2.61 for newbies - frustrating

Support Basics & Interface
1

I started some time ago with 3D-graphics, using Blender 2.58.

After a while I got used to the interface for applying materials and textures.

Today I had a first look at 2.61 and I’m totally frustrated. When I want to use cycles, there seems to be a totally different way to apply materials and textures, and I don’t have a clue where to start.

I have the Blender for dummies (v2 so 2.5 based) but that’s outdated where it comes to texturing. I’m willing to learn, but what is available and where ? Documentation, tutorials, anything ?

Small example - I have a sphere and I want to apply a seamless tile, twice in the verical direction, 4x in the horizontal direction and I want a spherical mapping. Fairly easy until now, but I haven’t got a clue on how to do it with 2.61 using cycles.

:o

2

Cycles is a new “in development” render engine.
It is more physically based and accurate than the older blender render engine.
The input required therefore changes.
The link below is a good explanation and intro to how Cycles works.

BTW, I’m just starting to learning it as are many others here so you are not alone.
Try searching Cycles in the forum and you will find hours of discussion and testing.

3

Thank you for the prompt and useful reply, Richard.

I know I don’t have to use cycles, but the way it was applauded tells me that it will be the renderer of the future, so I thought I might as well start with it from day 1.

messages crossed, so thank you tfrank as well

4

This video helped me a lot when trying to update my UV textures in Cycles;

5

hey guys. stupid question here.

i’m trying to apply the transparency to this simple glass goblet (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Blender_3D:_Noob_to_Pro/Model_a_Silver_Goblet)

but can’t find the materials and shaders options.

i used to be able to do it but then the interfaced switched.

edit: is the k key no longer for cutting? would someone kindly link me to the document of changes?

6

but can’t find the materials and shaders options.
For the default layout, look in the properties window on the right of the blender screen. See the icons on the header, one of them is for materials, one is for textures etc. If you’re not familiar with blender, dump the tutorials for earlier versions as there are a huge number that use the latest layout.

7

thanks

for anybody that can’t find it, its in that line with the camera icon. “render, scene, world, etc.” you just have to drag that window to the left to expand.