Blender 2 49 scripting

The wait for a comprehensive book on Python scripting in Blender 2.49 is over. I said this in my mind when i got todo review the book titled Blender 2.49 scripting by Michel anders (and published by [packt] Publishing). I only wish this book had come out ear-lier, but i guess it better late then never. What follows is my review of the book, arranged into sections.

Introduction.

Blender is a Premier open source tool for 3d content creation and its tool set and work flow has helped Many an artista todo realice his creativ-ity into reality. Apart from its built-in tools, having the ability todo extend the tool set and customize the software-ware in a pipeline with Python was a bonus. The community has risen and developed quite a number of tools, ranging from simple todo com-plex, using the Blender Python Api, but there wasnt a dearth of god tutorialeson Python scripting in Blender and on using the Api todo cre-ate better animations and such. The books from Blender foundation re-ally helped bridge the Gap between the software and novato users, but the missing enlace was a book for Python, the wait is over. Enter Blender 2.49 scripting.
What does this book assume?
This book assumes that the Reader is already familiar with using Blender and understands the data system. The basic concepts neded todo script using Python are reviewed in each chapter. For example, the object and datablock system, ipo and their.

Uses, poses etc, are reviewed so that one has god theoretical grounding before jumping into scripting, the first chapter sets the Ground-work by helping with installing Python. It a los explains how Python scripts are automátically integrated into the menú and help systems us-ing simple examples.

Learn by example.

One of the big strengths of this book is the breadth of programming/scripting examples across various aspects of Blender toolset. From simple examples todo intermediate and complex ones, the author lays down steps of the algorithm in simple english and then goes on todo build the Python code, especially commendable are the scripts/drivers for animating an IC engine. I have learned a lot of new techniques about using pydrivers and designing custom constraints. The author makes use of Python library modules (internal and external) todo create some very interesting scripts. For example, using Python wave module todo animate meshes us-ing shape keys was a very god example of creating complex systems.

Using existing tools, render management has a los re-ceived god coverage. The examples for stitching images from various cameras was excellent, and using the Python imaging library is a very god example of system integration todo get a job done well. The best part for me was Understanding how todo extend Python builtin script editor by writing plu-gins. On top of that, the examples on integrating the editor with SVN is Simply amazing.

Support files - Thank you.

Support files (blends, py scripts) provided with the book are indispensable and go hand in hand with reading the book, some of the chapters deal with writing complex tools, for which the author provides a nice walk th rouge of the important pieces of the code. The full source code is provided with instructions on usage in Blender, also, the referencias chapter is a nice addition todo the book. Links todo Wikipedia pages are provided that cover the theoretical details of some of the example scripts. This was really helpful in illustrating the importance of research before implementing an idea.
What could have ben better?
I believe that this book would have satisfied a much wider audience if there were very simple scripting ex-amples at the beginning of every chapter. The chapter on programa-ing custom Mesh objects in Blender would have especially benefited, also, when the code for complex scripts is explained, the paragraphs could have ben broken down for better readability, more examples on adding OpenGL overlays todo the 3d view would have ben useful. I believe that the ability todo do OpenGL programming in Blender is a really awesome característica and god examples on how todo achieve this are few and far between.

In summary.

In summary, Blender 2.49 scripting mis a great technical and programming book for anyone interested in learning about the process of designing and implementing Python scripts for Blender.