Bite-Sized Blender Classes Now Offered @ Builder's Brewery!

Hello, all!

As a long-time group member of Builder's Brewery, I just happened to see an interesting notice this past week about bite-sized Blender classes now being offered for free!  Making mesh is pretty much the bread and butter of any designer who wants to create the most desirable things in SL (and, of course, it's super cool that you can now utilize mesh locally).  ...So, of course, I had to check it out, and I can say now that I think you should too!  :D  

As you may know, I had been trying for a long time to be a part of the Blender Benders classes, but have always seemed to find it way too overwhelming and inconvenient (despite those teachers being uber nice by offering to somewhat work with me on a reasonable, individual basis, and allowing me to make up classes).  See, their classes start during the holidays, and not only do I work retail, but that's usually the time I have to fill out a massive recertification packet... Blech.  I have tried taking the very first class a few times now, and cannot think of anything to do with Suzanne, other than smashing her into bits and pieces, LOL!  ...So I thought to myself, "Why not try the Builder's Brewery classes, and then once that's set, if I still want, I can go back to Blender Benders?"  \m/

I don't have any regrets!  The Builder's Brewery 1st class is EXTREMELY easy.  Everyone is literally just figuring out how to maneuver their creations inside the Viewport and learning the terminology.  That's it!  It's about an hour and 1/2.  And you learn the correct way to upload your very first Blender cube!  ...Easy-peasy!

When you go to the Builder's Brewery landing point, make sure to join their group and touch their sign about Bite-Sized Blender classes, so you can get a very informative folder with some information that may look very much like mine...

