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Friday, October 4, 2024

Post 14/30: VFX tutorial for Blender – Introduction to Cloth Simulation

In this step-by-step tutorial, you’ll learn how to create and simulate cloth in Blender, using a simple flag waving in the wind as an example. Cloth simulations are a great way to add realistic movement to fabrics and soft materials.

Step 1: Open Blender & Set Up the Scene

Open Blender.
Delete the default cube by selecting it and pressing X.
Add a plane to act as the cloth:
Press Shift + A, go to Mesh and select Plane.

Step 2: Reshape the Plane

Scale the plane to make it rectangular (like a flag) by pressing S, then X to scale along the X-axis. Drag the mouse until the plane is stretched horizontally. Press Enter to confirm the scale.

Step 3: Subdivide the Plane

To give the cloth realistic flexibility, it needs more geometry.
Select the plane and go to the Object Mode (press Tab to toggle to Object Mode).
With the plane selected, press Tab again to enter Edit Mode.
Right-click the plane and select Subdivide.
In the Subdivide options at the bottom-left of the screen, increase the Number of Cuts to 20 to add more subdivisions.

Step 4: Add Cloth Physics

With the plane still selected, go to the Physics tab (right-side panel, the icon looks like a bouncing ball).
Click Cloth to add a cloth simulation to the plane.
In the Cloth Settings, leave everything as default for now.

Step 5: Create a Pole for the Flag

To simulate a flag, it needs to be attached to a pole.
Press Shift + A, go to Mesh, and add a Cylinder.
Scale the cylinder to make it tall and thin by pressing S, then X, and dragging to stretch it along the X-axis. Press Enter to confirm the scale.

Step 6: Pin Part of the Cloth to the Pole

Select the plane (flag) and go to Edit Mode (Tab key).
Select the vertices on the left side of the flag that will attach to the pole. You can do this by selecting the top-left vertices, then holding Shift and selecting the bottom-left vertices.
With the vertices selected, go to the Object Data Properties tab (the green triangle icon).
Click the + icon under the Vertex Groups section to create a new group.
Name this group something like "Pinned."
Click Assign to assign the selected vertices to the group.

Step 7: Add the Pin Constraint

Go back to the Physics tab (the bouncing ball icon).
Scroll down to the Shape section and find the Pinning option.
Check the box for Pinning and select the "Pinned" vertex group from the dropdown.

Step 8: Add Wind Force

To make the flag wave, add a wind force field.
Press Shift + A, go to Force Field, and select Wind.
Move the wind object to the side of the flag by pressing G, then Y to move it along the Y-axis.
Rotate it so the wind is blowing toward the flag by pressing R, then adjusting the wind’s orientation until it faces the flag.
In the Physics tab, increase the Strength of the wind to around 150.

Step 9: Run the Simulation

Press the Spacebar to run the simulation. The flag should now wave in the wind.

Step 10: Render the Animation

Set up your camera to view the flag and wind in action.
Press 0 on the numpad to enter Camera View.
Adjust the camera position and angle by pressing G to move it and R to rotate it.
Once the scene looks good, press F12 to render an image, or set up a render animation by going to the Render Properties tab and choosing Render Animation.

Shareable Visual

Your final output for today will be a short animation of the flag waving in the wind, demonstrating the cloth simulation in Blender.

Source:
ChatGPT

Day 12: Blender tutorial for making illustrations - Introduction to Lighting and Shadows in Blender

For Day 12, we’ll focus on adding basic lighting and shadows to your illustrations. These elements will enhance the overall look of your diagrams, creating depth and making them visually appealing.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Open Blender and Load Your Scene

Open Blender and load the scene you’ve been working on (either a mind map, flowchart, or any other illustration).
If you don't have a saved scene, you can start by creating basic shapes like circles, squares, or text elements to practice lighting techniques.

Step 2: Switch to the Rendered View

In the top-right corner of the 3D viewport, switch from Solid or Wireframe mode to Rendered View.

