Python Scripting in Blender: Extend the power of Blender using Python to create objects, animations, and effective add-ons

Learn how to use Python scripts in Blender 3.3 to automate tasks, optimize your workflow, think like a 3D programmer, and start creating your tools quickly

Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook

Key Features

• Discover ready-to-go scripts that provide a clear solution to your problems
• Find out how to automate repetitive tasks in an efficient way
• Extend Blender’s actions and user interface with your code

Book Description

Blender, a powerful open source 3D software, can be extended and powered up using the Python programming language. This book teaches you how to automate laborious operations using scripts, and expand the set of available commands, graphic interfaces, tools, and event responses, which will enable you to add custom features to meet your needs and bring your creative ideas to life.

The book begins by covering essential Python concepts and showing you how to create a basic add-on. You’ll then gain a solid understanding of the entities that affect the look of Blender’s objects such as modifiers, constraints, and materials. As you advance, you’ll get to grips with the animation system in Blender and learn how to set up its behavior using Python. The examples, tools, patterns, and best practices present throughout the book will familiarize you with the Python API and build your knowledge base, along with enabling you to produce valuable code that empowers the users and is ready for publishing or production.

By the end of this book, you’ll be able to successfully design add-ons that integrate seamlessly with the software and its ecosystem.

What you will learn

• Understand the principles of 3D and programming, and learn how they operate in Blender
• Build engaging and navigation-friendly user interfaces that integrate with the native look and feel
• Respect coding guidelines and deliver readable and compliant code without the loss of originality
• Package your extensions into a complete add-on, ready for installation and distribution
• Create interactive tools with a direct response to the user's action
• Code comfortably and safely using version control

Who this book is for

This book is for Blender users who want to expand their skills and learn scripting, technical directors looking to automate laborious tasks, and professionals and hobbyists who want to learn more about the Python architecture underlying the Blender interface. Prior experience with Blender is a prerequisite, along with a basic understanding of the Python syntax—however, the book does provide quick explanations to bridge potential gaps in your background knowledge.

Table of Contents

1. Python's Integration with Blender
2. Python Entities and APIs
3. Creating Your Add-Ons
4. Exploring Object Transformations
5. Designing Graphical Interfaces
6. Structuring Our Code and Add-Ons
7. The Animation System
8. Animation Modifiers
9. Animation Drivers
10. Advanced and Modal Operators
11. Object Modifiers
12. Rendering and Shaders