1. Blender API: Part 1: Overview
Roger Wickes

2. Blender and the Foundation
Blender is the (only) free and open source 3D creation suite, since 2002
Supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, even video editing and game creation.
Advanced users employ Blender’s API for Python scripting to customize the application and write specialized tools
Foundation in Netherlands with mission “to build a free and open source complete 3D creation pipeline for artists and small teams.”
Supported by a Cloud, wiki, Books, video tuts, certified trainers, open movies, fan websites, irc, annual conferences, user groups…

3. Blender API Uses As a rendering engine As a physics engine
Since it is FOSS, ideal for Cloud rendering of 100x+ in parallel
Data Visualization
Object visualization (drug interaction, sub-atomic physics, stellar dynamics)
Real-world simulation visualization (traffic, queues)
As a physics engine
As a game engine
To extend/modify Blender itself

4. Ways to run Blender Python
Blender: start gui, or headless command line
Python: register module or extend class
Hello world: inside Blender
import bpy
print(“distorting cube”)
cube = bpy.data.objects["Cube"]
verts = cube.data.vertices
verts[0].co.x += 1.0

5. dir(bpy) ‘app’ – the blender application itself; version
'context’ – what is currently active, selected
'data’ – datablocks (classes) in the file
'ops’ – operators that perform functions
'path’ – file locations, path translations
'props’ – properties/attributes for extending blender objects
'types’ – data structures for every blender type (class)
'utils’ – utilities for conversion, loading modules

6. Handy Links https://www.blender.org/api/blender_python_api_2_76_2/
Wiki
Blender Artists (Python forum)
Cookbook

7. Tips Code and debug inside Blender for instant feedback
Use Code colors (setting in the Tools (left-side) pull out – press “t” with your cursor in the text editor window
Try dir(bpy.context) – dir all over in the console
Google is your friend
Hover over a UI element to see the API call being made

8. Thank you! rogerwickes@yahoo.com
Topics covered
Blender history, Open Movies, movie workflow & pipeline
Blender UI, window types, scenes, screen layouts/desktops
Python uses, Object wrappers, dictionary by name
Bpy API tree, 10 program examples
Object attributes: name, location, scale, rotation_euler
Object types: mesh, material, action, camera, lamp, scene, sequencer strip
Code examples: context, data, ops,
Context: .object, .scene, .scene.sequence_editor
Data: .objects, .vertices, .materials, .type, .actions,
Ops: .mesh,.object, .object.add, object.modifier,
Path: .abspath