Python scripting in Blender : extend the power of Blender using Python to create objects, animations, and effective add-ons / Paolo Acampora.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Acampora, Paolo, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Video games--Development.

Video games.

Python (Computer program language).

Video games--Programming.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xx, 339 pages) : illustrations (some color)

Edition:

First edition.

Distribution:

London : Bloomsbury Publishing (UK), 2025.

Place of Publication:

Birmingham : Packt Publishing, 2023.

System Details:

text file HTML

Biography/History:

Acampora Paolo: Paolo Acampora is a 3D artist and programmer, with experience in Animation, Visual Effects, and Real Time computer graphics. He provides tools that streamline the production workflow and let artists focus on the creative aspects of their craft. He has worked with several studios for more than a decade. He contributes to the blender development and releases his tools for the community.

Summary:

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.

Contents:

Cover

Title Page

Copyright and Credits

Contributors

Table of Contents

Preface

Part 1: Introduction to Python

Chapter 1: Python's Integration with Blender

Technical requirements

Installing Blender

Installing Blender on Windows

Installing multiple versions on macOS

The Scripting workspace - first steps with Python

The Python console

The Info Log

The Text Editor

External editor - Visual Studio Code

Loading our scripts folder

Keeping Blender's text blocks in sync

Version control and backup

Initializing the repository

Making changes

Summary

Questions

Chapter 2: Python Entities and API

Useful features of Python

Options for developers

Python console's utilities

Accessing Blender modules

The bpy module

API documentation

Accessing Blender data

Creating new objects

Removing elements

Understanding the user context

Chapter 3: Creating Your Add-Ons

Installing our add-ons in Blender

Add-on requirements

Installation

Uninstall

The scripts path

Creating our first add-on - object collector

Operators

Writing a basic operator

Loading operators in our add-on

Running our add-on

Refreshing the add-on list

Running from the Search Toolbar

Improving our code

Saving our edits automatically

Ignoring bytecode files (.pyc)

Fixing the operator logic

Reloading scripts

Avoiding re-assignment errors

Our final operator

Extending menus

Chapter 4: Exploring Object Transformations

Moving objects in space

Transforming objects

Transforming objects indirectly

Using Object Constraints

Using object hierarchies

Understanding the transform matrix

Accessing matrices.

Storing object matrices

Copying matrices

Restoring transformations using the world matrix

Creating rest offsets with the parent inverse matrix

Writing the Elevator add-on

Setting the environment

Writing the first draft

Using input properties

Setting the height in the world matrix

Avoiding duplicate transformations

Adding the constraints switch

Avoiding duplicate constraints

Chapter 5: Designing Graphical Interfaces

Areas, regions, and panels

Creating a simple panel

Drafting our panel add-on

Setting display attributes

Adding a panel to the Object Properties area

Using layouts in our panels

Arranging in columns and rows

Adding frames with box layouts

Using composite layouts

Providing color feedback

Checking whether an object has been selected

Checking whether an object is active

Drawing layouts in red or gray

Displaying buttons

Using the operator method

Setting the operator's text and visibility

Overriding an operator's settings

Setting operator properties

Adding buttons for our functions

Displaying the operator properties

Using different regions

Part 2: Interactive Tools and Animation

Chapter 6: Structuring Our Code and Add-Ons

Folders, packages, and add-ons

Creating a package folder and the init file

Writing the init file

Guidelines for separating modules

Writing the structured panel

Packing external images

Writing an icon library

Loading pictures from a folder

Unregistering icons

Getting the collection

Using relative imports

Adding a user interface

Writing the UI module

Importing the UI

Completing the Objects panel

Reloading cached modules

Reloading via importlib.

