Blender, the most popular and powerful open source 3D and animation tool is not just free software; it is also an important professional tool used in animated shorts, television commercials, and shows, as well as in big-name movies.

Lance Flavell's Beginning Blender, Second Edition will give you the skills to start shaping new worlds and virtual characters, and perhaps lead you down a new professional path. Beginning Blender covers the latest version of Blender in-depth. The book starts with the creation of simple figures using basic modeling and sculpting. It then teaches you how to bridge from modeling to animation, and from scene setup to texture creation and rendering, lighting, rigging, and ultimately, full animation. You will create and mix your own movie scenes, and you'll learn how to use cool new features like camera tracking and motion tracking. You will even learn the basics of games logic and how to deal with games physics.

Whether you are new to modeling, animation, and game design, or whether you are simply new to Blender, this book will show you everything you need to know to get your 3D projects underway.