Post 10/30: VFX tutorial for Blender – Advanced Materials (Using Shaders) Guide

 

Goal:

Dive deeper into Blender’s shader system to create complex materials like glass and metal.

What You’ll Need:

• Blender installed and opened.
• Basic knowledge of materials from Day 3.

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Step 1: Set Up Your Workspace

1. Open Blender: Start a new project or continue from your previous work.
2. Select the Layout: Switch to the "Shading" workspace at the top of Blender. This provides a dedicated area for material creation.
3. Create a New Object: Add a new object (e.g., a sphere) by pressing Shift + A, then selecting Mesh > UV Sphere.

Step 2: Create a Glass Material

1.     Select the Object: Click on your new sphere to select it.

2.     Open the Shader Editor: In the lower section of the workspace, you'll see the Shader Editor. This is where you’ll create your materials.

3.     Add a New Material: In the Material Properties panel (on the right), click "New" to create a new material.

4.     Set Up the Glass Shader:

• In the Shader Editor, delete the default Principled BSDF node by selecting it and pressing X.
• Press Shift + A, navigate to Shader, and select Glass BSDF.
• Connect the Glass BSDF to the Material Output node by dragging the output socket to the input socket.

5.     Adjust Glass Properties:

• Set the IOR (Index of Refraction) to 1.5 for realistic glass.
• Change the Roughness value to around 0.1 for a smooth glass look.

Step 3: Create a Metallic Material

1.     Add Another Object: Press Shift + A, select Mesh, and then Cube to create a new cube.

2.     Select the Cube: Click on the cube to select it.

3.     Create a New Material:

• In the Material Properties panel, click "New."
• In the Shader Editor, again delete the Principled BSDF node.
• Add a Principled BSDF shader (Shift + A > Shader > Principled BSDF) and connect it to the Material Output.

4.     Set Up Metallic Properties:

• Increase the Metallic value to 1.0.
• Set the Roughness to 0.2 for a shiny surface.
• You can also adjust the Base Color to a desired metallic color (like a silver or gold tone).

Step 4: Lighting the Scene (10 minutes)

1. Add a Light Source: Press Shift + A, then select Light > Area Light.
2. Position the Light: Move the light above the objects (use the G key and drag it).
3. Adjust Light Settings:
• In the Light Properties panel, increase the Power to around 1000 watts to illuminate your materials effectively.

Step 5: Rendering the Scene (5 minutes)

1. Switch to Render View: In the top right corner of the viewport, switch from "Solid" mode to "Rendered" mode to see your materials in action.
2. Render the Image:
• Go to the top menu, click Render > Render Image (or press F12).
3. Save Your Render: After rendering, go to Image > Save As in the render window to save your image.

Step 6: Share Your Visual

1. Create a Shareable Visual: Make sure your rendered image shows off both the glass and metallic materials.
2. Export the Image: Use the saved image to share on social media, forums, or with friends to showcase your work!

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Recap of Day 10:

• Materials Created: You learned to create a realistic glass material and a shiny metallic material using Blender's shader system.
• Shareable Visual: A rendered image showcasing your advanced materials.

Sources:
ChatGPT

Day 8: Blender tutorial for making illustrations - Advanced Grease Pencil Drawing Techniques

 

Objective:

By the end of today’s session, you will be able to create a more detailed diagram using advanced Grease Pencil techniques, including using different brushes, fill tools, and custom shapes.

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Step-by-Step Guide

1. Set Up Blender for Grease Pencil Work

• Open Blender and select the Grease Pencil option in the startup file or create a new Grease Pencil object by going to Add > Grease Pencil > Blank.
• Switch to Draw Mode by selecting the Grease Pencil object and then changing the mode from the dropdown menu at the top left of the viewport.

2. Familiarize Yourself with the Grease Pencil Tools

• Brush Tool: Select different brushes from the brush panel on the left side. Experiment with options like ‘Pencil’, ‘Ink’, and ‘Fill’ to see their effects.
• Eraser Tool: Familiarize yourself with the eraser to clean up any mistakes.

