chippwalters

Detailed look at SPOCK

Hey folks, plan on launching this Friday. Just thought you might like to take a look at how SPOCK works.

Don't usually share others vids, but this one is special

FWIW, the Blender Secrets PDF is a superb value. It's constantly updated and even helps old dogs like me learn new tricks! Worth checking out. :-)

Unlisted video with some mesh editing tricks

Getting ready to launch SPOCK soon, and I created this sci-fi locker as part 1 of showing how SPOCK can quickly fill up the inside. So, it's not listed yet and won't be until we launch, but thought you might like to see. No addons required, just good old fashioned mesh editing. 

Just a few clicks..

Thought some of you might be interested. Working out the workflow for SPOCK. I'll post a video here when I share it with the beta team. 

SPOCK speed

As you can see, it's pretty darn fast. 8 different algos and only 3 collections being used. Haven't yet finished the cables/pipes and switch/controls DPACKS (coming soon). 

All labels, controls and displays are random generated. 64 different words for labels, and 32 different displays and 32 different light control...

Graviton Flipper Device by SPOCK

So, we're getting close to beta now. Anthony is doing a great job with all the different packing algorithms. We're now focusing on streamlining the interface so it's both intuitive and easy to use. 

So, how is SPOCK different from FLEX and SYNTH? Good question.

Keep in mind KIT OPS uses KPACKS and ...

SPOCK. Coming soon.

Hey folks, been really busy with the move and some updates to KIT OPS PRO which are pretty cool. Anthony Aragues and I have been working on a new project called SPOCK. It first started out as a very strongly ordered proximity based geometry nodes project-- but quickly we figured out Gnodes just wasn't up to the task yet.

Perfect Object Snapping

Hey folks, here's a quick tip on how to perfectly snap objects to each other. Sometimes what should be the easiest thing can actually be hard to figure out. There are two different techniques: 1) Blender only and; 2) Snapping Pies (see enclosed link).

To install the addon: Unzip and put the file: power_snapping_pies.py ...

Beware! Blender 3.4 saved files not backwards compatible.

Wow. Can't believe it. Blender has decided NOT to make materials saved in Blender 3.4 backwards compatible. If you have any mix node in a material, and save it in Blender 3.4, when you open it in any earlier version of Blender, it won't work. See the video.

Blender should at least offer an addon to fix this. Ugh.

Free Metashape addon + tutorial

UPDATE:

There's a new version of the METASHAPE addon which fixes a bug in the update code.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mijtb6ie2p1iyyn/METASHAPE-addon-V1.1.1.zip?dl=0

Hey folks, a belated Happy New...

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Well, we just finished moving our house where we lived for the last 25 years and whew are we tired! All said, we are enjoying our new place and I'm looking forward to recording in my new office.

Next year should be a great one as we have lots of updates lined up to release along with some cool videos. I am thankful for...

Sci-Fi-Sam and why I've been MIA

Hey folks, sorry I've been missing in action as of the last few weeks. I'm in the middle of a whirlwind move. As many of you may know, my wife and I live on a horse ranch in Texas and after 25 years in the country we've recently sold it and are moving to a smaller property, but a bigger house. And, with my on-again/off-again ...

Reverse tiling using Triplanar material

Hey guys, here's a really quick tutorial on how to take scans from your phone or pictures online that are not easily tileabale and use them effectively in Blender. White rooster on my discord was posting some really interesting images he took with his smart phone and there was a discussion about how to make these tolerable an...

Arrays in KIT OPS

We're working on them now, but I thought I'd share with you a quick way to create them in your current version of KIT OPS (PRO or FREE).

Geo Nodes parametric cylinder cutter for KIT OPS

Hey folks, here's a new INSERT which will be part of the DESIGN MAGIC update coming soon. It's created with Geometry Nodes and provides an easy interface for updating.

Just drop into any KPACK folder and you're good to go. 

New Geometry Nodes PCB Traces INSERT

Hey guys, I wanted to share with you this new INSERT. Just drag and drop it into any KPACK. It will eventually be part of the DESIGN MAGIC product.

