ANIMATION IN BLENDER 2.79

 

 ANIMATION PART 1 -NOTES

INTRODUCTION - BASIC CONCEPT OF ANIMATION.

Animation is the process of making something appear to move  by showing a series of still images, one after another, each one slightly different from the previous one, creating an  illusion of motion. This is the concept used in movies. When the images are moved at a rapid speed of 24 pictures(frames) per second or more, then the human brain perceives such change as continuous, which is based on the concept of "Persistence of vision".

TECHNICAL DETAILS

FRAMES, FRAMES PER SECOND, DIFFERENT VIDEO STDS –NTSC,PAL ETC.

Each image in animation is called a frame. Normally 24 frames are shown per second (fps). In Blender we set up scenes using the different characters called object, which perform some action. To enhance the quality of the scene, colored back ground, lighting are included. The whole action is displayed on the computer screen. This is captured by the camera, set up inside Blender and converted into still images which when assembled sequentially becomes a video.
A series of videos assembled with proper sound effects becomes a movie. For display on television the American Standard NTSC specifies 30 fps and the Australian Standard PAL follows 25 fps.
A one minute video, will have 60X24=1440 frames, for 24 fps.

TIMELINE EDITOR.

Time line editor is basically used to set and visualize the frame movement, with its control to start, stop and rewind buttons and provision for setting the total number of frames. It is used for setting the key frames.

 PART 1

OBJECTIVE : BASIC ANIMATION -TO MOVE AN OBJECT FROM POINT A TO POINT B AND THEN TO POINT A.

STEPS

1.ADD AN OBJECT TO ANIMATE.

2.SET FRAME RATE AS 24 FPS, TOTAL NO OF KEY FRAMES 240. START FRAME IS 1 AND END FRAME IS 240.

3.SET KEY FRAME FOR THE OBJECT AT POINTS A, B AND  A AGAIN. SAVE FILE.

4. PLAY ANIMATION.

STEP 1 :ADD AN OBJECT TO ANIMATE

To add an object in 3D window, set your cursor in the 3D window and then press Shift+A keys. A pop-up menu will appear. Here select "Mesh" and then "Cube". A Cube will be added at the location where the cursor was last positioned.

Set the view to Front Ortho view, by pressing "1" and then "5", in the Numpad.

To see the x, y, z location coordinates of the cube,  press "N" key while the cursor is still in the 3D window. A  properties panel will appear on the right side where you should be able to see the location coordinates of the Cube. Set it to x=0,y=0, z=0. Let us assume that this will be point A where the Cube shall be located in  our animation.

STEP 2 : SET START AND END KEY FRAMES

The Start and End key frames are set to 1 and 240 by default. The frame Rate per second(fps) is set to 24fps, the default value.


STEP 3:SET KEY FRAMES

Key frames, are set in the 3d Window, key frame is visible in the Time line window. The current location of the cursor, indicated by the vertical green line in the Time line window is the frame number which we want to set as key frame. When a frame is set as key-frame, a small, vertical yellow line will appear along with the green line in the TimeLine Window.

To set a key-frame, SELECT the Cube, by clicking the Right Mouse Button(RMB) on the Cube. An yellow border-line will appear around the Cube. (If you want to deselect the cube,press "A" key). Let the Cube remain be selected. Note that the current location of the Cube is 0,0,0.

To SET KEY FRAME, press  the "I" button and then click on "Location", in the pop-up menu.A key frame is set  for this location of the Cube. This is indicated by the small yellow line, in the Time Line Window.

Save the File, by pressing Ctrl+S. In Blender, you need to save the file, frequently at regular intervals, to save your work.  

Now we need to repeat these steps for the two other location of the Cube at Point B and C.

Now we shall set key frame for point B.
In the Timeline Window, click on the green line using your Left Mouse Button(LMB) and drag it to frame number 120.This value is displayed on  the Current Frame Number button in the Time Line Window. We  can set the Current frame also by entering a value here. This is an alternate method to set current key frame.

Let us position the Cube at x=0,y=0,z=5, by entering these values  for location in the properties panel.

Make sure the Cube is selected, indicated by the yellow border line around the Cube. Click on "I" Button. Select "Location" in the pop-up menu. A small yellow line will be displayed at frame number 80, in the Timeline Window.