This first NC is put together by Forth Shepherd and is called "Bite-sized Blender: Frequently-Asked Questions"

~~~~~~~~~~~       BITE-SIZED BLENDER FAQs     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The new series of BITE-SIZED BLENDER classes will begin at the Builder's Brewery in January 2023. 

Read on to learn more about them.

1. WHAT IS BLENDER?

Blender is the software commonly used to create mesh objects for use in Second Life. It is available for download free of charge at https://www.blender.org/download.

Blender is a powerful package with a big learning curve. At Builder's Brewery, we offer classes at several different levels for anyone who wants to learn to use Blender for their own creations.

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2. WHAT IS BITE-SIZED BLENDER?

Bite-sized Blender is a new set of lessons at Builder's Brewery, suitable for anyone who has never used Blender before.

We have divided these Beginners' lessons into several small independent units, which you can take at any time.

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3. WHAT UNITS ARE IN BITE-SIZED BLENDER?

There are units at three levels.

Level 1: 

101: Make and upload simple geometrical models (three lessons)

102: Add lighting to a model (two lessons)

After completing both units, you receive the Builder's Brewery Blender Level One Certificate of Achievement

Level 2:

201: Settings and preferences in Blender (one lesson)

202: Model a curved vase (two lessons)

203: Unwrap and add lighting (one lesson)

204: Add a texture and bake to prepare for upload to SL (one lesson)

205: Upload your model to SL and set its Levels of Detail (one lesson)

After completing all units, you receive the Builder's Brewery Blender Level Two Certificate of Achievement

Level 3:

301: Make a patio table with metal legs and a marble top (eight lessons)

After completing 301, you receive the Builder's Brewery Blender Level Three Certificate of Achievement

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4. WHAT DO I NEED BEFORE I CAN START BITE-SIZED BLENDER LESSONS?

Before starting these lessons, you should do two things.

A. INSTALL BLENDER ON YOUR HOME COMPUTER

    1. Open your browser to download the file via this link...  

        https://www.blender.org/download

    2. If you're running Windows 10 or 11, get the INSTALLER version (it's an .msi file), not the Portable (.zip). 

        Mac users are ok to download from the main download page.

    3. When the download is complete, use it to install Blender.

        Open Blender and check that you see the splash screen, like this

        https://forth.sugarbowl.site/Lesson_101a/101a_00a.png

(This link shows the splash screen for Blender version 3.3.1. If you are using a different version, it will look a bit different.)

B.  GET PERMISSION TO UPLOAD MESH OBJECTS TO SECOND LIFE

    1. Check your account on the SL website (go to Account -> Mesh Upload Status).

        https://forth.sugarbowl.site/Info/Dashboard-MeshUploadStatus.PNG

    2. Follow the steps as shown, until you see this on your Mesh Upload Status...

        https://forth.sugarbowl.site/Info/MeshUploadStatus_Confirm.PNG

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5. DO I NEED TO TAKE THE UNITS IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER?

You can take any unit whenever it is being taught, but you should not take a unit unless you have already taken the necessary preceding units. 

This diagram shows the sequencing of units which you should follow.

The diagram is also available at 

https://forth.sugarbowl.site/Info/Bite-sized-Blender_Flowchart.png

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6. WHO WILL TEACH THE BITE-SIZED BLENDER UNITS?
The units will be taught by the Builder's Brewery team of Blender teachers, led by Rain Alderbury. 
All teachers have had to pass Builder's Brewery quality control to ensure the quality of teaching.

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7. WHEN WILL THE BITE-SIZED BLENDER UNITS BE TAUGHT?
To maximise their availability, we will teach the units as often as is feasible, and at as many times of day as possible. 
For more information:
> ask Rain Alderbury or Forth Shepherd
> or look at the Builder's Brewery calendar at http://www.buildersbrewery.com/calendar/index.php 

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8. HOW CAN I LEARN MORE, AFTER COMPLETING THESE UNITS?
After completing the Beginners' units at Levels 1, 2 and 3, you will be able to progress to the Intermediate Blender lessons at Builder's Brewery.

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9. WHAT IS THE COST OF THESE CLASSES?
All classes at the Builder's Brewery are free of charge. 
However, we do incur costs in running these classes, particularly in maintaining the webserver which holds all of our class materials, and so we welcome contributions towards these costs from those who are able to do so.

3rd January 2023

The next NC is put together by Rain Alderbury and is called "Bite-sized Blender: Schedule Dates and Times 2023 (rev3)"

   ***** Bite-Sized BLENDER Schedule *****
   
   For an up-to-date schedule, 
      be sure to refer to the main Builders Brewery Class Schedule at:
   https://www.buildersbrewery.com/calendar/
      You may have to use this link:
   https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=buildersbrewery@gmail.com

Teachers:

Forth Shepherd

Rain Alderbury
Winter Ravenheart

Lesson 1 (101a):
   Saturday January 21st @ 3:00pm SLT 
   Teacher: Winter  
   Thursday February 2nd @ 7:00am SLT 
   Teacher: Forth

Lesson 2 (101b - part 1):
   Saturday January 28th @ 3:00pm SLT
   Teacher: Winter 
   Thursday February 9th @ 7:00am SLT 
   Teacher: Forth
      
Lesson 3 (101b - part 2):
   Saturday February 4th @ 3:00pm SLT
   Teacher: Winter 
   Thursday February 16th @ 7:00am SLT 
   Teacher: Forth
      
Lighting Lesson 1 (102 - part 1):
   Saturday February 11th @ 3:00pm SLT (to follow Winter's classes)
   Saturday February 25th @ 7:00am SLT (to follow Forth's classes)
   Teacher: Rain
   
Lighting Lesson 1 (102 - part 2):
   Saturday February 18th @ 3:00pm SLT
   Saturday March 4th @ 7:00am SLT
   Teacher: Rain
   
After 102 is successfully completed, you graduate to Level 2, 
and begin with class 201. 
Congratulations !
Level 2 classes will start during March. 
Check the enclosed flowchart diagram for all classes, 
and the official Builders Brewery calendar for calendar dates and changes.

:)

You also get your very own texture copy of the "BlenderForBeginners Flow Chart" as seen in the 1st NC.  And you get your very own LM too!  ...I hope to see you there!  :D  \m/

---> I can't fucking read this!