bgryderclock

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Motivational Poster

From Dinner...

"So, do you remember So and So? You used to go to church with him, his wife died in that terrible car accident... Well, he had a stoke about a 3 weeks ago and now he can't move the left side of his body. His mind seems OK but the weird thing is, the type of stroke he had causes him to cry all the time. We will be talking about the church or his old job, and he will start tearing up and quietly weep. He is terribly embarrassed about it."

Saturday, May 3, 2008

"So.... Do you play any sports? you look athletic", asks the elderly man.

Saturday

I woke up and watched Sweeney Todd, it was pretty dark, with lots of murder, fake ninja sword throat blood and lots of singing. it was OK, Penni loved it. went with Penni to a chiropractor visit, the doctor is a drummer and we talked for a while. We returned and watched death note, squid billies and shin chan and assy mcgee, we then went to dinner at a mexican restaurant with Penni's family and some out of town realitives. we returned and watched naruto, wow, in review, today i was a freakin' lazy slob.

Friday

Took a long lunch to use flextime covering the sysadmin chair. Picked up a few comic books. The guy who wrote "SCUD" is back in action. SWEET!!! Penni and I went to the Circa Survive show with Neil, Chuck and Anna. it was OK, I pictured the circa drum using more cymbal but he had the standard 2 crash setup. The singer used a funny fake eyeball in his stage wrap. we all went to Skyland and laughed a lot. we got home at 2am.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Phillip leaves the band

Thursday

We have another long emotional band discussion about Phillip's future in the band. Phillip decides to leave citing his long work days and fatique. He load up his stuff and leaves. Scott and i discuss trying the two man version of rita's gift at Skyland. crash early.

Wednesday

We have long emotional band discussion about Phillip's future in the band.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Hugi?

Tuesday

Listen to Circa Survive on the way in to work.
moved around a lot of heavy file cabinets.
Am 99% finished with the Cash posting issue Database.
Picked up chick and a baked "Po-tae-doh" for Penni.
Beat her viciously in Chess.
Penni received a text message that her friend had a boy, name him "Hugi", I am unsure if this is pronounced "hugh" or "huggy".
Penni hicupped for an hour straight,
Bought the new Portishead album of MusicMp3.ru and burned penni a copy of it.
Watched Family Guy /the office, crashed early.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Bucket of Self Destruction, The Story of the Rise and Fall of BucketHead

Monday

Go to the practice space early and warm up for a while. Scott says the practice smells terrible, Like old sweat and he is going to buy some carpet freshener and vacuum (???) Instead of practicing the set we went out to a few venue and whored the Rita;s Gift Demos. we have a long discussion about the artist known as 'buckethead'.

Sunday

Ate breakfast at the CheeseCake factory. it was terrible. When grocery shopping and to practice. Penni tape a few new shows while i was at practice. she is awesome.

Saturday

Slept late, rested, tweaked my ubuntu upgrade. installed some old Roms. watched DeathNote and naruto.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Played the sound vent again.

Friday

Ate niko's for lunch.

2:00 pm left work went to the target downtown to pick up some stuff for the gig.

4:00 pm changed clothes and started running through the set.

4:30 pm started to tear down to load up the u haul trailer.

5:00 pm - The 3 of up piled into scott's pickup truck with a trailor for gear, to save gas money. we started driving down left for the Sound vent in thomas vent through rush hour traffic.

7:00 pm - Arrived at the Sound vent

7:30 pm - sat up, ready to play

8:00 pm - *Change of Plans, tear down for the headliner to sound check to with 4 songs (???)

8:30 pm - Sat back up again, ready to play waiting for the sound guy to give us the thumbs up.

9:30 pm - started playing the set

11ish - finished the set, tore down loaded up and locked up the trailer. Listen to the second band, called "FU". They had a left handed drummer. They were really cool. When the headliner started we went to the restaurant across the street for Philly steak subs. We talked with the second band for a while. They said the "Main" ( PA line) was turned off. They asked the sound guy what was up (nice guys!) and he said The stage volume was so loud it did not matter. Great.

