2D is flat and has no height. Objects that are 2D have length and width.
3D objects have length, width, depth and height. In the image below you can see the differences in 2D and 3D animation.
The image on the left is in 2D animation. The image on the right is in 3D. It shows the difference between an object and photograph.
These two images explain the difference more clearly. 3D is 3 dimensional – you can see three sides of the box and the light. 2D – you only see the flat image.
3D modelling is a computer graphics technique for creating a 3D image of any object or surface. The image below shows how 3D modelling is used to create a human face.
An artist manipulates programming nodes in Blender to create a mesh: a set of vertices that make up an object – as shown in the image above.
Programing nodes are built into software, and described as a basic unit of a data structure. Nodes connect together by pointers or edges as you can see in the image below.
Vertices are parallel and vertical lines that cross over each other to create the shape of the face. By deforming (making a hole) in the mesh or otherwise manipulating vertices, these 3D objects can be generated automatically or manually.
Let’s watch this video to see how the meshes are mapped and connected to form shapes
The video explains how to connect vertices to merge two objects together in Blender
Before we go into the 3D modelling process.
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Animation is a method whereby figures are manipulated to have movement. These figures were traditionally hand drawn and with improvement in technology have become computer generated.
See animation in action
An artist usually begins by generating some type of shape like a cube, sphere, or plane. We call this a “primitive”.
The primitive is just a starting shape to begin modelling. The artist will build upon this basic form and manipulate it using various modelling tools. For 3D modelling it is almost always a good idea to start simple and work towards complexity.
3D modelling is a precise workflow often involving the placement of individual vertices (* remember vertices are points on your mesh*) to achieve the correct contours of the desired object.
The exterior of the mesh is composed of polygons (shape with 3 or more sides – triangle, square etc), which can be subdivided into smaller shapes to create more detail. These subdivisions are especially necessary if the 3D model is to be animated. Any joints that need to bend—such as a character’s knee or elbow—will need these additional polygons to ensure smooth motion.
Several tools exist to speed up the modelling process. This video explains more about meshes, vertices and polygons.
In the video below you’ll see the 3D modelling process unfolding and it explains in more depth what meshes, vertices and polygons are, and how we use them in 3D modelling.
Most programs, including Blender, have a mirroring technique that lets the artist build a symmetrical model by only working on one half—or even one quarter—of the object. This is especially useful in character design as an artist only needs to model one side of the character and the software will mirror their work along the desired axis creating a perfectly symmetrical object.
See the video below demonstrating how the mirror modifier works in Blender.
Deformation allows you to bend any mesh in any way you want.
Deformations can be either
The video below shows a simple deform bend modifier in Blender.
The 3D modelling process creates a digital object that can be fully animated – meaning the character can walk or talk or dance and more.
The mesh, which we defined before as a set of points or vertices, is at the heart of how we create animations and the 3D modelling process.
These points on the mesh are mapped onto a three-dimensional grid and connected to form polygonal shapes – most commonly triangles or quads.
Each point (also called a vertex) has its own location on the grid, and the surface of an object is formed by combining these points into shapes.
In the video below you can see how Blender tools can be used to transform 2D to 3D
Excellent – you and the Explorers are making good progress throughout Glaciers. You know what 3D modelling is all about. (Don’t worry – you’ll have a chance in a later Lesson to put your skills to the test.)
Next up, we’ll be learning about the evolution of Blender and where it’s been used in the world so far.
Click on the below green map point to go to the last stop in Glaciers.
Pain Points – specific problems that prospective customers of your business are experiencing. In other words, you can think of pain points as problems, plain and simple.
A User – is any person that interacts (by inputs) with a program without having to write the code directly. For example, you are the user to the code that makes your browser/website run. When you clicked on this pop-up, that was the input that made this explanation come up when the code detected it.
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All learners who are aspiring web developers will have an opportunity to build a website for a live NGO or charity client as part of their community service hours. This project will be run jointly with Community Hours – so all your time spent counts towards your LO credits. This event is suitable for learners, parents and their teachers.
TechWays will be providing the WordPress course and web dev resources for free to any learner wanting to participate.
Besides the amazing community service you’ll be doing for a charity in need – you’ll also be building your portfolio of web dev skills. Who knows – web dev could become a side hustle for extra income?
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Indentation – In the written form of many languages, an indentation or indent is an empty space at the beginning of a line to signal the start of a new paragraph.
Text editor – is the part of the IDE where you write the code. Most text editors highlight words with different properties like functions to help you distinguish them from one another.
Homogeneous – of the same kind; alike throughout.
Heterogeneous – diverse in character or content; containing different things
Prompt – to cause or bring about; to make something happen. For example making someone to say or write something.
Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again.
There are a lot of strings functions/methods in Python. Find full list in course manual. Here’s are some that you find useful in this course:
Functions
Methods
There a number of special string characters that have different functions when used inside ” “. Here’re some useful and common ones:
In programming Concatenation is a process of appending one string to another.
\ – escape character is a string character that tell Python that the next character after it should be taken as a string and not as an instruction.
str ( ) is a built-in function that converts and sequence of characters (numbers especially) in to text.
Mad Libs is a phrasal template word game created by Leonard Stern and Roger Price. It consists of one player prompting others for a list of words to substitute for blanks in a story before reading aloud.
type ( ) is a built-in function (still to cover what built-in functions are later) that determines the Data Type of any data presented.
input ( ) is a built-in function (still to cover what built-in functions are later) allows a user to insert info into a program/the code.
print ( ) is a built-in function (still to cover what built-in functions are later) that executes data inside the brackets. The results get printed out on the console/results section.
Integrated Development Environment – A digital environment used to develop games, software, hardware, that offers integration from debugging to compiling.
More about variables
Info about variables
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#WOW – What Outstanding Work – Awards: join us to learn from our students.
Our top 20 learners are from St Andrews for Girls, Reddam Umhlanga, Evolve Online, Nova Pioneer and Sutherland High.
Learners will be presenting their final projects. Come celebrate their successes and lessons learnt with us at our TechWays #WOW Awards.
This event is suitable for learners, parents and their teachers. Book your spot HERE
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Calling on all high schoolers interested in tech as a career. Join us on Thursday 22 September at 5:30pm.
We will be sharing:
There are only 100 spaces – so book your spot now – please RSVP here Book
To access the recording – click here
Calling on all high schoolers interested in tech as a career to join us on 16 September at 5:30pm. If you missed it, we’ll host another one on 18 November.
We covered the following:
To access the recording – click here
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We will be talking to Noelene Kinsley from GC Network. Noelene has been specialised in the exciting career of Genetic Counseling and wants to share her passion for making the world a healthier place using genetics….and data science technology.
Let’s hear more about the trends in the health/genetics industries, where jobs are moving to and what kind of skills you’ll need in this exciting world of opportunities out there.
This event is suitable for learners, parents and their teachers. Book your spot HERE
To book your spot – click here
We will be talking to Jason Suttie from Devson. Jason has been in the tech world since he was six years old. He headed IT innovation unit at RMB and has since left to start up his own software consulting company – solving problems and building solutions for clients around the world.
Let’s hear more about the trends in the software and programming industries, where jobs are moving to and what kind of skills you’ll need in this exciting world of opportunities out there.
Book your spot HERE
Introduces Linux as an operating system, the basic open source concepts and an understanding of the Linux commands. Linux is crucial for cybersecurity.
Gives you the baseline skills you need to secure a company’s systems, software and hardware. This certificate gives practical hands-on skills to pursue a career in cyber security
Will give you skills in Information Security Threats and Attack Vectors, Attack Detection, Attack Prevention, Procedures, Methodologies and more.