3. Create Custom Brushes

• Go to the Brush settings on the left and create a new brush by clicking the + icon.
• Adjust settings such as size, strength, and texture to create a brush that suits your illustration style.

4. Drawing Basic Shapes and Lines

• Use your selected brush to draw simple shapes (e.g., circles, squares) and lines.
• Practice creating nodes and connections for your diagram. Remember, the smoother your lines, the better the final outcome.

5. Adding Fills to Your Shapes

• Switch to the Fill tool and select the area within your shapes to fill them with color. You can choose colors from the color palette or define custom colors.
• Use the Fill Layer options to adjust the opacity and stroke colors.

6. Organizing Your Drawing with Layers

• In the Grease Pencil properties panel, create separate layers for different elements of your diagram (e.g., background, shapes, labels).
• This organization will help you edit specific parts of your drawing without affecting others.

7. Detailing Your Diagram

• Use the Stroke and Grease Pencil layers to add more detail to your diagram, such as arrows, annotations, or icons.
• Try layering various shapes and strokes to create depth.

8. Animating Your Drawing (Optional)

• If you’re interested in adding animation, switch to Edit Mode, select your lines, and use the Keyframe feature to create frame-by-frame animation.
• Experiment with the Grease Pencil’s interpolation options to create smooth transitions.

9. Review and Refine

• Take a step back and review your drawing. Make any necessary adjustments to the shapes, colors, or overall composition.
• Use the Eraser Tool to clean up any unwanted lines or overlaps.

10. Save Your Work

• Save your project regularly to avoid losing any progress. Go to File > Save As and choose a suitable filename.

Outcome

You should now have a detailed diagram created with advanced Grease Pencil techniques. This can serve as a foundational element for your future illustrative videos.

Additional Tips

• Practice: Take time to experiment with different brushes and styles to develop your unique visual approach.
• Watch Tutorials: Consider watching specific Blender Grease Pencil tutorials on platforms like YouTube for additional techniques and inspiration.

Source:

ChatGPT

Post 22/30: Bahria Town, Rawalpindi – Decline in Prices

(Source: Bahria Town)

I thought of learning about different aspects of Pakistan, as I want to do something for it. Therefore, I started with some of the well-known indices or reports that would help me in gaining more information about Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat (SWOT). These were 12 posts. You can search my posts related to Pakistan by typing: #UsmanZafarParacha_Pakistan

Now, I have been learning about real estate business in Pakistan. I have started from Youtube videos and hopefully during my learning Journey, I will get some more useful resources to move ahead in this learning and perhaps entering into the real estate business.

I have seen a video, titled, “Bahria Town Rawalpindi Plot Prices | Bahria Town Prices 2024 | Advice Associates” on the channel “Advice Associates”

The host shares information about prices of 5 marla plots in Bahria Town, and compares the prices in 2022 from that in 2024. In the overseas block, prices were about 99 lacs (in 2022) and now prices are about 75 lacs. In the Garden City, prices went down from about 95 lacs to 75 lacs. In the Rafi block, prices were about 85 lacs and now about 72 lacs. In the Ali Block, prices went from about 85 lacs to about 70 lacs. In the M Block, prices went down from about 90 lacs to about 65 lacs. It is also one of the hot blocks, as it has many developed houses. In the L Block, prices went down from about 85 lacs to 55 lacs. In the Rose Garden, prices went down from 65 lacs to 48 lacs. In the Orchard, prices went down from 45 lacs to 22 lacs, which is the second largest decline among all prices. In the Bahria Phase-8 Extension, prices went down from 35 lacs to 12 lacs, which is maximum decline among all prices.

