I would like a Blender mentor :)

[fktt]

just a BTW(edit:or FYI rather):
if you use skype theres the Blender Skype 'Support Desk' team(quite an extensive list, id say):
http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=108207

[LetterRip]

Hi Dave,

#blenderchat

#blender

and

#blenderhelp (I think?)

On irc.freenode.net usually have people who are willing to answer questions in realtime (although not always as quick as one might like : ) ).

LetterRip

[PanzerMKZ]

I don't know about #blenderhelp but yea those two others are full of people that will help. Just stop by and get to know people first before you drop questions.



Panzer

[everlite]

Hi guys,

I tried the IRC option, to be honest this isn't something i've used before so im probably a victim of my own ill knowledge in such things, i did fumble into one of the above chat rooms where the conversation was of an adolescent/unrelated nature, and soon left.

Thanks again,

Dave.

[fktt]

eh, that was probably some offtopic chitter, that does happen, you could have just asked something. :)

heh, btw. on the irc.frenode.net server there should even be a #cgtalk channel. :)

[FreakyDude]

I've tried irc once or twice, and also found it not the best source of information. Sure there may be a lot of people willing to help, but there is a lot of offtopic chatter as well, it's hard to filter out the good stuff. you can always jump in a channel with one person to get some relevant information I guess, but it's a hit and miss thing from what I found.
I just use the forums and pm. and google.

I wouldn't mind using instant messengers, if it weren't for them being so distractive and I don't think my boss would approve either.
I wouldn't mind you hooking up on msn, but I'm hardly online there anymore. If it all it's in the evening at home or during the weekends. Just seems like such a waste of time.
Asking people through private message or posting at the blenderartist.org site might help, if only because there are a lot more people active there.

About those little things you feel aren't worthy of a thread:
why don't you just start your learning thread here, and you can ask all the little things you want to know? If you think that might be embarrasing, look at the work you've done so far and your own skillset. It's quite impressive. Plus the only dumb questions are the ones unasked...

Or to quote probably some famous person: "to ask is to be ashamed for a little while. To not ask and remain ignorant is to be ashamed for a lifetime."

[dreamsgate]

Everlite,

I'll be your mentor if you would like.

I can be reached at the following places.

yahoo messenger: username: dreamsgate

email:
dreamsgate@clearwire
sandra@blenderart.org

[ysvry]

I would like a Blender mentor too

but one that lives in amsterdam is female and knows how to render good glass in the internal renderer. ;)

[dreamsgate]

LOL, well I can cover the second two, but as for the first, I live in Idaho, USA.

I would like a Blender mentor too

but one that lives in amsterdam is female and knows how to render good glass in the internal renderer. ;)

[leojS]

I tried the IRC option, to be honest this isn't something i've used before so im probably a victim of my own ill knowledge in such things, i did fumble into one of the above chat rooms where the conversation was of an adolescent/unrelated nature, and soon left.


Yeh that seems to happen quite a bit... just ask your question anyway, if no-one answers it's best to ask on the BlenderArtists forums.

Also try each of the different chat rooms, you may be more likely to get a reply in say #blenderchat than in #blender (not saying that's actually the case, just an example...)

I think I remember some of your sculpting work you posted on the BlenderArtists forums, 'twas brilliant!

[Andrew227]

I am very new to blender and need some help on how to construct, render, and some of the things in between. I'm use to google sketchup but I knew well before i saw screenshots of what blender could do that there would be major changes. I am up to any sort of leasons, so plese comment back if you think you would like to help.

Thank you.

[dreamsgate]

Andrew227:

I'm game, read up in the post for my contact information.

Also for places to start learning I suggest:

http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Main_Page

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Blender_3D:_Noob_to_Pro
http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Blender_Summer_of_Documentation
www.blenderart.org

bi-monthly blender magazine full of tutorials and helpful articles, each issue focuses on one theme or subject.

[Andrew227]

Thank you so so much. This will really help me.