This will allow you to see the effects of lighting in real-time as you add lights to your scene.

Step 3: Add a Light Source

Press Shift + A and choose Light from the drop-down menu. You’ll see several options:

Point Light: Emits light in all directions from a single point.
Sun Light: Provides directional light, as if from the sun.
Spot Light: A focused beam, like a flashlight.
Area Light: Creates soft, diffused light from a rectangular or square area.

For this tutorial, we’ll start with a Point Light for general lighting.

Step 4: Position the Light

After adding the Point Light, move it into position using G to grab and drag it around your scene.

Try placing the light slightly above your objects and to the side for a natural-looking effect.
Experiment by placing the light at different angles to see how it affects shadows and highlights on your shapes or diagrams.

Step 5: Adjust Light Properties

With the light selected, go to the Object Data Properties tab (the green lightbulb icon on the right-hand toolbar).

Power: Adjust the strength of the light. Increase or decrease the power to see how it impacts the brightness of your scene.
Radius: Control how sharp or soft the shadows are by adjusting the light's radius. A larger radius will create softer shadows, while a smaller radius will give sharper edges.
Color: Change the color of the light to match the tone or theme of your illustration. For example, warm light can create a welcoming feel, while cool light can make it look more professional.

Step 6: Add Shadows

Ensure that shadows are enabled. In the Light Properties tab, scroll down to find the Shadow section.

Turn on Shadows if they aren’t enabled by default.
You can adjust the Softness and Strength of the shadows to make them more realistic or stylized based on your preference.

Step 7: Add Additional Lights (Optional)

To make your scene look more dynamic, add additional lights:

Fill Light: A softer light from the opposite side of the main light to reduce harsh shadows.
Back Light: A light behind the subject to create separation between the subject and the background, adding depth.

Add these lights using the same steps as above and position them carefully to avoid over-illumination.

Step 8: Fine-Tuning and Testing

Rotate your camera or adjust the position of your objects to see how the lighting interacts with them from different angles.
Test how your illustrations appear in different lighting conditions by adding more lights or changing the type of light.

Step 9: Save and Render

Once you're happy with the lighting and shadows, you can render a preview.

Go to the Render Properties tab (the camera icon) and adjust your render settings for a quick preview.
F12 to render a single frame to see how everything looks with lighting and shadows applied.

Outcome:

By the end of this session, you should have a basic understanding of how lighting and shadows work in Blender. Your illustration should now have more depth and visual appeal, and you’ll start to see how lighting can bring out details in your work.

Source:
ChatGPT

Post 26/30: An important reason of the probable increase in the rate of property

(Source: Pixabay)

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, “Big News on Interest Rates, State Bank of Pakistan, Property Rates will increase, Islamabad Property” on the channel “Gondal Group of Marketing Islamabad”.

The host tells that real estate business will keep on going in Pakistan. For instance, only in the areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, there is shortage of a huge number of houses, as the population increases. They tell that about 2 years ago, prices in real estate went down because of the political instability. Nevertheless, now chances are high that real estate business is going to perform better in Pakistan. The host tells that Interest Rates in Banks were about 22% about two years ago. However, now the interest rates have declined from 22% to 19.5% and then to 17.5%. It is highly probable that his interest rate will decline to 13% to 14% in the coming days. So, this decline in interest rate would cause people to take the money out of bank (due to decline in rates and profits) and start investing in real estate. Therefore, rates of properties have started increasing, and at least sale of property has started. Similarly, many people have invested in gold, and have not gotten much benefit, and so, they are also returning towards real estate.

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

Sources:

Gondal Group of Marketing Islamabad - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5oVxZElysI

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Post 13/30: VFX tutorial for Blender – Creating Fire with the Smoke Simulation

Goal:

Learn to create realistic fire using Blender’s smoke simulation tools.