12:45 am - got paid left the sound vent.

2:00 am - arrive back to the space

2:30 am - return home showered crashed by 3am.

Thursday

practiced.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Penni is going nuts over twitter

Tuesday:

I Ate Lunch with Miss A at Showmars, I looked for a keyboard stand for Penni at sam ash. No Practice. I picked up a redbox movie and Chinese for Penni. Penni is going nuts over twitter. I just don't get the concept of SMS texting every 2 minutes. Ubuntu 8.04 comes out thursday I downloaded the release canidate to install and update to the new stable version when the Ubuntu server stop getting pounded.

Monday:

Ate lunch with the crew at showmars, Worked at setting up hyperlinks inside hte monthly report PDFs. I Picked up a mini flashlight for badly lite stages, went to Practice. We used the strobe light to emulate the worst Gig lighting posssible. It is eaier to play with you eyes closed.

Gameplan for conquering the BlenderNewbies.org DVD tutorials.

*-add note and finished dates.

UI Navigation - 4/18/2009

Zoom for laptops = MMB + Ctrl
Maximize split screen = Ctrl+Up/Bottom Arrow.

The Power of Blender Screens - 4/18/2009

ctrl left/right = jump to layouts model,Animation, Model etc.. this will be useful to create layout for front, top, side, and camera views.

Navigating the Buttons Window - 4/18/2009

Button Panels can be maximized with ctrl+up.

Button Panels tabs can be stacked by LMB dragging and dropping them on top of each other.

RMB Click on the button panels to allign them vertically or horizontally.

Super Time-Saving Tips (Part 1) - 4/18/2009

Ctrl+L = link vertices (like you have a two spheres joined, just select a point on one sphere and Ctrl+L to select all whole sphere.

W key obj mode = boolean
edit mode = specials menu (common commands)

MMB = hold the MMB to constrain function like move, scale and rotate to X,Y, and Z axis

Mesh Tool Panel Centre Button = in edit mode it centers the off origin obj to the center point.

select swap button = inversed selected point vertices on an object.

hide and reveal selected faces with hide and reveal buttoms on mesh tools1 panel. (or HKey and Alt+HKey

Use Mesh Tools1 panel Button: Edge Length, Edge Angles and Face Area to show dimensions of line, angles and Area, (autocad style :D)

ctrl 1,2,3,4 = quickly change the subsurf modifier (awesome!)

select > random (random vertices!)

Alt+B to display only a part of the box selected object ( for quick screen fresh with complete objects.

Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V work for copying and pasting panel values (colors, text and numbers)

The Tab Key works in text and number entry fields

Ctrl+C works to copy attributes like size and rotation, select the obj to edit first, then the obj with the desired properties.

Pivot Power (Controlling the Scaling and Rotation Pivot) - 4/18/2009

the pivot button and "..." button can be used to rotate other object's center points around a selected object's center point. This would be useful in have objects "dance" in unison.

The 3D cursor location is set with the LMB Click.

The MKey in object mode displays the layers control. ( ie: Select a cube, press M, select layer 2.

O key = proportional select for laptop (???) research it

Moving, Rotating, and Scaling without Keystrokes - 4/18/2009

LMB draw straight line for MOVE
LMB draw a curve to ROTATE
LMB draw a sharp V to SCALE

It work on 2D Lines and curvers too.

Blender's Built-in HotKey and MouseAction Reference - 4/18/2009

under Help > HotKey and MouseAction Reference,
includes a search function.

Pimp your Blender - 4/18/2009

You can change the color of the dev lighting and change the color 3d space you model in.

Camera Panel, Scaling the Camera, Multiple Cameras - 4/19/2009

lens = zoom
clipping = where the camera view starts and end
name = toggles display of name of camera
passepartout = blacks out the area arround the camera view.
ctrl numpad zero = look through the selected camera (for laptop ???)

3D Ring Band - 4/19/2009

Ctrl N = used to flip normals, fixed smoothing/render errors.

