Day 4: Blender tutorial for making illustrations - Adding Colors and Simple Shading in Blender

 

On Day 4, you will learn how to add colors and simple shading to your illustrations in Blender. Adding colors and shading can make your visuals more appealing and help communicate your ideas more effectively. This guide will focus on colorizing the mind map created on Day 3 using the Grease Pencil tool.

Outcome: Colorize the mind map from Day 3.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Open Your Mind Map File:
• Open Blender and load the file containing the mind map you created on Day 3.
• If you haven’t saved your work previously, create a simple mind map using the Grease Pencil with nodes and connecting lines.
2. Switch to Shading Mode:
• In the top bar of the Blender interface, click on the “Shading” workspace tab. This will open the Shader Editor and give you access to the tools you need for coloring.
• Alternatively, you can use the “Grease Pencil” mode by selecting the Grease Pencil object in the Outliner, which allows for direct color adjustments.
3. Select Grease Pencil Object:
• Click on your Grease Pencil object in the 3D Viewport or select it from the Outliner.
• Ensure you are in “Draw Mode” or “Object Mode” by switching modes from the top left of the 3D Viewport.
4. Adding Colors to Strokes:
• In the “Properties” panel on the right, click on the “Materials” tab (the sphere icon).
• Click the “+” button to add a new material slot, then click “New” to create a new material.
• Name the material (e.g., “Node Color” or “Line Color”) to keep track of different elements.
5. Customize Your Material:
• Adjust the Base Color by clicking the color box next to “Base Color” in the Material properties.
• Choose a color for your strokes. You can pick vibrant colors to differentiate between nodes, lines, and text.
• Set the stroke thickness and opacity as needed.
6. Assign Colors to Different Elements:
• To apply the created material, select a stroke or node with the Grease Pencil. In the “Material” properties, choose the appropriate color material you’ve created.
• Repeat the process to assign colors to all parts of your mind map, ensuring clear differentiation between elements.
7. Add Simple Shading:
• While Grease Pencil doesn’t support 3D shading in the traditional sense, you can add “Fill” colors to give the appearance of depth.
• In the “Materials” tab, create another material but set its style to “Fill” instead of “Stroke.”
• Use a slightly darker shade of your base color to create the illusion of shading.
8. Refining Colors with Vertex Paint:
• For more refined coloring, switch to “Vertex Paint” mode under the Mode dropdown menu in the top left of the Viewport.
• Use the brush to add subtle color variations or highlights directly onto your Grease Pencil drawing, enhancing the visual appeal.
9. Preview and Adjust:
• Preview your mind map to see how the colors look in the “Rendered” or “Material Preview” mode (located in the top right of the 3D Viewport).
• Make any necessary adjustments to colors, opacity, or shading to achieve your desired look.
10. Save Your Work:
• Once satisfied with your colored mind map, save your work by going to File > Save or pressing Ctrl + S.
• Save your file with an appropriate name, like “Colored_Mind_Map.blend,” to keep your work organized.

Tips:

• Experiment with different color palettes to make your mind map visually engaging.
• Consider using lighter shades for the background and darker or more vibrant colors for nodes and connections to ensure readability.
• Keep practicing adding colors and shading; it’s a great way to enhance your illustrations progressively.

By completing Day 4, you will have learned the basics of adding colors and simple shading to your Blender illustrations, making them more visually appealing and effective in conveying information.

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