Beginner Blender 4.0 Tutorial - Part 8: Rendering!

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will learn how to enhance the visual appeal of donuts in Blender by adding colorful sprinkles and effectively rendering the scene. We'll cover applying materials, generating random colors, creating metallic effects, and utilizing Blender's rendering engines. By the end, you'll be equipped with the skills to make your 3D models look more vibrant and realistic.

Chapter 1: Coloring Sprinkles

To start, we will create a single material for all the sprinkles instead of coloring them individually.

1. Create a New Material

   • Clear existing materials.
   • Create a new material named "sprinkles."

2. Apply Material to Multiple Objects

   • Select the sprinkle object that has the desired material.
   • Shift-select all the other sprinkle objects.
   • Press Ctrl + L and choose to link materials.
   • Now, all selected objects share the same material.

Chapter 2: Generating Random Values for Materials

Next, we’ll add a random color distribution to the sprinkles.

1. Access the Shading Tab

   • Move to the Shading workspace.

2. Use the Object Info Node

   • Press Shift + A and add an "Object Info" node.
   • Connect it to the base color input of the Principled BSDF shader.

3. Add Random Values

   • This node will generate random values (0 to 1) for each sprinkle.

Chapter 3: Converting Values to Colors

Now, let’s convert those random values into colors.

1. Add a Color Ramp Node

   • Press Shift + A and add a "Color Ramp" node.
   • Place it between the Object Info node and the Principled BSDF shader.

2. Adjust Color Stops

   • Set colors in the Color Ramp to desired shades (e.g., blue, pink, white, yellow).
   • Change the interpolation mode from linear to constant to create distinct colors for the sprinkles.

Chapter 4: Making Metallic Sprinkles

You can create metallic-looking sprinkles easily.

1. Add Metallic Properties

   • In the Principled BSDF shader, adjust the metallic slider to 1 for metallic sprinkles.
   • Use a Color Ramp to define which sprinkles are metallic (black for non-metallic, white for metallic).

2. Adjust Roughness

   • Duplicate the Color Ramp node and connect it to the roughness input.
   • Set values to control the shininess of the metallic sprinkles.

Chapter 5: Rendering the Scene

Let’s prepare to render your donut scene.

1. Camera Navigation

   • Use the camera view by clicking the camera icon or pressing Numpad 0.
   • Enter fly navigation mode with Shift + Tilde (~) to adjust the camera position.

2. Select Render Engine

   • Open the Render Properties tab.
   • Change the render engine from Eevee to Cycles for better lighting and shadows.

Chapter 6: Optimizing Render Settings

To improve rendering quality and speed, adjust the following settings.

1. Switch to GPU Rendering

   • Go to Edit > Preferences > System.
   • Select your GPU under Cycles Render Devices.

2. Enable Denoising

   • Use the denoiser option to reduce noise in renders for a clearer image.

Chapter 7: Adding Subsurface Scattering

Enhance the softness of your donut and sprinkles.

1. Enable Subsurface Scattering

   • In the material settings, find the Subsurface option and set the weight to 1.
   • Adjust the radius values to 1 for all axes.

2. Fine-tune Scale

   • Set the scale value closer to the actual thickness of the icing for realistic effects.

Conclusion

You have now learned how to color sprinkles, create metallic effects, and render your donut scene effectively in Blender. Experiment with different colors and materials to make your creations unique. For your next steps, try modeling a plate for your donut as a fun project to reinforce your skills. Happy blending!