Follow my Hashtag #behtareenkitalaash on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/behtareenkitalaash

Sources:

Advice Associates - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mT01PwUi7U

Post 9/30: VFX tutorial for Blender – Introduction to Physics (Rigid Bodies) Tutorial

 

Goal

Learn basic physics simulation using Blender’s rigid body physics to simulate falling objects and their interactions.

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Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Set Up Your Scene

1. Open Blender: Start a new project.
2. Delete the Default Cube: Select the cube and press X, then confirm to delete it.
3. Add a Plane:
• Press Shift + A to open the Add menu.
• Go to Mesh > Plane.
• Scale it up by pressing S and moving your mouse outward, then left-click to confirm.

Step 2: Add Falling Objects

1. Create a Cube:
• Press Shift + A > Mesh > Cube.
• Scale the cube to make it look like a falling object (e.g., S, Z, and type 0.5 to scale it down on the Z-axis).
2. Position the Cube: Move the cube above the plane (e.g., press G, then Z, and type 5 to lift it up).

Step 3: Set Up Rigid Body Physics

1. Select the Plane:
• Go to the Physics Properties panel (the bouncing ball icon).
• Click Add Rigid Body and set it to Passive. This means it won’t move but will interact with other objects.
2. Select the Cube:
• In the same Physics Properties panel, click Add Rigid Body.
• Set it to Active. This allows it to be affected by gravity and interact with the plane.

Step 4: Adjust Physics Settings

1. Select the Cube:
• Under Rigid Body settings, you can adjust parameters like Mass if desired (default is fine for this tutorial).
• Ensure Collision Shape is set to Box for simplicity.
2. Select the Plane:
• Make sure its Collision Shape is set to Mesh or Box.

Step 5: Set Up Gravity

1. Go to Scene Properties: Click on the scene properties tab (the cone icon).
2. Find Gravity Settings: Ensure that gravity is set to default values (usually 0, -9.81, 0 for downward gravity).

Step 6: Run the Simulation

1. Play the Animation:
• Press Spacebar to start the animation.
• Watch the cube fall and interact with the plane.
2. Stop the Animation: Press Spacebar again to stop.

Step 7: Fine-Tuning the Animation

1. Adjust Timing:
• If you want the cube to fall for longer, move it higher or change the start frame of the animation in the timeline.
2. Add More Objects:
• Repeat the process to add more cubes or other shapes to see various interactions. Adjust their positions and heights for varied results.

Step 8: Render Your Animation

1. Set Up the Camera:
• Press Shift + A > Camera to add a camera.
• Position it to frame the falling cube.
• Press N, and under the camera tab, lock the camera to view for easier positioning.
2. Render Settings:
• Go to the Output Properties (the printer icon).
• Set your resolution and choose a format (like PNG for still images or FFmpeg for video).
3. Render Animation:
• Go to the menu bar and select Render > Render Animation to save your animation.

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Shareable Visual

You should now have a short animation showing a cube falling onto a plane. Render this animation and share it as a visual representation of your learning!

Tips for Improvement

• Experiment with different shapes and sizes of objects.
• Change the mass and friction settings to see how they affect the simulation.
• Try adding more complexity by stacking multiple cubes or creating obstacles.

Next Steps

On Day 10, you’ll delve into advanced materials using shaders, expanding your understanding of Blender’s capabilities. Enjoy experimenting with physics!

 

Source:
ChatGPT

Day 7: Blender tutorial for making illustrations - Creating Simple Flowcharts

 

Goal

Create a flowchart using shapes, lines, and text to illustrate a basic process.

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Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open Blender

1. Launch Blender.
2. Start a new project (File > New > General).

Step 2: Set Up the Workspace

1. Switch to the 2D Animation workspace:
• In the top bar, click on the + icon, select 2D Animation.
2. Adjust the layout to focus on the Grease Pencil and the timeline.

Step 3: Create the Flowchart Base

1. Draw Shapes:
• Select the Grease Pencil tool from the left toolbar.
• Use the Ellipse or Rectangle tool to create shapes (e.g., circles for processes, diamonds for decisions).
• Click and drag to draw your first shape.
• Repeat to create additional shapes for your flowchart.

