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Motion Capture and Animation Foundations

Part 1: 3D Art and Animation in Blender

Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite used by artists, designers, animators, and game developers. These beginner-friendly tutorials introduce the Blender interface, object manipulation, 3D modelling, materials, lighting, cameras, rigging, and animation.

The activities are designed to build foundational skills while encouraging creativity, experimentation, and play.

⬇️ Download Blender

• Part 2: Motion Capture with Perception Neuron 3

Activities

1. Introduction to Blender

• 🌀 Object Play I: Sketch an Abstract Sculpture or Creature
• 🧱 QuickStart Blender Guide
• 🧱 Blender Modifiers Reference Sheet
• 🌀 Object Play II: Build an Abstract Sculpture or Creature

2. Character Building

• 🧱 Blender Reference: More Tools
• ✏️ Character Design Activity
• 👾 Character Modelling: Session 1

3. Environment Building and Materials

• 🌆 Environment Modelling: Building your environment using custom-made objects
• 💠 Introduction to Materials
• 🌆 Environment Modelling: Importing 3D objects (optional)

4. Character Building: Scene Integration

• 👾 Character Modelling: Session 2
• 🗣️ Pair Feedback Activity: Scene Walkthrough

4. Lighting and Cameras

• 💡 Lighting and Camera

5. Rigging

• 🦴 Intro to Armatures (Rigging)
• 🦴 Rig your character for a Pose
• 🖍️ Tips for Weight Painting in Blender

6. Animation

• 🕹️ Mesh Animation Basics
• 🕹️ Camera Animation Basics

Additional Blender Resources

• 🔤 Blender Shortcut Reference Guide

What Is 3D Art?

3D art uses three-dimensional digital space to create objects with height, width, and depth. Unlike a flat image, a 3D object can be viewed from different angles, lit with virtual lights, placed inside an environment, and animated over time.

In this program, participants use 3D art to design original objects, characters, and environments that can later be animated using keyframes or recorded motion-capture data.

Instructor Presentation

Credits: Jessica A. Rodríguez