bar of the 3D-View, click the Face Select button if necessary
   Right-click a large face to select it
6. Press I to create an inset on the selected face
7. Type .15 and press Enter:

   

8. Press E to extrude
9. Type -.095 and press Enter:

   

10. While the face is still selected, press P to separate

    

11. In the menu that appears, click Selection
12. Press Ctrl + R and make sure you get a horizontal cut on the window, then roll the middle mouse button to get two cuts:

    

13. Click twice to confirm the cuts
14. While the cuts are still selected, press S to move them
15. Press Z to move vertically
16. Type .2 and press Enter:

    

17. On the menu bar of the 3D View, click the Face Select button
18. Right-click one of the small interior faces:

    z

19. Press E
20. Using the red arrow, move the small face to the opposite border:

    

21. On the menu bar of the 3D View, click Edit Mode and select Object Mode
22. Right-click inside the window to select the face that was separated
23. While the face is still selected, in the Properties window, click the Object button, click Small Window.001, type Window Glass and press Enter
24. In the Numeric Pad, press 1 and press Z to display the wireframe
25. Press S to resize it
26. Type 1.1 and press Enter:

    

27. Move the view to see the window in orthogonal view
28. Press Z to exit the wireframe
29. While the window glass is still selected, use the green arrow of the Y axis to move it close to the outiside face. Here is an example:

    

30. While the window glass is still selected, press and hold Shift
31. Right-click one of the borders of the window to select the whole window
32. Release Shift
33. Press Shift + D to copy them and press Enter
34. Zoom out to see less of the windows
35. Press M and, in the Move to Layers window, click the first button
36. In the menu bar of the 3D View, click the first button of the Visible Layers section

Practical Learning: Creating Townhouses

1. While the window and its inside are selected, move the window so you can see the plane inside it (the glass of the window). Here is an example:

   

2. While the window and its inside are selected, press Shift + D to copy them
3. Press Z to move the copy vertically
4. Move the window up (no need for precision, you will adjust everything later):

   

5. While the window and its inside are selected, press Shift + D to copy them
6. Press X to move the copy horizontally
7. Move the window right (no need for precision, you will adjust everything later):

   

8. On the menu bar of the 3D View, click Add -> Mesh -> Cube
9. While the cube is selected, in the Properties window, click the Object button and change the following values:

   Name:      Door Frame
   Location - X: -3.25
              Y:  -5
              Z: .9
   Scale    - X: .28
              Y: .05
              Z: .5

10. Position the mouse in the work area and press Tab to enter into Edit Mode
11. Press Ctrl + R and get a vertical cut
12. Click once and move it to the left
13. Click a second time to confirm
14. In the same way, create another vertical cut on the right side
15. In the same way, create a horizontal cut and move it to close to the top side:

    

16. On the menu bar of the 3D View, click the Face Select button
17. Right-click the inside face to select it
18. Press E to extrude
19. Use the green arrow of the Y axis to move the face back. Here is an example:

    

20. Press Tab to work in Object Mode
21. Use the green arrow of the Y axis move the door to the front wall of the house:

    

22. In the Create tab of the Tools window, click Plane
23. In the Properties window, change the following values:

    Name:      Door Face
    Rotation - X: 90

24. Move the plane to the door and resize it to fit inside the door. Here is an example:

    

25. Select a window frame and the glass inside it
26. Press Shift + D to copy the selection and press Enter
27. Press R to rotate the selection
28. Press Z to rotate horizontally
29. Type -90 and press Enter
30. Use the red arrow of the X axis to move the window to a side of an end house
31. By duplicating and moving windows and doors, complete the design to adding windows and a door to each townhouse. The placements of windows and doors don't have to follow the same pattern:

    

32. Select a window frame and the glass inside it
33. Press Shift + D to copy the selection and press Enter
34. Press R to rotate the selection
35. Press Z to rotate horizontally
36. Type 180 and press Enter
37. Use the green arrow of the Y axis to move the window to the other side of the house
38. In the same way, add windows to the backs of the houses. Add windows to the side of an end house. Here are examples:

    