Step 4: Add Connecting Lines

1. Use the Line Tool:
• Select the Line tool from the Grease Pencil options.
• Click and drag from one shape to another to create connectors.
• Ensure the lines are clear and straight for a professional look.

Step 5: Add Text to Your Flowchart

1. Insert Text:
• Select the Text tool.
• Click inside each shape to type a label (e.g., “Start”, “Decision”, “Process”).
• Use the Properties panel on the right to adjust font size, style, and alignment.

Step 6: Organize Layers

1. Create Layers:
• In the Grease Pencil layer settings, create different layers for shapes, lines, and text.
• This organization will help with editing later.

Step 7: Color Your Flowchart

1. Apply Colors:
• Select each shape.
• In the Materials tab, choose or create a new color material for each shape.
• Color lines and text for clarity and visual appeal.

Step 8: Add Basic Animation

1. Animate Entry:
• Go to the Timeline at the bottom.
• Set the frame where you want to start your animation.
• Select a shape and press I to insert a keyframe for Location.
• Move to a later frame, adjust the position of the shape, and insert another keyframe.
• Repeat for other elements to make them appear sequentially.

Step 9: Review and Refine

1. Playback Animation:
• Press the Play button to see your flowchart animation.
• Adjust timings or positions as needed for smoother transitions.

Step 10: Save Your Work

1. Save the Project:
• Go to File > Save As and choose a location to save your work.
• Name your file (e.g., “Flowchart_Animation.blend”).

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Outcome

By the end of Day 7, you should have created a simple flowchart with clearly labeled shapes, connecting lines, and basic animations, ready for further enhancements in the coming days.

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Tips

• Keep the design simple and clear; too much detail can be overwhelming.
• Experiment with different shapes and colors to make your flowchart visually appealing.
• Take breaks if you feel stuck or frustrated—sometimes stepping away can help spark new ideas!

Feel free to ask if you have questions or need further guidance on any of the steps!

Source:
ChatGPT

Post 21/30: Phase 8, Bahria Town, Rawalpindi - Information

(Source: Bahria Town)

I thought of learning about different aspects of Pakistan, as I want to do something for it. Therefore, I started with some of the well-known indices or reports that would help me in gaining more information about Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat (SWOT). These were 12 posts. You can search my posts related to Pakistan by typing: #UsmanZafarParacha_Pakistan

Now, I have been learning about real estate business in Pakistan. I have started from Youtube videos and hopefully during my learning Journey, I will get some more useful resources to move ahead in this learning and perhaps entering into the real estate business.

I have seen a video, titled, “5 Marla Plots in Islamabad | Bahria Town Islamabad || Block Wise Update | Complete Details” on the channel “Titanium Group”

In Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Bahria Town has 8 phases, including Phase 1-6 on one side, and Phase 7 and 8 on the other side. Considering five marla plots, these are only available in Phase 8. In the Rafi Block in Phase 8, Five marla cutting is available easily. This block is also one of the most populated blocks, considering five marla plots. Every types of facility, including electricity and gas, is available in this block. The price of five marla plots range from 70 lacs to 85 lacs.

After Rafi Block, Ali Block is most populated area. Prices of five marla plots are same in this area as that of Rafi Block.

There is an M block in Phase 8 in Bahria Town. This block contains most of the cuttings of Five marla after Rafi Block and Ali Block. This block is a relatively heighted block, so beautiful views can be seen from here. The prices of Five marla plots in this area range from 70 lacs to 80 lacs.

Then, there is E block. Prices of Five Marla plots in this block range from 65 lacs to 75 lacs.

Then, there is Rose Garden block. Five marla developed plots in the Zone 1 and Zone 2 in this block can be obtained in the price range of 45 lacs to 55 lacs, and non-developed plots can be obtained in the price range of 35 lacs to 45 lacs.