Save the File, by pressing Ctrl+S.

In the Timeline Window, click on the green line using your Left Mouse Button(LMB) and drag it to frame number 240.This value is displayed on  the Current Frame Number button in the Time Line Window. We  can set the Current frame by entering a value here. THis is an alternate method to set current key frame.

Let us position the Cube at x=0,y=0,z=0, by entering these values  for location in the properties panel.

Make sure the Cube is selected, indicated by the yellow border line around the Cube. Click on "I" Button. Select "Location" in the pop-up menu.

Save the File.


At this stage, four yellow lines must be displayed in the TimeLine Window at frame 1,120 and 240.In case you want to delete a key frame, select the key frame,with the Cursor positioned within the 3D window, press "Alt+I" key. Save the File.


STEP 4: PLAY ANIMATION

First set the current frame to frame 1 in the Timeline Window. Press Alt+A keys to play the Animation. The Cube must move from location A to B to C  and repeat the cycle.You can also press the > key, which is the play button in the Timeline Window. To stop the animation, press on the Play Button once more, or hit the "Esc" key.

This completes Part 1. Though the instruction may seem to be elaborate, it is meant to assist the first time learner. Once you get a hang of the steps, it is hardly a few minutes job.

Just play around. If some thing goes wrong, badly, start over again ! Nothing to loose.
 
 VIDEO LINK :ANIMATION USING BLENDER 2.79 PART 1 

 

VIDEO LINK : ANIMATION USING BLENDER 2.79 PART 2

 

VIDEO LINK : ANIMATION USING BLENDER 2.79 PART 3

 

VIDEO LINK : ANIMATION USING BLENDER 2.79 PART 4

 

VIDEO LINK: ANIMATION USING BLENDER 2.79 PART 5 

 

SINE WAVES-RED,YELLOW AND BLUE SCRIPT

#THIS SCRIPT WORKS WITH BLENDER 2.8 AND ABOVE.

 import bpy
from math import sin,cos,pi

radius=100
deg=2*pi

#TO DELETE ALL EXISTING OBJECTS
bpy.ops.object.mode_set(mode='OBJECT')
bpy.ops.object.select_by_type(type='MESH')
bpy.ops.object.delete(use_global=False)


for t in range (0,360):
    
    #RED
    z=radius*sin(t*deg/360)
    x=t
    y=0
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(location=(x,y,z))
    bpy.ops.transform.resize(value=(0.9,0.9,0.9))
    obj_matl=bpy.data.materials.new("obj_clr")
    obj_matl.diffuse_color=(1,0,0,1)
    mesh=bpy.context.object.data
    mesh.materials.clear()
    mesh.materials.append(obj_matl)
    #YELLOW
    z=radius*sin(t*deg/360)
    x=t+120
    y=0
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(location=(x,y,z))
    bpy.ops.transform.resize(value=(0.9,0.9,0.9))
    obj_matl=bpy.data.materials.new("obj_clr")
    obj_matl.diffuse_color=(1,0.6,0,1)
    mesh=bpy.context.object.data
    mesh.materials.clear()
    mesh.materials.append(obj_matl)
    #BLUE
    z=radius*sin(t*deg/360)
    x=t+240
    y=0
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(location=(x,y,z))
    bpy.ops.transform.resize(value=(0.9,0.9,0.9))
    obj_matl=bpy.data.materials.new("obj_clr")
    obj_matl.diffuse_color=(0,0,1,1)
    mesh=bpy.context.object.data
    mesh.materials.clear()
    mesh.materials.append(obj_matl)

The wave form generated by the script can be seen by clicking on the link given  below:

SINE WAVE LINK 

 

   

    
   

BPY SCRIPT TO ADD 50 CUBES AND ANIMATE THEM

In this script we add 50 cubes at random location, set random color to each cube and set key frames to each cube to animate them.