Practical Learning: Creating a Walkway

1. In the Tools window, click the Create tab
2. In the Create tab of the Tools window, click Cube
3. In theObject tab of the Properties window, in the Transform section, change the following values:

   Name:      Outside Stairs
   Location - X: -3.25
              Y: -1
              Z: .2
   Scale:     X: .35
              Y: .55
              Z: .2

4. On the menu bar of the 3D View, click Object Mode and click Edit Mode
5. Press Ctrl + R and get a vertical cut along the X axis
6. Roll the mouse to get two cuts:

   

7. Press Ctrl + R and get a horizontal cut along the Y axis
8. Roll the mouse to get two cuts:

   

9. Press Ctrl + Tab and click Face
10. Right-click the top left face to select it
11. Press X and click Faces
12. In the same way, delete the faces that would not be used for stairs:

    

13. Press Ctrl + Tab and click Edge
14. Select two vertical opposing edges:

    

15. Press F to join the edges into a face
16. In the same way, select edges and create faces to complete the stairs:

    

17. Press Tab to switch to Object Mode
18. On the menu bar of the 3D View, click Add -> Mesh -> Cube
19. In the Object section of the Properties window, in the Transform section, change the following values:

    Name:	     Walkway
    Location - X: -1.5
               Y: -2
               Z: .01
    Scale:     X: 11
               Y: .5
    			 Z: .02

20. Right-click the stairs to select them
21. Press Shift + D to copy
22. Press X to move the selection
23. Move the new stairs and position them in from of the door of the next house
24. In the same way, add the stairs in front of the doors of the other houses:

    

25. Position the mouse in the work area and press Shift + A -> Mesh -> Plane
26. In the Object section of the Properties window, in the Transform section, change the following values:

    Name:      Parking and Road
    Location - X: 0
               Y: -5.5
               Z: .02
    Scale:     X: 9.5
               Y: 3

27. In the Create tab of the Tools window, click Plane
28. In theObject tab of the Properties window, in the Transform section, change the following values:

    Name:      Grass
    Location - X: -5
               Y: 5.5
               Z: .01
    Scale:     X: 15.5
               Y: 10

29. In the Numeric Pad, press 0 to display the camera view
30. Press N to display the Properties Region
31. In the Properties Region, click Lock Camera to View
32. Use the buttons on the mouse and the keyboard to get a better view. Here is an example:

    

33. In the Properties region, click Lock Camera to View
34. Press N to close the Properties region

Creating a World

The shader used to manage the world environment is named Background. This Background shader should not be used for other objects, only to create and manage the world environment.

Practical Learning: Introducing the World

1. In the top menu bar, click Blender Render and select Cycles Render
2. In the Properties window, click the Render button
3. In the Resolution section, click 50% to select, type 100 and press Enter
4. Click Sampling to expand it
5. In the Samples section, set the Render value to 500
6. On the menu bar of the 3D View, click the Viewport Shading button and select Material:

   

7. In the Properties window, click the Material button
8. In the Properties window, click the World button
9. Below it, click Preview to expand it

10. Click Use Nodes.
    Notice that the shader in the Surface text box is set to Background
11. Click the Color button and click RGB
12. Set the color value as follows:

    R: .745
    G: 1
    B: 1

    

13. On the top menu, click Render -> Render Image to preview the result. Here is an example:

    

14. After viewing the result, press Esc to close the render view

Practical Learning: Applying Primary Materials

1. Right-click the roof of the left house
2. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the New button
3. Double-click Material.001 to edit it
4. Type Gray Shingles and press Enter
5. Click the Color button and set the color value as follows:

   R: .303
   G: .303
   B: .293

6. Right-click the roof of the second house to select it
7. In the Material tab of the Properties window, click the button on the left side of New and select Gray Shingles
8. Apply the same material to the roofs of the other two houses
9. Right-click the body of the left house to select it
10. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the New button
11. Click Material.001 to select the name
12. Type Red Hamilton and press Enter
13. Click Color and set the color as follows:

    R: .255
    G: .065
    B: .005

14. Right-click the body of the second house to select it
15. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the New button
16. Click Color and set the color as follows:

