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Photorealistic Materials and Textures in Blender Cycles
Photorealistic Materials and Textures in Blender Cycles

Photorealistic Materials and Textures in Blender Cycles: Create impressive production-ready projects using one of the most powerful rendering engines , Fourth Edition

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Photorealistic Materials and Textures in Blender Cycles

Part 1: Materials in Cycles

Part 1 focuses on introducing the central principles of creating materials in Blender by teaching the basics of how to create simple materials, how material nodes work to control material properties, and how to apply textures to 3D objects.

This part has the following chapters:

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Key benefits

  • Understand the underlying workings in Blender that allow the creation of materials and textures
  • Leverage the concepts of Look Development and transform into a visual storyteller
  • Masterfully render and present your 3D artwork by simulating highly realistic environments, lights, and visual effects in Cycles
  • Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook

Description

Blender is one of the most versatile tools in the 3D software industry, and with a growing audience and constantly expanding set of features, it has become more powerful, useful, and in demand than ever before. This updated fourth edition of Photorealistic Materials and Textures in Blender Cycles is an all-inclusive guide to procedural texturing, rendering, and designing materials in Blender, covering all aspects of the 3D texturing workflow. The book begins by introducing you to Blender’s material nodes and material property functions, and then helps you create photorealistic textures by understanding texture maps and mapping them to 3D models. As you advance, you’ll learn to design high-quality environments and lighting using HDRIs and Blender’s lighting options. By exploring, breaking down, and studying the underlying mechanics that allow you to develop these elements, you’ll create any material, texture, or environment and use it to improve your artwork and present them in a professional way. Finally, you’ll discover how to correctly set up scenes and render settings, and get to grips with the key elements of achieving realism. By the end of this book, you’ll have gained a solid understanding of materials, textures, shading, lighting, rendering, and all the critical aspects of achieving the highest quality with your 3D artwork.

Who is this book for?

If you want to learn how to create high-quality materials, textures, and renders to enhance your Blender skills and become a professional 3D artist, then this book is for you. Game developers, 3D artists, architects, animators, freelancers, and other professionals who aim for realism, quality, and aesthetics will also find this book useful. Although no previous material or texturing knowledge is required, a basic understanding of the Blender UI and modeling experience will help you make the most of this book.

What you will learn

  • Create realistic materials in Blender using material nodes
  • Understand physically based rendering (PBR) materials to create high-quality textures
  • Complete a 3D model design with materials by correctly mapping textures
  • Harness Blender's texture painting features to create custom textures
  • Create realistic lighting and HDRI environments for your models
  • Control, animate, and optimize the 3D camera to prepare your scenes
  • Render your scenes into beautiful artwork

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Oct 31, 2023
Length: 394 pages
Edition : 4th
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781805127345
Concepts :
Tools :

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Product Details

Publication date : Oct 31, 2023
Length: 394 pages
Edition : 4th
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781805127345
Concepts :
Tools :