What You'll Need:

Blender (latest version recommended)
Basic knowledge of Blender navigation and object manipulation

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Set Up Your Scene

Open Blender: Start with a new project.
Delete the Default Cube:

Select the cube and press X to delete it.

Step 2: Create a Domain for the Smoke Simulation

Add a Cube:

Press Shift + A > Mesh > Cube.
This cube will act as the domain for your smoke simulation.

Scale the Cube:

Press S to scale it up, making it larger than the area where you want the fire to be.

Step 3: Set Up the Smoke Domain

Select the Cube (Domain):

Go to the Physics Properties tab (the bouncing ball icon).

Add Smoke Simulation:

Click on Fluid, then set Type to Domain.
Under the Domain Type, select Gas.

Step 4: Create the Fire Source

Add a New Object for Fire:

Press Shift + A > Mesh > UV Sphere.
Scale it down to fit inside the smoke domain.

Position the Sphere:

Move the sphere to the bottom of the cube (Z-axis).

Step 5: Configure the Fire Source

Select the Sphere:

In the Physics Properties, click on Fluid and set Type to Flow.
Under Flow Type, choose Fire.

Flow Behavior:

Set the Flow Behavior to Inflow.
Adjust the Flow Rate (start with around 1).

Step 6: Adjust Smoke Simulation Settings

Select the Domain Cube:

In the Fluid settings, look for Cache.
Set the cache type to All and specify the frame range (e.g., start at frame 1 and end at frame 250).

Adjust Smoke Settings:

Under Smoke, you can tweak settings like density, temperature, and vorticity to refine the look of the fire.

Step 7: Bake the Simulation

Bake the Simulation:

Go to the Cache section and click on Bake.
This process may take a few moments depending on your settings and computer speed.

Step 8: Lighting and Material Setup

Add a Material to the Fire:

Select the sphere (fire source).
Go to the Material Properties tab and click New.
Use a simple Emission shader for the fire. Set a bright color (like orange or yellow).

Adjust Lighting:

You may want to add a light source (Shift + A > Light > Point) and position it near the fire to enhance the effect.

Step 9: Camera Setup

Add a Camera:

Press Shift + A > Camera.
Position the camera to frame the fire effect.

Set Camera View:

Press 0 on the numpad to view through the camera.

Step 10: Rendering the Animation

Set Up Render Settings:

Go to the Output Properties tab (the printer icon).
Choose your resolution and output format (e.g., PNG or FFmpeg for video).

Render the Animation:

Go to the top menu and select Render > Render Animation.

Step 11: Save Your Work

Export Your Animation:

Once rendering is complete, navigate to your output directory to find the rendered frames or video.

Save Your Blender File:

Go to File > Save As and save your project.

Shareable Visual:

You now have a fire simulation! Capture a still image or a short video of the fire effect and share it on social media or with your peers.

Tips:

Experiment with different settings in the smoke simulation to see how they affect the fire’s appearance.
Try adjusting the colors and strength of the emission shader to create different fire effects.

By the end of this session, you should feel more comfortable using Blender's smoke simulation tools, paving the way for more advanced effects in the coming days! Happy blending!

Source:
ChatGPT

Day 11: Blender tutorial for making illustrations - Adding Backgrounds and Enhancing Visual Appeal

Objective: Learn how to create and add simple backgrounds to your illustrations, enhancing their visual appeal.

Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace

Open Blender: Launch Blender and load your existing project with the flowchart or mind map from Day 10.
Organize Your View: Switch to the layout view that you find most comfortable. You can use the default "Layout" workspace.

Step 2: Create a Background

Add a Plane:

Press Shift + A to open the Add menu.
Select Mesh > Plane. This will be your background.

Position the Plane:

With the plane selected, press G to grab it and move it into place behind your flowchart or mind map.
You may want to scale it up by pressing S and dragging it outwards to ensure it fully covers the area behind your visuals.