Implementing a refresh module

Reloading the package modules

Using Developer Extras as a condition

Using add-on preferences

Creating preferences

Populating the preferences

Using add-on preferences in code

Adding operators

Writing the operators module

Registering operator classes

Refreshing operators on reload

Adding operator buttons

Packaging and installing add-ons

Cleaning up bytecode

Creating a .zip file using 7-Zip

Creating a .zip file using Windows File Manager

Creating a .zip file on Mac using Finder

Creating a .zip file using Gnome

Installing .zip add-ons

Chapter 7: The Animation System

Understanding the animation system

Timeline and Current Frame

Duration and Frame Rate

Current frame and preview range

Animation keyframes

Writing the Action to Range add-on

Writing the Action to Range information

Writing the Action to Range operator

Writing the operator methods

Writing the menu function

Finishing the add-on

Enabling and running

Fixing context for other operators

Editing keyframes

Animation curves and the Graph Editor

Accessing animation data in Python

Adding keyframes in Python

Retrieving keyframes in Python

Writing the Vert Runner add-on

Writing the Vert Runner information

Writing the Vert Runner operator

Writing the menu and register functions

Creating cyclic animations

Adding rotations

Using Vert Runner

Chapter 8: Animation Modifiers

Using F-Curve Modifiers

Adding F-Curve Modifiers in the Graph Editor

Adding F-Curve Modifiers in Python

Writing the Shaker add-on

Setting up the environment.

Writing the Shaker add-on info

Writing the Add Object Shake operator class

Adding menu items

Finding the class names of context menus

Registering the Shaker add-on

Using the Shaker add-on

Chapter 9: Animation Drivers

Creating drivers

Creating quick drivers via the right-click menu

Setting up a wheel with the Drivers Editor

Creating driver expressions in properties

Driving a cyclic motion

Changing the rotation pivot via constraints

Controlling the period of the sin function

Implementing the pendulum equation

Controlling the amplitude

Writing the pendulum add-on

Writing the information

Writing the Operator class

Writing the menu and registering the class

Chapter 10: Advanced and Modal Operators

Understanding the operator flow

Steps of execution

Writing the "PunchClock" add-on

Creating the add-on script

Using invoke to initialize properties

Ensuring default invoke in pop-up menus

Adding modal behavior

Adding the operator to the modal handlers

Writing the modal method

Styling the operator panel

Writing the draw method

Part 3: Delivering Output

Chapter 11: Object Modifiers

Understanding object modifiers

Adding modifiers

Subdividing an object

Changing the object's shape using Cast

Adding modifiers in Python

Finding collection-type items

Using modifiers.new

Deformation objects

Using the Lattice modifier

Writing the Latte Express add-on

Writing the Latte Express information

Writing the Latte Express operator

Finding the center of a model

Adding a Create Lattice menu item.

Using the Latte Express add-on

Improving Latte Express options

Adding object subdivisions

Changing lattice resolution

Using armature deformers

Adding armature objects to the scene

Adding armature bones

Binding objects to armatures

Scripting a lattice armature

Adding an armature condition

Adding an armature to the scene

Creating edit bones

Assigning vertices to bones

Creating the armature modifier

Adding custom bone shapes

Creating mesh objects in Python

Finalizing the setup

Chapter 12: Rendering and Shaders

Render and materials

Setting the Render Engine

The Shading workspace

Understanding object materials

Setting Material Properties

The Shader Editor

Understanding the Node Tree

Writing the Textament add-on

Using texture images

Setting up the environment

Writing an import operator

Connecting nodes

Adding a header button

Using Load Textures

Improving Load Textures

Arranging shader nodes

Mixing the Base Color

Appendix

Part 1: An Introduction to Python

Chapter 1, Python's Integration with Blender

Chapter 2, Python Entities and API

Chapter 3, Creating Your Add-Ons

Chapter 4, Exploring Object Transformations

Chapter 5, Designing Graphical Interfaces

Chapter 6, Structuring Our Code and Add-Ons

Chapter 7, The Animation System

Chapter 8, Animation Modifiers

Chapter 9, Animation Drivers

Chapter 10, Advanced and Modal Operators

Chapter 11, Object Modifiers

Chapter 12, Rendering and Shaders

Index

Other Books You May Enjoy.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781803243276

1803243279

OCLC:

1381093879