Session 02: Installing Extensions – Screen Cast Keys
🔹 Module 1: Introduction
- Blender
is an open-source 3D creation suite written in C++ with Python
integration.
- Blender
5 is in alpha stage; some add-ons/extensions may not yet be
supported.
- For
stability and production work, we will start with Blender 4.5.2 LTS.
Learning Outcome:
Understand why we are using Blender 4.5.2 and what to expect from Blender 5.
🔹 Module 2: Launching
Blender
Step 1: Open Blender
- Double-click
on Blender 4.5.2 LTS.
- Confirm
the version number on the top right corner of the Quick Setup
screen.
🔹 Module 3: Quick Setup
Step 2: Configure Quick Setup
- Language:
Select English (US) → recommended for reliable shortcuts. (Hindi is
available but may affect shortcuts).
- Theme:
Choose Blender Dark or Blender Light. → Select Blender Dark
for consistency.
- Keymap:
Leave at Blender (default). → Advanced users can pick Industry
Compatible (for Maya/Max users).
- Mouse
Select: Left (default).
- Spacebar
Action: Change from Play to Search.
👉 If Quick Setup doesn’t
appear, go to Edit > Preferences to configure manually.
🔹 Module 4: Splash Screen
Step 3: Explore Splash Screen
- New
File options: General, 2D Animation, Sculpting, VFX, Video Editing.
- Right-hand
panel: Blender Manual, Tutorials, Support, Communities, Blender.org.
- What’s
New section: Recent updates.
- Dismiss
splash screen by clicking outside.
👉 If you skipped Quick
Setup:
- Go
to Preferences > Interface → Set Language.
- Themes
tab → Blender Dark.
- Keymap
tab → Confirm Left select, Spacebar = Search.
- Enable
Auto Save Preferences.
🔹 Module 5: Extensions
& Add-ons
Step 4: Install Screencast Keys
- Why
add-ons matter: Blender’s open-source nature means thousands of
community-built features.
- Open
a browser → go to extensions.blender.org.
- Search
Screencast Keys.
- Back
in Blender → Edit > Preferences > Get Extensions.
- Allow
Online Access.
- Search
Screencast Keys → Install.
- Enable
Enable on Startup.
🔹 Module 6: Testing
Screencast Keys
- Open
the N-panel (press N) → Select Screencast Keys.
- Enable
it.
- Adjust
settings:
- Mouse
Size = 60
- Font
Size = 30
- Line
Thickness = 3
Test:
- Left-click
→ Overlay appears.
- Right-click
→ Overlay appears.
- Middle-click
→ Overlay appears.
- Press
A → “A” appears on screen.
👉 You now have a visual
display of keystrokes and mouse clicks, useful for tutorials and live sessions.
🔹 Module 7: Practice
& Exercises
- Exercise
1:
Launch Blender, set Language = English US, Theme = Blender Dark, Spacebar Action = Search. Confirm Auto Save is enabled. - Exercise
2:
Open Splash Screen → Create new General project → Add a cube → Test Screencast Keys by pressing G (move), S (scale), R (rotate). - Exercise
3:
Install another extension (e.g., Atomic Blender). Document its usage in one sentence.
🔹 Module 8: Next Session
Prep
- You
are now ready to start exploring the Blender User Interface in
depth.
- Next
session will cover:
- Top
Menu Bar
- Workspaces
(Layout, Modeling, Animation, etc.)
- Viewport
navigation
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