And, we want to create a full on PCB SCI-FI FLEX geometry generator that can work with lots of different DPACKS. That will take some time but I thought I'd share ...

Some new line art techniques

Hey guys, here's some instructions and links to materials and download for a free addon I currently have in beta that can help you create some nice SketchUp style renderings.   

Here are some free KIT OPS materials that you can work with. Just install them with the free (or Pro) version of KIT OPS. 2022-10-07 01:49:16 +0000 UTC View Post

Quick KIT OPS Cable INSERTS

Note: Only works with Blender 3.3+ (Thanks to Douglas Crabtree for pointing that out)

Thousands of cables coming to your KIT OPS FREE or PRO. Just unzip and drop into a KPACK folder (or create a new one) and you're off and running creating a ton of these. Fun stuff.

2022-10-04 19:35:10 +0000 UTC View Post

Turns out METASHAPE works great with lid technique

METASHAPE addon (included with Design Magic) works by treating objects (in this case a cube and a cylinder) like metaballs, and blends them together. One of the advantages in this is it creates a nice mesh that makes Boolean operations work great and creates great cutouts without adding needless artifacts. 

Here's ...

Something I've been wanting to try for awhile now

So, a while ago, I started thinking about creating a bunch of videos that show some of my favorite techniques when creating sci-fi models. Actually, just some of the tricks and maybe some design tips that go along with them. In this first one, is something I've been wanting to figure out for some time. So I sat down and just ...

Secret material group for you

But of course you guys get it here. It's beta and will be part of EEVEE+Cycles Materials System when I finish it, but it's pretty cool. Just drop the node group AFTER any existing material and instantly you have scratches (that bump *in*) and dirt and grime (that bumps *out*), and all sorts of fun settings. Works in both EEVE...

Bool Bug fix

Hey everyone, so I was creating the next video for the SCI-BOX box series and I ran into this very confusing bug in versions 3.2 and 3.3 of Blender. And as I started researching it it turns out that it's a known bug and yet no one has been assigned to fix it from the Blender development team. And it definitely affects workflo...

Creating your own design vocab INSERTS

Here is a quick video with some best practices on creating your own cutters from your mood board slide deck. I'll be creating a hero element next video.

PART 2 of SCI-FI BOX Workshop

In this video we go over how to use specially design KIT OPS Cutters, called "shapers" to quickly rough out a form for your sci-fi box design. I've included the files you'll need below.

Holler if you have any questions.

You can get the KIT OPS KPACK files here:

2022-09-12 09:22:03 +0000 UTC View Post

SCI-BOX New Workshop now Starting

Hey everyone,

So I'm just now launching this new SCI-BOX Workshop and I'm breaking it out as I do many of my workshops into different parts. This first part focuses on what is sci-fi design and hopefully gives you some insights into how to sharpen your design skills as you begin to think about what kind of vi...

Adv Materials Tute for EEVEE + Cycles

This is a workflow tutorial going over how to use some of the new advanced Materials in the brand new Eevee plus Cycles materials system. Just thought I'd share it with you guys.

New free course coming soon

Hey folks, I've been working on a new set of workflows that I will use to create a multi-lesson course soon. One of the interesting things about the new AI art generators is the fact that there is serendipitous discovery of new forms, materials and finishes for products.

I have found that something similar happens when...

Geometry Nodes Hex Pattern Cutter

I've been playing around some more with Geometry Nodes and integrating it into some of my KIT OPS INSERTS (namely updates to DESIGN MAGIC). 

Fun stuff. G-Nodes are very cool. Been working on some other stuff, but too early to share. I'll send you all a copy once I get a few of these working.

Massive update to the EEVEE + Cycles Materials System

I've been working on this for quite some time now, and this update has some significant features. Check them out in the video. Also, it's a free update for those who have already purchased the EEVEE Materials System :-)

1000 Patrons! Thanks, and to show my gratitude...

Hey guys, wow! 1000 patrons!Just amazing. Thanks so much to all of you.

To show my appreciation, I am going to link to my nondestructive modeling course called NITROX3D. It's currently for sale at both Blender Market and Gumroad.

There are currently two versions: the small being a 720p format and the large being a...