The number of cubes added can be changed by setting the range value in the first for loop.Total number of frames is set in the beginning by setting the value for the variable total_frames. Key frame interval is adjusted by setting the third variable in the range setting of the second for loop.Here it is set to 10. The diffuse color setting has four values for Red, Green, Blue and Alpha.

import bpy
from math import sin, pi
from random import randint

total_frames=100

# clear meshes in the scene
for obj in bpy.data.objects:
    if obj.type == 'MESH':
        bpy.data.objects.remove(obj)

#CREATE 10 CUBES        
for i in range (50):
    x=randint(-10,10)
    y=randint(-10,10)
    z=randint(-10,10)    
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add( location=(x,y,z))
    cube=bpy.context.object
    # TO ADD NEW MATERIAL TO EACH CUBE
    matl=bpy.data.materials.new("mat_clr")
    matl.diffuse_color = (x*0.6,y*0.3,z*0.1,1)
    mesh=cube.data
    mesh.materials.clear()
    mesh.materials.append(matl)
    
    # SET KEYFRAMES FOR EACH CUBE
    for frame in range(0, total_frames,10):
        bpy.context.scene.frame_set(frame)
        x=randint(-10,10)
        y=randint(-10,10)
        z=randint(-10,10)
        cube.location=(x,y,z)
        cube.keyframe_insert(data_path='location')

 

A link to the rendered video file is given below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZSFBqbky9fEUKng0ZanPFgLFlcWgkLO1/view?usp=sharing

 

BPY SCRIPT TO ADD MULTIPLE CUBES IN CIRCLES

This script adds multiple Cubes in concentric circles

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
import bpy
import csv
from math import sin,cos,pi

d =pi/180 # FORMULA TO CHANGE RADIAN TO DEGREE
i=0 #  LOOP COUNTER


radius=4*1.1
x=0
y=0
z=0


for i in range (12):
  x=radius*sin(30*i*d)
  y=0
  z=radius*cos(30*i*d)
  bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(radius=1, view_align=False, enter_editmode=False, location=(x,y,z))
 
radius+=5

for i in range (24):
  x=radius*sin(15*i*d)
  y=0
  z=radius*cos(15*i*d)
  bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(radius=1, view_align=False, enter_editmode=False, location=(x,y,z))
radius+=5

for i in range (48):
  x=radius*sin(7.5*i*d)
  y=0
  z=radius*cos(7.5*i*d)
  bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(radius=1, view_align=False, enter_editmode=False, location=(x,y,z))
radius+=5

for i in range (96):
  x=radius*sin(3.75*i*d)
  y=0
  z=radius*cos(3.75*i*d)
  bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(radius=1, view_align=False, enter_editmode=False, location=(x,y,z))
radius+=5

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BPY SCRIPT TO ADD MULTIPLE CUBES

This script must have a cube object to start with. This object is duplicated and assigned random material.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
import bpy
from random import randint
import random

number=100

#TO DELETE ALL EXISTING OBJECTS

bpy.ops.object.select_by_type(type='MESH')
bpy.ops.object.delete(use_global=False)

#TO ADD CAMERA
bpy.ops.object.camera_add(view_align=True, location=(0,-45,0), rotation=(1.5708,0,0))
bpy.ops.transform.resize(value=(9.42627, 9.42627, 9.42627))


#TO ADD BG PLANE
bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_plane_add( location=(0,10,0))
bpy.ops.transform.resize(value=(10, 10, 10))
bpy.ops.transform.rotate(value=-1.55203, axis=(-1, 0,0))
bpy.ops.transform.resize(value=(2,2,2))

#TO ADD MATERIAL TO PLANE
obj_matl=bpy.data.materials.new("obj_clr")
obj_matl.diffuse_color=(0,0.9,0.8)
mesh=bpy.context.object.data
mesh.materials.clear()
mesh.materials.append(obj_matl)

#TO CREATE MULTIPLE TORUS AND ASSIGN MATERIAL
for i in range(0,number):
    x=randint(-10,10)
    y=randint(-5,5)
    z=randint(-10,10)
    p=randint(1,10)
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(location=(x,y,z))
    bpy.ops.transform.resize(value=(p*0.1,p*0.1,p*0.1))
    bpy.ops.transform.rotate(value=1.5708, axis=(1, 1, 0))
    p=randint(0,9)
    #print(p)
    obj_matl=bpy.data.materials.new("obj_clr")
    obj_matl.diffuse_color=(0.8,p*0.3,0)
    mesh=bpy.context.object.data
    mesh.materials.clear()
    mesh.materials.append(obj_matl)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BPY SCRIPT TO DRAW A SPIRAL

