Periodically, we offer hands-on workshops for learning techniques in 3D modeling and animation. Our focus is on Blender, an open source suite that is well suited for fast-paced, professional production on a limited budget. Blender’s speedy, hotkey-based workflow is ideal for television and print producers with tight deadlines. And the fact that it’s freely available with source code makes it a unique fit for independent studios and artists in need of custom 3D software.

In all of our workshops, copies of Blender for all modern computing platforms and all files used in the workshop are made available on DVD for course participants. If you are interested in participating in any of the courses we offer, please contact us and we will add you to our mailing list, informing you when upcoming dates will be. We also post upcoming dates on our News page and Event Calendar. Currently, we offer three workshops:

Blender Basics

In the Blender Basics Workshop, we cover the basics of using Blender; becoming familiar with its interface by creating a few 3D models and a small animation. This is a 4-hour course where participants really begin to get a feel for how Blender ‘thinks’. By the end of the workshop, attendees will have a enough basic knowledge of Blender and 3D to create simple scenes and animations. They will also have enough understanding to begin self-teaching new features. This workshop is ideally suited for artists and professionals interested in adding 3D to their productions. Prerequisites: Participants should be comfortable working with a computer. Knowledge of some computer graphics software is helpful, but not necessary.

Basics II: Organic Modeling & Materials

The Organic Modeling and Materials workshop is a 4-hour course designed as an extension of the Basics workshop. This is for participants who have a grasp on how Blender thinks and are now ready to get more productive. They will start by getting arm-deep in organic modeling, learning how to get the most out of Blender’s features. We also lightly touch upon the new Sculpt Mode that was added to the most recent release of Blender.

The second half of the workshop is devoted to materials: tips and tricks to add that punch of believability to your 3D work. We will cover Blender’s method of material assignment, texturing, vertex colors, and UV mapping. Prerequisites: Participants should have a basic familiarity with Blender’s polygon modeling tools and be relatively comfortable with its interface.

Advanced Blender Techniques

The Advanced Blender Techniques Workshop is a great supplement to the knowledge gained in our Basics workshops. In this 4-hour workshop, participants are exposed to some of Blender’s more advanced functions that will give their productions that extra pop and level of believability. Specifically, we cover particles, softbodies, and fluid dynamics. This workshop is designed for artists who are comfortable with Blender and ready to get more out of its integrated animation tools. Prerequisites: Participants should have a firm understanding of Blender’s basic functionality; they should be able to model a simple scene and be comfortable with the IPO Curve editor.