Day 10: Blender tutorial for making illustrations - Creating Brainstorming Diagrams

 

Objective: Create and animate a brainstorming diagram that visually represents interconnected ideas.

---

Step 1: Setting Up Your Workspace

1. Open Blender:
• Start Blender and create a new project by selecting "General."
2. Adjust the Layout:
• Split your view into two sections: one for the 3D viewport and another for the Timeline.
• This will help you visualize your diagram while also managing animations.

---

Step 2: Creating Base Shapes for Ideas

1. Add Basic Shapes:
• In the 3D viewport, press Shift + A to open the Add menu.
• Choose Mesh > Circle or Mesh > Plane for your main idea nodes.
• Scale them using S (for scale) and G (for grab/move) to position them effectively.
2. Duplicate Shapes for Multiple Ideas:
• Select the first shape and press Shift + D to duplicate it.
• Position the duplicates to represent different ideas in your brainstorming session.
3. Label the Ideas:
• With each shape selected, go to the Object Data Properties tab (green square icon) in the Properties panel.
• Under the "Geometry" section, you can add text or use the Text Tool (Shift + A > Text) to create labels.
• Edit the text by entering Edit mode (press Tab) and typing your idea.

---

Step 3: Connecting Ideas with Lines

1. Create Connection Lines:
• Press Shift + A and select Mesh > Cylinder.
• Scale and position the cylinder to connect the ideas (you can rotate and adjust as needed).
• Duplicate this shape for each connection.
2. Using Grease Pencil for More Flexibility:
• Select the Grease Pencil tool from the left menu.
• Use it to draw freehand lines between ideas for a more organic look.
• You can adjust stroke thickness and color in the properties.

---

Step 4: Adding Colors and Styles

1. Color Your Ideas:
• Select each shape and go to the Material Properties tab (red sphere icon).
• Click “New” to create a new material and choose a color that suits your theme.
2. Enhance Visual Appeal:
• Consider adding gradient colors or effects for depth. You can use shaders for more advanced styling.

---

Step 5: Animating the Diagram

1. Set Up Animation for Appearance:
• Select a shape, go to frame 1 in the Timeline, and press I to insert a keyframe.
• Choose “Location” to mark its initial position.
• Move to frame 20, shift the position slightly, and insert another keyframe.
• Repeat for each shape to animate them sequentially.
2. Animating Connections:
• For connection lines, use the same method. Move the cylinder or grease pencil lines in and out of view to emphasize connections as ideas are introduced.

---

Step 6: Final Touches

1. Add Background Elements:
• Create a simple background using a plane, and color it lightly to keep focus on your diagram.
• Consider a gradient or a light texture.
2. Preview Your Animation:
• Press Spacebar to play the animation. Make adjustments as needed for timing and flow.

---

Step 7: Rendering Your Animation

1. Set Up Render Settings:
• Go to the Output Properties tab (printer icon) and set your resolution (e.g., 1920x1080).
• Choose a file format (e.g., FFmpeg video) and output folder.
2. Render Your Animation:
• In the top menu, go to Render > Render Animation or press Ctrl + F12.

---

Outcome:

You will have created an animated brainstorming diagram, visualizing interconnected ideas with dynamic movement and color. This will serve as a great learning tool for your audience.

Next Steps:

• Continue refining your skills with different types of diagrams and animations throughout the week.
• Experiment with various topics to find what resonates most with your audience.

 

Source:

ChatGPT