Meta:Proposals/Restructuring the Manual

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Contents

[edit] Introduction

The manual as it exists now has become very large over time, which is why we have to start thinking about restructuring it. Some options have been suggested (in no particular combination, and combinations of options are possible and very likely):

  • Split the Manual into several thematic volumes, for example "Basics", "Animation", "Rendering", etc.
  • Expand the current Part I to a more complete quick start/basics manual that can be sold seperately as a nice starters book with a few nice tutorials that cover several areas. Then create a solid Reference guide that describes all current functionality in detail, but without tutorials.
  • Replace current tutorials with video tutorials to supply on DVD together with a reference guide as described above.

[edit] The current structure

Insert current manual tree in here

[edit] Proposals

Glen's Proposal: This is a proposed structure for the documentation. It should be used for both the core documentation, concept documentation, and tutorial collections, so cross referencing between all of those will be easy. I'll have to think about how it will apply to the Reference guide, which is written for people who need to quickly find shortcut keys. For that reason it can (and maybe should) be organized differently. --Metsys

[edit] Proposal for thematic volumes

Insert proposal

[edit] Proposal for Basics manual

Insert proposal

[edit] Proposal for Reference guide

Extend proposal structure/tree

What follows is rather the User Manual! --S68 15:24, 7 November 2005 (CET)

Part I - Modelling

  • ObjectMode
    • Selecting Objects
    • Moving Objects
    • Rotating Objects
    • Scaling And Mirroring Objects
    • Transform Properties Panel
    • Duplicating Objects
    • Parenting (Grouping) Objects
    • Tracking
    • Other Functions (Delete, Join, Linked Objects)
    • Boolean Operations
    • 3D Transform Widgets
  • Basic Mesh Modelling
  • Advanced Mesh Modelling
  • Metaobjects, Curves and Surfaces

Part II - Materials

Part III - Textures

  • Texture Channels
  • Texture Mappings
    • Map Input
    • Map To
  • Blending Modes
  • Multiple Textures (but this may be more of a tutorial)
  • Texture Buttons
    • Image Textures
    • Animated Image Textures
    • Blend Textures
    • Environment Maps
  • Displacement Maps
  • Normal Maps
  • UV Mapping
  • Environment Maps
  • Texture Plugins

Part IV - Light

  • Lamp Types
    • Lamp
    • Area
    • Spot
    • Sun
    • Hemi
  • Ray Shadows
  • Buffer Shadows
  • Coloured Shadows
  • Volumetric Light

Part V - The World And The Universe

  • World Background
  • Ambient Occlusion
  • Ambient Light
  • Exposure And Range
  • Mist
  • Stars

Part VI - Animation Basics
Part VII - Basic Deformations
Part VIII - The Armature System
Part IX - Soft Bodies And Liquid
Part X - Rendering
Part XI - Radiosity
Part XII - Spezial Modelling Tools
Part XIII - Sequenzing
Part XIV - Extending Blender

Z - Appendix

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