The Blender Python API

Chapter 1: Introduction Discusses the contents of the book * History of Blender * History of Python * The Blender Python API * Skills Required * Industry Applications Chapter 2: The Blender Interface Explains the interface to frame the API as automation of human input in vanilla Blender * Main Interfaces * Specialized Interfaces * The Scripting Interface * Object, Edit, and Paint Modes * Operators Chapter 3: Modules Part I (BYY) Discusses modules of the API as anologues to human input modes in Blender * Bpy module * Bpy operators (bpy.ops) * Bpy data pointers (bpy.data) * Bpy edit mode operations (bpy.context) * Abstraction overview * Bmesh overview Chapter 4: Abstracting the API Discusses bringing the Blender Python API to an application-specific 3D soft-engine * Creating Python modules * Activation and Selection in Blender * Operation by name, selection, and activation * Standardizing scales and utilities for a project * Overview of precision modelling Chapter 5: Modules Part II (BMESH) Discusses low-level and data-level manipulation of 3D objects in Blender Python * World matrices and local coordinates * Selecting faces, edges, and vertices * Class inheritance overview * Bounding Boxes * Selection by location Chapter 6: Precision Modelling Use skills learned up to this point to build UI-less precision modelling software * Standardizing Origin * Translation vs Declaration * Viewing measurements * Data-driven Precision Modelling * Example: Visualizing Iris Data * Example: Building Atomic Models Chapter 7 title: Introduction to Add-ons Learn how to build a simple Blender Python Add-on * Selectors and Data Types * Sliders and Buttons * Blender's Add-on Helper Libraries * Deploying and Sharing Add-on's * Special Add-on Types * Example: Simple Measurement Add-on Chapter 8: Introduction to Texturing Learn the basics of textures and learn how script them in Blender Python * UV Maps * Normal Maps * Built-in Mapping Tools * Mapping Atypical Objects * Diffusiong and Specularity * Texturing via BMesh * Texturing via BPY Chapter 9: Extending Blender Python Learn how to deploy and extend projects with external libraries * Integrating exporters * Integrating external Python Libraries * Calling Blender from the Command Line * What is in a .blend file? Chapter 10: Learning by Example Explore a variety of Production-ready Blender Python Libraries * Rules for Non-native Data * Example: Procedurally generated environments * Example: Architectural Packages * Example #3 * Example #4 Appendix: Utility Packages Introduces the reader to novel and mature Blender Python Abstraction Libraries