1st Mattang Design Imported into Blender from Illustrator

After spending a lot of time this last week learning how to use blender (standby for some posts about some of the projects I’ve been working on) I have finally been able to import a file we did as vector graphics in Illustrator directly into Blender and use it’s wonderful capabilities to turn it into a 3D model.  There are so many things we can do from this point with our designs and I’m just getting started in seeing what is possible.

These two pictures are almost identical except that one of them had the Mattang logo placed between the sun and the object to cast a shadow on it.

First Blender Animation

Here’s my first animation using Blender.  It’s the logo for the business I’m starting with my brother.

Click to Watch!

Blender Tree Trunk

Well I’ve been loosely following a tutorial I found about how to create a low-poly tree for use in the Blender Game engine.  I gotta say, the more I use this program the more fun it is!  Here’s a render about about 1.5 hours of learning.  And learn I have.  The things this program can do are amazing!

Getting started with Blender

It’s been many years since the last time I did any real 3D work in any programs.  I’ve been a little reluctant to start again because I knew I would have to start from scratch.  I used to do quite a bit when I was in High School but that was 13 years ago and back then all my 3D work was in AutoCAD.  I’ve heard about a lot of the different programs out now, 3DMax, Maya, Mudbox, Z-Brush etc.  I didn’t really want to pay for any of them because I knew I would never have the time to learn to the level where I would be able to justify the expense.  Well recently I stumbled upon Blender and s0me of the videos people made with it and I will admit I was blown away that something so capable is completely free.  Not only that, it seems that everyone has jumped on the bandwagon and the speed of development plus the commercial/professional grade of the program is extremely impressive.  There are alos a ton of free tutorials out for it that are providing a great starting point.

After watching about 1 hour of video and doing a little reading, I made my first image.  A Chess Pawn that I applied a texture to and sat on a chrome like surface.  I am really impressed at how easy it was to make this.  Here are a few of rendered images.