Text in Blender Curves Editing Curves Oversampling (aka OSA or Anti-aliasing) - 4/19/09

you can split you screen and pipe the render result tto teh image editor screen with Screen panel > save buffer > image editor

use Render panel > Render tab > fields > Mitch for sharp renders

Cutting a Hole in Your Mesh - 4/20/09

Edit mode: Wkey subdivide mesh
delete a vertex: Xkey, select rim, shift+S for cursor to selection, Mesh Tools tab, ToSphere Button. extrude, then Control+R for ring select, Shift+E for Crease tool

Quick and Easy 360-degree Turntable Camera Setup - 4/20/09

Shift click layer control to enable layer

Parent camera to a rectangle, that is centered on the target. set the camera to track the object with Control+T.

Showcase your 3D Models with a Basic Studio-styled Setup

add plane obj under target to show shadows.

basic render settings:

Lamp button> Shadows and spots > Adaptive QMC
World button > Blend > blue and white gradient
World button > Amb Occ > approximate (better softer shadows) (missing in menu ???)

select plain > materials > Only shadow

Rendering Solid Wireframes (5/2/2009)

Shift key = fine moviements

Shift D for Dup,

Use zoffs value to offset visible wireframe material obj from solid material obj

Tweak the alpha setting of the wireframe obj to control the line thickness.

Materials: spec low, Hard low and Emit high for bright objects.

How to Animate a Cylinder along a Curve (5/17/2009)

Create a bezier curver and a bezier circle.

Rename the bezier circle to "cc" and then type in "cc" curve's BevObj field.

Enable the 3b button on the curve and surface panel to move the curve in 3d space.

DefResolU = high values for smoothness

select a endpoint and Alt+S to fatten a end of a tube.

Convert to mesh = Alt+C

user setsmooth and add a subsurf modifier for
faster objects

create a bezcurve and increase Bevel depth and BezResol

Using Your Mouse for 3D Animation (series) (5/17/2009)

Inthe IPO window, press Control+R key to record mouse movements.

Hold the ControlKey to do the actual recording.

Press the HomeKey to center the IPO curve.

you may use this technique on a camera object to emulate a shaky hand held camera.

Creating a Text Outline Effect in Blender (skip!)

Modeling the Blender 3D Logo (5/18/09)

load the background image with >>view menu >> background image>> browse to image

center with x and y offset, blend = alpha

add bez circle, press the Zkey to jump to wire frame mode,

Hold the shift key for finer translation movements

Select to points on the bez circle and press the Wkey subdivide the section. repeat sub division to make the weird blender logo spikes.

While selecting the verts press the V key to create sharp end points for straight lines

you may use the N key to inter values for point locations

add color

press the B Key press x2 for paint select mode and select inner circle,

press the Pkey to separate.

use the color sampling to add color to the inner and outer part of the logo.

curve tab > extrude to add thickness

curve tab > bevel depth to add bevel

curve tab > BevResol depth to add bevel

add text, type blender, browser to

Alt+C to convert font to curve.

Uniform Distribution of Objects along a Path (5/25/09)

"example trees on a path"

in object mode, select tree and then shift select the path, click Control+P. select the Path, in the curves and surfaces tab we disable the Follow Curve button,

in obj mode, select the object button and in the anim tab select DupliFrame, that creates 1 copy per "edit button > curves and surfaces > pathlength

set anim > dup end to the max number of objects so the extras don't stack up at the end of the curve.

make the duplicate of the path real by selecting: object menu > Clear/Apply > make duplicates real

The Lattice Modifier Lattice Animation The Mesh Deform Modifier, Using a Lattice to Redesign your 3D Model (5/27/09)

1) insert a lattice arround you obj.

2) select the obj and lattice then use Control+P and select Deform Lattace.

3) subdivide the lattice with Edit Button > lattice tab > U:3, V:3 and W:3.

4) Tab into Edit Mode and grab/move the vects to warp the object.