The script will draw a spiral using the cube object which is repeatedly positioned along a spiral path. The spiral is visible in the Top ortho view(7).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

import bpy
from math import sin,cos,pi

bigdeg=pi*2
smalldeg=pi/100
radius=2
for i in range(0,500):
    x=radius*sin(smalldeg*i)
    y=radius*cos(smalldeg*i)
    z=0
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(location=(x,y,z))
    bpy.ops.transform.resize(value=(1,1,1))
    mat_red=bpy.data.materials.new("red")
    mat_red.diffuse_color=(0.8, 0, 0)
    mesh=bpy.context.object.data
    mesh.materials.clear()
    mesh.materials.append(mat_red)
    radius +=.07
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

BPY SCRIPT TO POSITION AN OBJECT AT RANDOM LOCATION.

 The script below positions the monkey object at random position between _20 and +20 units along the X and Y axis. Along Z axis the location varies between -2 and +2 units.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'''POSITIONS MONKEY OBJECT AT RANDOM LOCATIONS BETWEEN -20 AND +20 UNITS ALONG X & Y AXIS, -2 TO +2 UNITS ALONG Z AXIS '''

import bpy

bpy.ops.object.select_all(action="SELECT")
bpy.ops.object.delete(use_global=False)


from random import randint
number=200
for i in range(0,number):
    x=randint(-20,20)
    y=randint(-20,20)    
    z=randint(-2,2)
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_monkey_add(location=(x,y,z))

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  

BRIDGE EDGE LOOPS

 Let us say we want to add  faces between the two edge loops in the gear shown in image 1 to get a final output as shown in image 2. We can use the Bridge Edge loops option to get this result.

STEPS
1. In Image -1, select the gear and go to edit mode. Set selection to Edge selection mode. Select an edge on one of the circular edge. Then on the 3D header, click on "Select" and then click on "Edge Loop". The complete circular edge will be selected.

 

                                                                Image-1

 
2. Holding Shift key down, click on an edge on the second circular edge, Click on "Select" and then click on "Edge Loop". Now both the circular edges would be selected.
3. Now on 3D header click on "Mesh" and then click on "Edge" and select "Bridge Edge Loop" in the popup menu. Now faces will be added between the two circular edges as shown in Image -2.

 

                                                                Image -2

 
4. Note this option  works only  if the two edges are part of a single object.

TO ANIMATE THE COLOR (DIFFUSE) SETTING OF THE CUBE

Blender 2.79b
Open a new Blender file with the default objects - A Cube, Camera and lamp.Set up the objects as per details given below.
Settings:

1. Cube- location 0,0,0, rotation to 0,0,0.
2. Camera- location, 7.5,-6.5,5.5 ,rotation 65,0,45.
3. Lamp- location  4,1,6 , rotation  40,0,110. on the  Properties Editor window set lamp  energy to 10 and   diffuse (RGB) value to 1,1,1.
4. View - Camera view by pressing 0 on the Numpad.
5. Viewport shading - Rendered - In the 3D window header.
6. Time line editor window-Set cursor (green line) at frame number 1. End frame to 100.

In 3D window select the Cube, then in  Properties Editor window,click on Material Properties icon, and then, in the Diffuse panel, click LMB on the color band which opens up a color selection wheel. Set the RGB value to 0,1,0.Click RMB a popup  menu will appear. Click on Insert keyframe. An yellow line appears at frame one indicating that a key frame is inserted. Now move the cursor to frame 100. Change the Diffuse color setting  to 0,0,1. Click RMB on the color band,in the popup menu , click on insert keyframe, a key frame will be inserted at frame 100. Now save the file.Position the cursor at frame number 1.

On the info Editor header, Click on "Render" and then click on "Render Animation". The animation will  be rendered. Once the rendering is done, click on "Render" once again and click on Play Animation. The light color of the Lamp will change from Red to Blue, as the cursor moves from frame 1 to 100.

 This effect will be visible with the color of the cube  changing from Green to Blue  due to the diffuse color being animated.

ANIMATE ANYTHING IN BLENDER

 ANIMATE ANYTHING IN BLENDER

 

 While you animate the normal parameters associated with an object with Blender like its location, rotation and scale, have you ever wondered whether it would be possible to animate other parameters, which are in plenty in Blender, like the color of the material, the texture applied, the brightness and color of the lamp, the alpha settings or  the shape of a mesh ? 

