[Bf-docboard] Blender 2.5 Users Manual

[John Blain]

The following message was sent to Ton Roosendaal whos suggested I submit to
the bf-docboard for comment.

I am suggesting that an official Basic Blender User Manual be created aimed
at new users.

Please comment on this proposal.


Hello Ton


 In regard to your earlier request for material transitioning from Blender
2.49 to 2.50, I have uploaded an edit of my manual '*An Introduction to
Blender a Book for Beginners*' to my website.


 http://silverjb.limewebs.com/index.html


 I have also somehow managed to have the manual listed on the following
Blender site.


 http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.5/Books


 I appear to have acquired an interest ( obsession ) in promoting Blender to
Newbies.


 With the event of Blender 2.50 and now the latest stable release 2.57, I
believe Blender is one of the most exciting and interesting events in
Computer Graphics. It is however somewhat unfortunate that for someone new
to Blender, it remains difficult to find a concise instruction in the use of
the program. This I believe must deter many prospective users.


 The Blender websites *blender.org -Home *and* Get Blender *provide
information on downloading and installation but from there the path to
meaningful up to date instruction in the implementation of the program has
become a little bit messy.


 Links to *Documentation* , *Education and Help *and * Manuals and Books *all
lead either to the Blender Wiki site or to outdated publications. The Wiki
site mainly refers to Blender 2.49 and earlier instruction, as do the books.
Even the link to * Blender for Dummies *is to a 2.48 reference.


 Although the Blender Wiki site has been a most comprehensive source of
information for a Newbie it has tended to have an information overload.
Since it is a Wiki site, with contributions by various authors, the
information supplied lacks uniformity. Both of these characteristics, I
feel, make it difficult for a beginner to grasp the fundamentals. I think it
may be a big ask to rewrite the Wiki for Blender 2.57.


 My goal here is to have the Blender website point the way, providing a link
to a basic instruction, for the use of the latest version of the program.


 From one of your posts I understand that the Blender Foundation is a legal
identity and not a consolidated organisation. I conclude therefore that the
Foundation is a forum of individuals, however someone must be in control of
the Blender Website.


 If my manual were to provide a basis for an official basic instruction I
would be prepared to edit my work to the Blender Foundation's requirements.
At this time I have received requests to translate my manual into German and
Chinese. Perhaps this is premature but at least it recognises that some
individuals consider the work to be worthwhile.


 To whom should I address my proposal?


 Sincerely,


 John Blain
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.blender.org/pipermail/bf-docboard/attachments/20110420/fc4b79b3/attachment.htm