    R: .75
    G: .45
    B: .25

17. Right-click the body of the third house to select it
18. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the New button
19. Click the Color button and set the color as follows:

    R: .5
    G: .15
    B: .015

20. Right-click the body of the fourth house to select it
21. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the New button
22. Click Material or Material.00X to select the name
23. Type Dark Brown and press Enter
24. Click the Color button and set the color as follows:

    R: .285
    G: .045
    B: .015

25. In the work area, right-click the border of one of the windows of the first house to select it
26. In the Material section of the Properties window, click either New or Use Nodes
27. Click the Color button and change the color as follows:

    R: .105
    G: .015
    B: .005

28. Right-click the inside of a window
29. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the + button on the left side of Data
30. In the Properties window, click Dark Brown.001 to select the name
31. Type Glass and press Enter
32. Click the Color button and set the color value as follows:

    R: .675
    G: .828
    B: 1

33. Apply that glass color to the inside of all windows of all the houses:

    

34. In the work area, right-click the border of one of the windows of the second house
35. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the + button on the left side of Data
36. Click Material or Material.001 to select the name
37. Type Orange and press Enter
38. Click the Color button and change the color as follows:

    R: 1
    G: .25
    B: .075

39. Apply that color to the frames of all the windows of the second house
40. In the work area, right-click the border of one of the windows of the fourth house
41. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the button on the left of New and select Burly Wood
42. Apply that Burly Wood color to the frames of all the windows of the fourth house:

    

43. Right-click inside the door of the first house to select its face (you may have to right-click more than once until the inside face is selected). After selecting it, use the green arrow of the Y axis to move the face to the front so you can see it:

    

44. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the New button
45. Click the Color button and set the color as follows:

    R: .296
    G: 0
    B: 0

    

46. Right-click the door frame (the border) of the first house to select it
47. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the New button
48. Click the Color button and set the color as follows:

    R: .8
    G: .425
    B: .05

    

49. Right-click the door frame of the second house to select it
50. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the New button
51. Click the Color button and set the color as follows:

    R: .015
    G: .185
    B: .8

52. Right-click inside the door of the second house to select its face. Use the green arrow of the Y axis to bring it to the front
53. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the New button
54. Click the name of the material to select it
55. Type Deep Yellow and press Enter
56. Click the Color button and set the color as follows:

    R: .525
    G: .315
    B: .085

57. Right-click inside the door of the third house to select its face. Use the green arrow of the Y axis to bring it to the front
58. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the button on the left side of New and select Dark Brown
59. Right-click the door frame of the third house to select it
60. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the New button
61. Click the Color button and set the color as follows:

    R: .7
    G: .635
    B: .6

62. Right-click inside the door of the fourth house to select its face. Use the green arrow of the Y axis to bring it to the front
63. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the New button
64. Click the Color button and set the color as follows:

    R: .8
    G: .235
    B: .125

65. Right-click the door frame of the fourth house to select it
66. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the New button
67. Click the Color button and set the color as follows:

    R: .8
    G: .045
    B: .045

    

68. Right-click the foundation of any house (the cube below the body of any house) to select it
69. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the New button
70. Click Material.00X to select the name
71. Type Cement and press Enter
72. Click the Color button and set the color as follows:

    R: .255
    G: .255
    B: .255

73. Right-click the stairs in front of any house to select it
74. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the button on the left side of New and select Cement
75. Apply the Cement material to every foundation and all stairs of all the houses:

    

76. In the Outliner, click Grass to select it
77. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the New button
78. In the Properties window, click Material.003 to select the name
79. Type Regular Green and press Enter
80. Click the Color button and set the color value as follows:

    R: 0
    G: .142
    B: 0

81. In the Outliner, click Walkway to select it
82. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the button on the left side of New and select Cement
83. In the Outliner, click Parking and Road
84. In the Material section of the Properties window, click the New button
85. Click the Color button and set the color value as follows:

    R: .125
    G: .125
    B: .125

    :

    

86. In the Properties window, click the Render button
87. In the Render section, click the Render button:

    

88. After viewing the results, press Esc