/BCS-3-Geometry-Nodes

Learn about geometry nodes from scratch

The Blender 2.9 Creative Series: 3D Modelling for Beginners

Section 3: Geometry Nodes In Blender

You will be able to use and navigate the Geometry Nodes workspace, have a deep understanding of the key nodes, and will be able to create both tools and entire models procedurally!

1 Welcome to the Section

2 Setting Up Blender

  • How to enable the Node Wrangler addon.

3 The Workspace and Shortcuts

  • Understanding the different editors in the workspace.
  • Basic actions in the node editor:
  • Pan with MMB
  • Zoom with Scroll Wheel
  • Add new nodes with CTRL + A
  • Duplicate nodes with SHIFT + D or CTRL + SHIFT + D
  • Some common Node Wrangler shortcuts:
  • View a node with CTRL + SHIFT + LMB
  • Lazy Connect two nodes with ALT + RMB
  • Cut noodles with CTRL + RMB
  • Create a reroute with SHIFT + RMB
  • And more..

4 A First Scatter

  • How to use the Point Distribute and Point Instance nodes.
  • Using attributes to randomise the scale and rotation of instances.

5 The Modifier as a Tool

  • How to expose variables on the front of the modifier.
  • How to import a Geometry Nodes setup to a new file.

6 Adding Materials

  • How to add materials to the base object, instances, or generated meshes.

7 Understanding Attributes

  • How to use Attributes
  • What is a Built-In vs Named vs Custom attribute

8 Understanding Instances

  • What are Instances?
  • When do Instances get calculated as "real" geometry?

9 Introduction to the Fairy Ring Scene

  • How assets are arranged in collections.
  • How a shader trick has been used to add colour variation to instances.

10 Instance from a Collection

  • How to instance random objects from a collection using the Point Instance node.

11 Wind I: Introducing Textures

  • How to use the Attribute Sample Texture and Attribute Colour Ramp nodes.
  • How to use the Texture Properties Panel.

12 Wind II: Animating with Drivers

  • How to use the driver #frame to animate values.

13 Wind III: Relative Rotations

  • How to change rotation without losing the current rotation attribute using the Point Rotate node.

14 Controlling Density with Vertex Groups

  • Using Poisson Disk on the Point Distribute node.
  • How to use Vertex Groups to control point distribution.

15 Instancing on Vertices

  • How to use Mesh Primitive nodes to create meshes.
  • How to manipulate meshes with the Transform node.
  • How to instance directly on vertices without a Point Distribute node.

16 The Attribute Proximity Node

  • How to use the Attribute Proximity node to create interactions between assets.
  • How to use the Attribute Map Range node to control falloff.

17 Deforming Geometry

  • How to displace geometry inside Geometry Nodes using a texture.

18 Making Random Selections

  • How to use the Attribute Compare node with the Point Separate node to mask points.

19 Creating a Billboard Effect

  • How to make assets always point towards the camera.
  • Introducing more objects to the node tree with the Object Info node.
  • Creating a "Track To" style setup using the Align Rotation to Vector node.

20 BONUS: A Perfect Animation Loop

  • Using more advanced drivers to create a perfect looped animation.
  • #sin(frame/250*tau) and #cos(frame/250*tau) where there are 250 frames in total.

21 Extra Challenges and Wrap Up

  • Well done on getting this far!
  • Extra challenges to help consolidate the lessons so far.
  • If you haven't yet, I'd love to see your progress.
  • Any feedback? Let us know.