Allan Didier

Allan Didier

Computer Science Teacher
Allan Didier > Mr. Didier’s Classes > Computer Graphics and Modeling > Graphics and Modeling Projects > Beginner Materials

Computer Graphics and Modeling

Beginner Materials

Goals

Students will learn how to apply simple materials, textures, and shaders to mesh objects.

Skills

  • Materials, Textures and Shaders
  • UV Unwrapping
  • Transparent materials
Materials and Textures

Assignment Details

Create three mesh objects with the following materials or textures applied to them.

  1. A complex mesh (possibly from your modeling project) with a material or texture applied to it that makes the object appear realistic. You can use a material generated from within Blender or one that you import.
  2. A drinking glass or cup that is transparent. Add a ground and wall to the scene so that you can see through the glass. 
  3. A cube or other simple mesh that has simple UV mapping and wrapping applied to it, including the setting of seams. You need to use a separate 2D image (jpg, png, etc) to wrap onto your object. Instead of a checkerboard from the tutorial, try a different texture, like stripes, applied to a cube. You can do a quick Google search for texture images that can be used for this.

Tips

Transparent Objects

When viewing transparencies, keep in mind there are 2 different ways to view them when rendered: EVEE and Cycles. Here are some things to look from when viewing transparent objects in v2.8

  • Cycles Rendering
    • Render Settings
    • switch to Cycles, not EVEE, rendering to see the above transparency
    • Cycles is more precise, but much slower than EVEE.
  • EVEE: In order to see the transparency and not just the reflected world image, check the following boxes.
    • Object Material Properties
      • Settings: Check Screen Space Reflections
    • Render Settings
      • Check Screen Space Reflections
        • Check Refraction

 

Submitting your work

Image files that you use for the materials or textures don’t normally get attached to your Blender file. So, if you just submit your work, Mr. Didier won’t be able to view your work properly. If you used any files or images as the materials or textures for any of your objects, you need to make these files available when you submit your work for grading. You can do this two ways.

  1. Upload the individual files alongside the Blender file in Google Classroom when you submit your work.
  2. Pack the files using the File–External Data–Pack All Into .Blend. This puts all the images files into the Blender file so that you only need to submit one file, your Blender file. 

Resources

Blender Fundementals 2.8 tutorials

Intro to Shading
Shading Editor
Intro to Textures
UV Unwrapping
Procedural Textures
Transparent Glass
Glass and Liquid

Rubric

Grade / Topic

A

B

C

Realistic material on complex object

  • The shape has been made with at least 20 modifications to its mesh vertices.
  • The texture applied makes the object look realistic.
  • The texture fits properly on the object.
  • The shape has been made with at least 15 modifications to its mesh vertices.
  • The texture applied makes the object look somewhat realistic.
  • The texture fits on the object, but could fit better.
  • The shape has been made with at least 10 modifications to its mesh vertices.
  • The texture applied does not really make the object look realistic.
  • The texture does not fit well on the object.

Transparent glass

  • A simple glass has been modeled.
  • A transparent material has been applied so the object is visible, but transparent.
  • The wall, floor, and lighting make the transparency easy to see.
  • A simple shape has been modeled.
  • A transparent material has been applied, but the object is not very transparent or nearly invisible.
  • The wall, floor, and lighting don’t help with the transparency.
  • A simple shape has been modeled.
  • A transparent material has been applied but doesn’t really work.
  • The wall, floor, and lighting make the transparency harder to see.

UV mapped/ wrapped object

  • A simple UV material has been made or imported properly. See the cardboard texture below. 
  • The material has been wrapped well around the object.
  • Seams have been added to get the material to wrap properly.
  • A simple UV material has been made or imported properly.
  • The material has been wrapped well around the object but not very well.
  • Seams have been added, but don’t really help with the wrapping.
  • The default checkerboard has been used.
  • The material has not been wrapped well around the object.
  • Seams have been added but are more confusing than helpful.