I normally remove programs through the add remove programs, in the control panel. And then install another program.

But I was thinking. Maybe I should be using the uninstaller program.?

Or should I install over the old one?

You can do it either way. I tend to just download the update and install it directly which in turn installs directly over the older version.

I unzip to somewhere, renamed the folder to Blender256, and moved that to my apps folder (not Program Files)... that way, I can run either version. 256 isn't the workhorse yet that 249b is, but it won't be long now before the product will have matured enough.

I'm quite liking 256... just need to figure out how to do certain things like materials and stuff, but there's a really good tutorial site here.

2.56 is still only a Beta, so I'd install to a seperate directory and leave 2.49 alone, as various script based things may not have been converted to the new Python API.

Thanks Benny, I always wondered about that. I can see removing a program if you were going to jump a couple versions.

But just to upgrade to the next version. It seems to me that you would stay on top of versions.

Hi RobynsVeil,

Considering what nruddock said, that really sounds like a good idea. I never did any install other then the default.

Would it be okay to put a new folder in my documents, and name it Blender256? I'm also wondering what happens to the application data folder? Or does it get renamed by the installer?

BTW. Thank you for the link to that tutorial site. You sent me to heaven, I'm in my glory.

I've already got a lot of my questions answered. I've heard so many horror stories. Now that I see what was done, I like it.

So many new features to try out. Can't wait. Thank you.

You're welcome, 3DWizzard... glad to be of help

Quote - 2.56 is still only a Beta, so I'd install to a seperate directory and leave 2.49 alone, as various script based things may not have been converted to the new Python API.

This is exactly what I did when I downloaded and installed 2.54.  I wanted to play with (and get accustomed to) the new UI, but I still wanted to be able to have full rein over Blender, so left 2.49b installed.  It won't hurt to have them both installed on the same hard drive as long as they are in 2 distinct directories.

Quote - I'm quite liking 256... just need to figure out how to do certain things like materials and stuff, but there's a really good tutorial site here.

I love that site, and have tried a couple of the tutorials.  In fact, I recently finished the PDF tutorial to model a castle.  It's the first model I've completed using ver. 2.54.

Robin, if you haven't checked out that particular tutorial, there's a second part that deals with texturing the castle, and he goes into quite a bit of detail on how to set the texture on each section depending on whether it's supposed to tile vertically or horiztonally, etc.  It might give you some ideas on how to work with materials, even though it's specific to that particular model.

The only thing missing is bump mapping, which he doesn't go into.  I haven't figured out how to add a bump map in 2.54, though I can always do so when I import the castle and texture into my rendering software.

Still working my way through the video section: personally, I prefer pdfs to videos for tutorials, so I'm really looking forward to it. Thanks, Miss B, for the tip...

Hi Miss B,

I did that as well. I'm glad I did. As much as I like the new interface,

there are still a few bugs.

I get some good feedback here. Again Thanks everyone.

Its nice to have both PDF tutorials, and Video tutorials.

If you get lost in one, you can always refer to the other.

Am I missing something, or is sculpting not in that list of tutorials for 2.5x?

No your not missing anything, its not there. Theirs a lot of functions not listed.

And theirs a lot of functions that have changed quite a bit. For example: Background image.

I don't see a option to enter a sequence or a movie in the background.

This is useful for motion tracking.

Its still a work in progress. Even some of the new functions are being changed.

Like the Add Tool button. I though that was a good idea. You could add your favorite tools,

press Ctrl+U, and forget about memorizing all those key commands.

It kind of messed me up, on that tutorial Miss B was talking about.

For some reason, its not in 2.56. I hope they put it back in.

Heres a good example what I'am talking about:

   Center Point - Object Origin (2.5X)   

@3dwizzard:

Background: It's possible to put a movie in the background -- just tried it to make sure --and there's a sequence option, too. The Origin button in the tools window is visible by default, at least in my version, a recent 32 Win download from graphicall.org.

You're right about the "Add Tools" option missing. I thought that was a useful feature and don't think they should have gotten rid of it. Still, hit the spacebar and a tool search box comes up. Start typing the name of the tool you want, and it shows up there.

Just a note in case anyone missed it 2.56a beta was published friday. bug fix variant of 2.56.

