Creating Animated Models in Blender for Three.js

Blender and Three.js are powerful tools for creating stunning 3D graphics and animations. Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite, while Three.js is a JavaScript library for creating and displaying 3D graphics in a web browser. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of how to create animated models in Blender for use in Three.js projects.

Understanding Animation in Blender

• Keyframes: Animation in Blender is achieved by setting keyframes at specific points in time. These keyframes define the position, rotation, and scale of an object at that point.
• Action Editor: The Action Editor is a tool in Blender that allows you to create, edit, and manage animations.

Creating a Basic Animation

1. Open Blender: Launch Blender and open the model you want to animate.
2. Select the Object: Select the object you want to animate.
3. Enter Pose Mode: Go to Object Mode and then press Tab to enter Pose Mode.
4. Set Keyframes: Move the object to its starting position and press I to insert a keyframe. Move the object to its ending position and insert another keyframe.
5. Adjust Keyframes: Use the Graph Editor to adjust the timing and easing of your keyframes.

Creating Complex Animations

• Multiple Actions: You can create multiple actions for a single object to control different aspects of its animation.
• IK (Inverse Kinematics): Use IK to control the movement of chains of bones, making it easier to animate complex characters.
• Constraints: Apply constraints to objects to limit their movement or control their relationship to other objects.

Exporting Animated Models for Three.js

1. Select the Object: Select the object with the animation.
2. Export as a GLTF: Go to File -> Export and choose GLTF.
3. Configure Export Settings: Ensure that the Animations option is enabled in the export settings.
4. Save the File: Choose a location and filename for your exported model.

Importing Animated Models into Three.js

1. Create a Three.js Scene: In your JavaScript code, create a new Three.js scene.
2. Load the Model: Use a loader to load the exported model.
3. Play the Animation: Use the model’s mixer property to play the animation.