Video Titling Techniques #1 (The Basics) 06/13/09

part 1: create workspace

add camera on the Y axis
edit button > camera tab > Othrographic = on and passepartout = half dark

add plane in camera view and resize it to viewing area of the camera, the plain is used at a title story board. extrude a corner as a handle

name the storie board in the "links and Materials" tab, named it "titling board"

sent the material for the board to invisible by setting material tab > Env = off.

verify that the lamp is on the correct side of the plane

set world background to black

Rename the screen from SR:2-Model to SR-VidSeq1

set it up like this:

--------------------------------------------
Vid Seq Editor. |. . . . . . . . |
--------------------------| 3D view |
TimeLine . . . . |. . . . . . . |
--------------------------------------------
buttons Window. . . . . . . . |
-------------------------------------------

and set another called SR-VidSeq2

---------------------------------------------------------
Vid Seq Editor |VidSeq>ImgPview |
------------------------| ----------------------------- |
. . . . TimeLine | . . . . . . . . 3D view |
---------------------------------------------------------
buttons Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
---------------------------------------------------------

Use controlKey + LeftArrow or RightArrow to switch between these views.

add video clip with vidSeq > Add > Movie. select an .avi file

add the scene vidSeq > Add > Scene. click in the window to 'root' the scene there.

See bgryderclock blendernation forum post for details

spacebar > add > text

switch to edit mode to edit the text
name the text material white and enable Ztransp to made the text transparent-able.
enable Shadeless

On the shader Tab:
set hardness and spec to 0
set Emit to max

make sure the text is between the screen and camers (duh!)

use control+P to parent the text to the board

Select all the materials and use Cntrl+L to link materials

select the movie clips then the scene (together) and select > Add > Effect > Alpha Over to make generate combined track.

In the render menu enable "Do Sequence" to preview the combined track

Part 2: Animate the titles

open an IPO curve window.

select the board, set a loc keyframe on the first frame

move the board up and set new loc keys to animate the move.

select the curve and then select curve > interpolate > linear to make the changes "fast" / linear

use the K key (Key Mode) in the IPO window hi-light the verticle keyframe marker and slide them.

animate the material alpha

go to another window and switch to the "IPO-Material" view to animate the material alpha.

Select the push-pin icon on the IPO window to keep the window static

go to the first frame change the alpha value of the text and press the "i" key to insert a Alpha key.

go to insert another frame, change the transparency and insert key with the "i" key... and repeat!

How to Create Glint Effects in Blender (06/16/09)

Create a plain and delete all point but one.

move to center by key N
Apply white material
set Hard = half
set Add = low
shader hardness = max
enable Lines or Star
Enable Halo button
Set Halo = 3

Using the node editor for compositing / layering

have your objects on different layer.
to move an object to a layer select it then press the M key, select a layer then click OK.

Set up multiple mats for different glint "angles"

set up render layers by

scene render layers tab > name and then select a layer
"cymbal" and "glint"

the lights have to be of the enable of a different layer or on the same layer as you objects.

switch to Nodes screen. select the composite nodes button and then select use Nodes

use Shift+D to create a duplicate of the render layer

use the spacebar to insert: Add > color > alpha over

connect the layer to the compositor in the order of bottom layer first, top layer last.

select do compositing to show you changes.

go to the sequencer window

add your scene and then add a effect layer of glow to tweak glint.

Christmas Gift Boxes and Bow (06/19/09)

use cubes with rounded edged. cut them with loop selections and scale them into boxes and box tops.

create and crop a ban in to a ribbon loops and copy them in to a bow. add a inner sphere to make it look solid.

Gen3 Tree-Making Tool (06/20/09)

source file = http://www.geocities.com/bgen3/

the zip files include gen3.py and gt folder...
1. Open your blender directory --->.blender--->scripts
- copy the gen3.py script inside the script directory
- gt folder goes to bpymodules folder inside the script directory
then update your scripts...

the script appears under script > misc > Gen3

just use the presets for good looking trees!

Oven-Baked Pretzels series

Part 1 - create a draft enviorment

use a picture of the prentzel as a background / reference image for colors, lighting, and textures

build a box and a ramp in right side view. if you use the B key for box selection both point of the line will be selected

Tip: go to camera mode, select the camera border, press G Key, then Z key twice, and move the mouse to zoom the "dolly" in and out.