Hi Aardvark,

You're right, thank you. If you would not of posted this, I would've thought it couldn't be done. I viewed this video tutorial:

background image

It shows you how to load an image for modeling. Through the UV Editor.

You can load a sequence or movie, right from the properties panel.

After you put a tick in the checkbox of the background image, (in the properties panel.) There is a little drop-down arrow on the left. Click on that and you'll see a button saying (Add Image).

Click on that, and you'll see, (Not Set) and (Axis).

Then to the left Not Set, there is a drop-down arrow. Click on that, and a (Open) button will appear.

Click on that, and navigate to your sequence file or movie file. Make your selection, then you will see a whole new set of options.

Now you will notice, were Not Set was. You will now see the name of your movie sequence file.

To the right of Axis, there is a drop-down box of all views.

Make your selection. "For a sequence or a movie, I put mine in camera view."

Then I go to the camera view, Numpad 0. And there it is.

I'm not sure what all the other options are, but this is workable. All I do now is,ajust the frames in the timeline.

And playback the movie. (Alt+A)

Does anybody else have a hard time loading .avi?

I have that Oragin button also. I just like the idea of being able to name it whatever you like. I really hope they bring Add Tool back.

You can personalize your interface more.

That search box feature is neat. I could see using that from time to time.

I just wanted to add; I'm sure you already know all this Aardvark. Doing these little how tut's, helps me memorize them. Also it is my hope it may help someone else.

PS. Thanks Gog, maybe they have a fix for the .avi problem.

David Ward did a tutorial on sculpting teeth and creating a dragon.  For sculpting, I'd prefer the video tutorials over written ones.  And while he was sculpting teeth he ran into a problem n shows how to fix it.

the teeth bit from the johnny blender series

http://www.youtube.com/user/ward7299#p/u/18/TUneSeIv460

part 1 of the stylized dragon tutorials

http://www.blendercookie.com/2010/06/17/series-stylized-dragon-part-1/

OK, I downloaded 2.56a and want to upgrade my 2.54 with it.  That said, the download page at blender.org states the following:

"IMPORTANT NOTE: Before uninstalling Blender 2.55 Beta with the uninstaller, make sure you make backup copies of your production files, configuration files and custom scripts."

OK, I know what my production files are (they're in a separate folder) and I don't believe I installed any custom scripts (and I certainly haven't written anything), but what exactly are the "cofiguration" files?  I scanned through each of the folders in my 2.54 installation and don't see any file(s) with a name that gives me an idea that it's a config file.

What I did notice, however, when comparing my installation folders with the unzipped 2.54 download folders, there are a number of files that have a more current date than the date I installed it and I'm wondering if those are the files I should be backing up.  There are at least 20 or more of them right in the main Blender 2.54 folder, and there may be more in the subfolders.

Any suggestions/insights would be greatly appreciated as I don't necessarily want to have to go through UI changes again when I upgrade to 2.56a.

Thanks in advance.

The configuration files are in the config folder which is generally under the 2.56 folder but may vary with build depending on who compiles them if grabbed from Garaphicall.org.

Also can depend on whether it is a zipped version or a self installer. Check first the installation folder and then in Documents and settings/user/Blender Foundation/ . . .

setup.startup.blend is the shipped startup default configuration file .

btfont.ttf and .Blanguages are also default files.

startup.blend should be the custom startup file.

Recent-files txt is the file list on the splash screen.

bookmarks.txt (don't know what this is for)

That is all that is in my folder, there may be more however.

Hope that helps.

Thanks Touchwood. I usually download zip files instead of .exe files when there's a choice, and I found the config folder with the 2 text files and the startup.blend file, so I'm set as far as those go. I'm just wondering about some of the files I found in my 2.54 > Scripts > ui folder. They seem to be duplicates of files with the same name except the extension is .pyc instead of .py and the date of the files seems to be within days of the custom startup.blend file in the config folder. For example, 2 of them are named space_userpref.pyc and space_userpref_keymap.pyc. I did do some key mapping when I first started playing with the new version, mostly because I use a pen and tablet and a lot of the included/default settings were for the middle button on a 3-button mouse. I'm thinking it might be prudent to backup the .pyc files in that folder, just in case.

The duplication in filename is due to one of the files being the python script text (*.py) and the other being a compiled version of the script (*pyc). Nothing to worry about.

OIC!  Thanks again for your help Touchwood.