[DigitalBlaspheme]

I've been using blender for freelance artwork for a bit over a year now (professionally its maya all the way....in a ma and pops design studio grrrr). If you have any questions you need answers to then drop a PM my way. I work Sunday-Thursday from 7a-3pm but usually stick around doing some type of OT work till about 5-7 (all est times). I spend a lot of my render time on these forums as well as blenderartists.org giving out my help whenever I can. You wont see much if any of my work here....as I'm far from a "mainstream" cg artist and the last thing I want to hear about a piece that didn't have proportions in mind (and doesn't really need them to express the idea) is, "yeah but his proportions are all off". I'll take a look into the portfolio of the would be critic and it seems as if every one of them studied the golden ratio to death.


like I said I've only been using it for about 1 year now, but with that comes 4 years experience in a 3d environment.....so if you think I can answer your question...ask. The worst answer you'll get back will be a no. Word of warning-I do tend to get indepth with my explainations though.....but thats so I can be sure you not only understand my example...but can apply it easily to what you have to do.

[Andrew227]

Right now I'm trying to create a shoe. I'm looking at some great starting up information that Dreamsgate gave me, but you can also give me any information that you think I could use.

[DigitalBlaspheme]

omg third time posting and nothing. kk forget the rambling. Know this- I don't usually give step by step instructions, but you asked for help modeling a shoe, so I have to assume you may need them. If you need any other future help, pm me...answers will probably be in the form of tips, hints, and questions to get you to experiment. Also, sometimes I call a loop of verts a column/row of verts. These get number in my mind the same way everything in the US does. Front to back/left to right. So when I say 2nd column of verts, know that I'm talking about the 2nd loop from the front of the shoe. Also, don't change the default of anything unless I say otherwise. Sounds demanding...but third rewriting of this and I'm a bit frustrated sorry lol. truth is if you do it this way it'll be easier on you. Remember there are tons of ways of modeling damn near everything. No way is better than the other, and no way is faster. It's all relative to the artist doing the work. This is my way-

1. add a circle in top view with 8 vertices. This number depends largely on the number of loops in your leg...but this is a standalone model of a shoe so 8's a good number.
2. 2 blender units below, in side view, place your 3d cursor and add a cube.
3. grab the first row of verts and drag them forward along the y axis (size to your liking, I went 3 blender units larger than default) -1st screenshot
4. still in side view, add 2 loop cuts in the middle of your elongated cube. Ensure your 3rd row of verts lines up with the 2nd vert from the front on the circle -2nd screenshot.
5 In front view add a loop to your cube vertically.
6 back in side view grab the 4th column of verts, excluding those added in step 5, and move them forward until the line up with the second to last vert of the circle -3rd screenshot
7 add the faces on the side and back of the shoe in between the circle and the "shoe body". In top view delete the 2 verts on top of the "shoe body" that fall inside the circle -4th screenshot
8 still in top view add more faces for those front 3 verts on the circle and the 2nd row of verts in the "shoe body". Add a loop to these faces.
9 Fill in the final 2 faces -5th screenshot.
10. For a bit more control you can add another loop horizontally along the "shoe body", I do.

What you have is a basic shoe model that you can tweak to your hearts content into any type of shoe/boot, that should deform well (if you plan on animating) as long as you move that 2nd loop of verts a bit closer to the pole in the 3rd loop, all made in less than 2 minutes. -6th screenshot

Some may argue that the ankle area needs another loop for better deformation. I've never seen a shoe or boot in real life, when worn, deform there....but add one if you want. But if your going for that extreme of an angle, with this model, I'd suggest you retopo as the tongue will give you definite issues.

1st
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/1536/shoeexample1mi2.th.jpg (http://img72.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shoeexample1mi2.jpg)
2nd
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/6865/shoeexample2zy7.th.jpg (http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shoeexample2zy7.jpg)
3rd
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/305/shoeexample2ig6.th.jpg (http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shoeexample2ig6.jpg)
4th
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/3834/shoeexample4jn7.th.jpg (http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shoeexample4jn7.jpg)
5th
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/9631/shoeexample5ku2.th.jpg (http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shoeexample5ku2.jpg)
6th
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3138/shoeexample6sp1.th.jpg (http://img210.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shoeexample6sp1.jpg)

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