Tip: use the the group of buttons on the 3D panel (with the pointing hand) to enable a 3D scale, move, rotate tool

Part 2 - basic 3D pretzel mesh

add a bezier curve of layer 2vand a bezier circle on layer 2

rename the circle to "cc"

in the object props for the curve, enable the 3D button and type "cc" bev obj field, now the line is a tube.

IMPORTANT: make sure you have 3D button enabled, else there will me issues editing the "pretzel twist" verts.

extrude the tube with the e key, select all verts and press Shift+H to automatically rotate vert to smooth out the tube,repeat to create the pretzel shape.

select a vert and use Alt+S to fatten parts of the pretzel.

in object mode use Alt+C to convert the fancy curve to a mesh.

use set smooth to smooth the faces.

Part 3 - sculpt and details.

from object mode select Sculpt mode

press the N key to show the properties mode

use Ctrl+tab to select the sculptig brush type,
and use Shift+F to adjust the tool strength.
and just the F key to adjust the tool size

Set all the brush buttons in the Sculpt properties to "Airbrush"

Use Ctrl+tab to switch from grap and smooth mode to change the mesh shape.

Use shift+(the tool) to reverse the tool's effect.

hint: To move the camera around in the camera view select the camera border and press the G-key and drag the camera around.

apply a rough material color

Part 4

press ctrl+NUMPAD7 for bottom view

switch to edit mode to see the mesh verts

Flatten the bottom of the pretzel, use the paint select (B-key twice)

Tip: use the proportional editing to tweak shapes.

Time For Textures!

select the texture button

Add new > named "base bread bump" > texture type "stucci" > set noise and turbulance to a "concrete block" setting.

under the materials button, on the "Map input" tab set the sizeX and sizeY = 2

Map to: enable only the "Nor" button,

Hint: set up a small corner window with just the Preview sphere view.

under the world buttons, Amb Ccc tab, enable Ambient Occlusion. (this slows the test render)

Create a new texture called "mild cracking" > texture type: Musgrave > Noise Bias = V Crackle" > tweak the setting to "cracked dried Mud"

Create a create texture called "bubbling" > texture type = clouds > tweak the setting to "sponge mold"

under the materials button, on the "Map input" tab set the sizeX and sizeY = 3

preview and tweak

Time For Vertex Painting!

go to a top view and switch to Vertex painting mode. then go to the editing button > paint Tab. set the color to the lightest dough color. repeat with darker colors

select the obj and go to the Materials tab and enable the
"Vcol Pain" to show painting in render

under the scene button go to the render tab and set anialating to "mitch".

Time to texture the conveyor!

move the test pretzels to layer 11

Modeling Timelapse of a Bowden Bicycle Frame
Old Country Pathway series (unfinished - project is still open)

Dream Drum Set Project

Project Desc:

Building the perfect large shell nested drum set.

To Do List:

Test bass drum case sizes with car door opening sizes to Verify 26" shells will work, ( used a cut up hula hoop to check car door sized, a 26 will work, but a 26 is tool similar to my old 24, so we will make a 28x24!

Compile parts list and prices.

Finalize shell Colors ( probably chome)

Email vendor to finalize quotes.

Distribute lists to family as gift ideas.

Check Parts.

Ask off to lacquer shell/ paint parts

Items/Prices:

$68.00 - 1 28 x 6 soft drum bag. - http://www.finecases.com/browse/gigbags/percussion/tom-tom-bags.html?powerSort=6%20x%2028%20Tom%20Bags

$96.00 - 28x16 bag -
http://www.finecases.com/browse/tuxedo/tuxedo-4464.html

$191.00 - Bass shell - 28 x 24" 10ply - from Precisiondrums.com

$52.00 - - bass bearing edges

$200.00 splitting labor -

Bass drum lugs 4 x 20 80.00

Here are prices from precision drum:
24x28 10 ply shell - $191
Bearing edges - $52
Cut and split/latch feature installed - $175
Chrome wrap installed - $310 or DIY $170
Estimated s&h - $115
Total - $843 or 703 DIY or just $533 sans wrap