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Table of Contents

20 Chapters
Part 1: Materials in Cycles Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 1: Creating Materials in Blender Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 2: Introducing Material Nodes Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 3: Mapping Images with Nodes Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 2: Understanding Realistic Texturing Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 4: Achieving Realism with Texture Maps Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 5: Generating Texture Maps with Cycles Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 6: Creating Bumpy Surfaces with Displacement Maps Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 3: UV Mapping and Texture Painting Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 7: UV-Unwrapping 3D Models for Texturing Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 8: Baking Ambient Occlusion Maps Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 9: Introducing Texture Painting Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 10: Creating Photorealistic Textures on a 3D Model Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 4: Lighting and Rendering Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 11: Lighting a Scene in Cycles Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 12: Creating Photorealistic Environments with HDRIs Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 13: Preparing the Camera for Rendering Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 14: Rendering with Cycles Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Other Books You May Enjoy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Top Reviews
Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.5
(15 Ratings)
5 star 73.3%
4 star 20%
3 star 0%
2 star 0%
1 star 6.7%
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Sandrino Caruso Jun 01, 2024
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Good manual. Very practic and util.
Feefo Verified review Feefo
Leslie Taylor Nov 20, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
It is nice to get clear and proper instruction for material creation in Blender. Each step has a definition and instructions to accomplish it. The chapter on Nodes and how their manipulation gave a good, detailed insight from such an experienced professional designer. In the nodes chapter, I believe Arijan Belec has detailed each or most attributes in the Principled BSDF. Important details that you would have to search deep on the internet are brought to the attention of the reader at just the right time. I like that UV Editing was included in this book as a lot of books jump around this topic without clear understanding. The use of tools like GIMP to interact with Blender are also included and in a open world this is important for the independent user of Blender. Other topics like baking ambient occlusion maps, texture painting and why you would need to do so are also included. All in all, a nice book that goes way beyond the surface and gives you a clue of how these options are configured and used. There are so many examples and images to guide you to successful completion of your projects.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Pawel Ptaszynski Nov 04, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I highly recommend this book, essential knowledge for blender materials :)
Amazon Verified review Amazon
KDW Nov 20, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Disclaimer: Although I received a complimentary copy from Packt Publishing, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.“Photorealistic Materials and Textures in Blender Cycles" is not just a book about mastering textures and materials in Blender; it's a comprehensive introductory guide for anyone aspiring to a career in Look Development across gaming, film, or advertising (With an emphasis that the processes follow a PBR approach to material/rendering).The content of the book aligns with the professional scope of Look Dev. The use of Blender, a free and open-source software, as a learning tool is particularly useful for new artists. Considering the industry's lean towards more costly and less accessible software, this book offers an accessible entry point, with transferable skills essential for anyone exploring Look Development.The author covers the entire spectrum of skills required for a proficient look dev artist, including UV mapping, texturing, material creation, lighting, and rendering. Each topic is meticulously detailed with step-by-step processes, accompanied by screenshots and links to additional resources. This systematic approach not only informs but guides the reader through the practical application of these techniques.While the book lays down a solid theoretical foundation, it does have its limitations. I found that it could benefit from a more in-depth exploration of the theory and rationale behind certain processes. A deeper understanding of the 'why' would greatly aid readers who are keen to delve deeper into the subject matter. Simply following steps can sometimes lead to a narrow understanding of the subject, limiting the ability to adapt these skills to varied contexts. This additional depth would enable readers to not only execute tasks but to innovate and apply their knowledge more broadly.As someone who seldom uses Blender, I still found the book accessible and engaging. It has sparked a renewed interest in exploring more Look Dev projects using Blender. This book is awesome for those who prefer learning through a guided, step-by-step approach, and it serves as an excellent starting point for anyone keen on delving into the world of Look Development using Blender.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
RealityCheckVR Nov 24, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
"Photorealistic Materials and Textures in Blender Cycles" by Arijan Belec serves as an invaluable resource for both novice and intermediate 3D artists venturing into the world of realistic rendering. This 4th edition comprehensively covers the intricacies of texturing, lighting, and rendering in Blender, making it an essential guide for anyone seeking to enhance their skills in 3D artwork.What I particularly admire about this book is its commitment to accessibility and continued education. Arijan Belec, with his profound expertise in Blender 3D, introduces readers to the complex universe of material nodes and texture mapping with a clarity that makes even the most challenging concepts approachable. His step-by-step approach, supported by detailed screenshots and practical examples, allows readers to not only follow along but also to deeply understand the underlying principles of photorealistic rendering.While the book excels in guiding readers through the practical application of Blender’s tools, I found it equally commendable for its subtle encouragement towards a more profound exploration of the subject. For instance, while it adeptly covers aspects like UV mapping, material creation, and environment setup, it also leaves room for readers to explore more advanced theories and techniques, thereby sparking a desire for further learning and exploration.The addition of project files and external resources is a thoughtful touch, enhancing the learning experience. This not only aids in practical understanding but also provides a solid foundation for readers to build upon and experiment with their creative ideas.In essence, "Photorealistic Materials and Textures in Blender Cycles" is not just a book; it’s a journey through the evolving landscape of 3D rendering. It stands out not only for its comprehensive coverage of Blender’s rendering engine but also for its ability to inspire and educate. Arijan Belec has done a commendable job in outlining this complex subject matter in a rapidly changing technological atmosphere. It is a must-read for anyone aspiring to excel in the field of 3D art and rendering.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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