Step 3: Style the Background

Add Material to the Plane:

With the plane selected, go to the Material Properties tab (the sphere icon).
Click on New to create a new material.
Adjust the Base Color to a color that complements your diagram. For example, a light pastel color can make your illustrations stand out.

Add Texture (Optional):

To make your background more interesting, consider adding a texture.
In the Material Properties, scroll down to the Surface section, and find the Base Color field.
Click on the dot next to Base Color and choose Image Texture or Noise Texture from the options. You can then select or create a texture that suits your theme.

Step 4: Adjust Background Opacity (if needed)

Enable Transparency:

If you want to adjust the background's transparency, go to the Settings in the Material Properties.
Change the Blend Mode to Alpha Blend or Alpha Clip and adjust the Alpha value to achieve the desired transparency.

Step 5: Add Depth with Shadows

Add Lighting:

To enhance the overall visual appeal, consider adding a light source. Press Shift + A, choose Light, and then select Area or Point light.
Position your light source to create soft shadows and illuminate your flowchart.

Adjust Shadow Settings:

With the light selected, go to the Light Properties tab.
Experiment with settings like Power, Size, and Shadow settings to get the desired effect.

Step 6: Finalize the Composition

Check Overall Composition:

Rotate around your scene and make sure the background and lighting complement your flowchart/mind map.
Adjust the camera angle if necessary by selecting the camera and moving it into position.

Render a Preview:

Go to the Render menu and select Render Image (or press F12) to see how your background looks with the flowchart.
If adjustments are needed, go back and tweak the materials, lighting, or position of elements.

Step 7: Save Your Work

Remember to save your Blender file frequently. Go to File > Save As, and create a new version of your project to avoid losing any progress.

Outcome

By the end of Day 11, you should have:

A well-styled background for your flowchart or mind map.
Enhanced visual appeal through proper use of color, texture, and lighting.

Source:
ChatGPT

Post 25/30: Prices of plots in Phase 8 Extension, Bahria Town, during the past six years

I have seen a video, titled, “Bahria Town Rawalpindi Phase 8 Extension Prices Comparison | Latest Updates” on the channel “Advice Associates”

The host shares the prices of Bahria Town, Phase 8 Extensions during the years 2018, 2020, and 2024. In 2018, prices of 10 marla plots ranged from 18 lacs to 23 lacs. In 2020, prices of 5 marla plots were in the range of 37 lacs and 10 marla plots were available in the range of 55 lacs. In about 2021, prices of 5 marla plots were in the range of 18 lacs and 10 marla plots were in the range of 28 lacs. In 2024 (September), 5 marla plots were available in the price range of 12 lacs, 8 marla plots were available in the price range of 14 lacs, 10 marla plots in the price range of 19 lacs, and one kanal plot was available in the price range of 35 lacs. These prices are without development charges. For instance, a 5 marla plot with development charges may reach to a value of 20 lacs. In the same way, 10 marla plot has additional development charges of about 13 lacs.

One of the biggest reasons is the addition of “provisional numbers” in the policy of Bahria Town (for instance, the number of plots may change, according to provisions). Another reason is the problem of developmental charges that is difficult for many people to pay.

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

Sources:

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

Your Source of Information

Friday, October 4, 2024

Post 14/30: VFX tutorial for Blender – Introduction to Cloth Simulation

Day 12: Blender tutorial for making illustrations - Introduction to Lighting and Shadows in Blender

Post 26/30: An important reason of the probable increase in the rate of property

Sources:

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Post 13/30: VFX tutorial for Blender – Creating Fire with the Smoke Simulation

Day 11: Blender tutorial for making illustrations - Adding Backgrounds and Enhancing Visual Appeal

Post 25/30: Prices of plots in Phase 8 Extension, Bahria Town, during the past six years

Sources:

Day 8: 30-days to learn rgl, plotly, and gganimate - Creating Animated Plots with gganimate and Exporting Frames to Plotly

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