There is also an overseas sector 5 in Phase 8. In this area, five marla plots are available in the range of 85 lacs to 95 lacs.

Developed and non-developed plots are also available in Bahria Orchard. In this area, developed plots can be purchased in the price range of 45 lacs to 55 lacs, and non-developed plots can be obtained in the price range of 30 lacs to 40 lacs.

Files in the Bahria Town, Phase 8 extension can also be purchased. There are different types of files. Among the files, five marla gifted files can be purchased in the price range of 22 lacs to 23 lacs. Gifted files are linked to employees of Bahria Town. Among the other files for five marla plots, they can be purchased in the price range of 26 lacs to 27 lacs.

Follow my Hashtag #behtareenkitalaash on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/behtareenkitalaash

Sources:

Titanium Group - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHh7h40N7wY  

Post 8/30: VFX tutorial for Blender - Creating Basic VFX (Particle System Introduction)

 

Goal:

Explore the basics of Blender's particle system by creating a simple particle effect, such as a fountain of particles.

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Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open Blender

1. Launch Blender and create a new project.

Step 2: Delete the Default Cube

1. Select the default cube by right-clicking on it.
2. Press X on your keyboard and confirm to delete it.

Step 3: Add a New Object for Particles

1. Press Shift + A to open the Add menu.
2. Navigate to Mesh and select Ico Sphere. This will serve as the emitter for your particle system.

Step 4: Scale the Ico Sphere

1. With the Ico Sphere selected, press S and drag to scale it up slightly, making it more visible.
2. Confirm the scale by left-clicking.

Step 5: Add a Particle System

1. In the Properties panel on the right, click on the Particles tab (it looks like a spark icon).
2. Click the + button to add a new particle system.

Step 6: Configure the Particle Settings

1.     Emission:

• Set the Number of particles to around 1000.
• Adjust Lifetime to about 50 frames.
• Set Start to frame 1 and End to frame 50.

2.     Velocity:

• Set Normal to around 5 to make the particles emit outward.
• Adjust Random to add variability to the velocity.

3.     Render:

• Under the Render section, change the Render As option to Halo or Object (you can use another small mesh like a UV Sphere for a more visible effect).

Step 7: Set Up the Emitter's Location

1. Move the Ico Sphere up on the Z-axis (press G, then Z, and drag it up) so that the particles will emit from above the ground plane.

Step 8: Add a Ground Plane

1. Press Shift + A and add a Mesh > Plane.
2. Scale the plane up (S, then drag) so it’s large enough to catch the particles.

Step 9: Adjust the Particle Material

1. Select the Ico Sphere.
2. Go to the Material Properties (the sphere icon).
3. Create a new material and adjust the color and transparency if desired (for example, set the Base Color to a light blue).

Step 10: Test the Particle Effect

1. Press Spacebar or click Play to see the particle effect in action.
2. Observe how the particles emit and fall to the plane.

Step 11: Add Lighting

1. To enhance your scene, add a light source. Press Shift + A and choose Light > Point.
2. Move the light to a suitable position to illuminate the particles effectively.

Step 12: Final Adjustments

1. Tweak any particle settings for better visuals (adjust the number, lifetime, or velocity).
2. Consider adding a slight rotation to the emitter under the Transform settings for dynamic effects.

Step 13: Render Your Scene

1. Set up a camera (press Shift + A, select Camera).
2. Position the camera to frame your scene.
3. Go to the Render menu and select Render Image to see your particle effect.

Shareable Visual:

• Save your rendered image as a PNG or JPEG.
• Consider creating a short animation (Render Animation) and save it as an MP4 for sharing.

Wrap-Up

By the end of Day 8, you should have a basic understanding of Blender's particle system and created a simple, shareable particle effect. Feel free to experiment with different settings and add more complexity to your scene as you become more comfortable!

 

Source:
ChatGPT