 The big answer is YES. Practically almost all parameters in Blender can be animated. You want to know how? Just get in touch, or keep watching for my next post.

QUERY ON BLENDER BASICS

 1. Do you have any query on Blender Basics ? Do you want want  to know how to do some thing in Blender ?

Send a mail to iblnd300@gmail.com.

2. We also conduct online classes on Blender Basics. Get in touch for more details.

BISECT AN OBJECT

 BISECT AN OBJECT

    The steps listed below will guide you to bisect an object into two pieces.

1. Add an object in Object mode. Now switch to edit mode and select all the vertices of the object.

2. If tool shelf is not visible in the 3D window, press "T" key to make it visible on the left side of your 3D window.

3. In the tool shelf, click on Tools > Mesh>Add>Bisect.

4. Place the cursor near the object and draw a line across the object so as to cut across it.Press Enter key to confirm.

5. In the tool shelf, look below, under the panel named "Bisect" you will find three check boxes, Fill, Clear Inner, Clear outer. Selecting clear inner will delete the lower half of the object, selecting Clear outer, will delete the upper half of the object.  Selecting the Fill check box will cover the cut edge with a face.

6. In edit mode, select all the vertices (eight) of  the upper piece, then press "P" key and click on "Selection" option.

7. Go to object mode, Object>Transform>Origin to Geometry.

8. Deselect both objects, select the upper portion and pull it away.

VERTEX GROUP

TO MAKE A VERTEX GROUP FOLLOW THE STEPS GIVEN BELOW:

1. Add an object, go to edit mode and sub divide the mesh once.

2. Go to the properties window in the right, and click on the data block icon which is high-lighted with blue color. Go down to vertex group panel , click on the  " + "  sign in the right. A "Group" will be added. Select some vertices, in the 3D window on the object which you sub divided and press on the "Assign" button below in the Vertex group panel.. Now the selected vertices will be assigned to a group called "Group" as a default.
Click on the Group name, it will get  into edit mode, delete it and add a new name like "Head-top".

3. The same procedure may be followed to create additional vertex groups.

4. Once vertex groups are formed, any vertex group may be selected here and used for further activities. One example can be adding hair particles to the vertex group called "Head top" to form the hair.

TO COPY AND PASTE KEY FRAMES

 TO COPY AND PASTE KEY FRAMES

Delete the Cube and add a Monkey. Go to frame one set up a key frame. Do changes in  location and rotation settings. Go to frame 125 and set up another keyframe. Now if you want to copy the key frame at frame 1 and paste it at frame 250 follow the following steps.

To copy/paste keyframes for the same object,go to the Dope sheet, press "A" key to de-select all action points (yellow squares). Then select the action points which corresponds to the key frame you want to copy by right clicking each action point while holding down the "Shift" key.Once you have selected all the desired points  press Ctrl+C to copy, go to the key frame where you want to paste then press Ctrl+V. Save the file.Run animation to check for the desired result.

LIMIT LOCATION/ROTATION/SCALE/DISTANCE CONSTRAINT

Three separate constraints to limit location, rotation and scale are provided to limit the respective transformation of an object. All these three constraints do not require a target object. The limiting parameter is set for the source/owner object. 

Let us consider the limit location constraint. The lower and upper limit can be set for each axis- X,Y and Z separately or in combination like X and Y, Y and Z or Z and X or X ,Y and Z. Setting an upper limit of 5 along X axis would limit the movement of the object along  X axis up to  5 units. The distance is considered from the initial position of the object origin  to the limiting value  set by us for the origin, of the source object. Setting the minimum and maximum value to zero along any axis will lock the movement of the object along that axis.

Clicking the For transform option will limit the movement with in the set minimum and maximum value, which we can see in the location parameters displayed in the properties  panel. By unchecking the Transform option, you will see that the object is visually limited to move within the set parameters, but the actual value can go beyond the set limits. This again you can see under the location parameter.

Setting the Influence value to zero will make the limits set to become in-effective, setting it to 1 will make it effective on a100% basis. If the maximum value is set to 5, the object movement will be limited to 5. If influence is set to 0.5 and maximum value is set to 6, the object will be limited up to 3 units.

Similar logic is applicable to limit Rotation and Scale constraint.

Limit Distance constraint requires a target object with respect to which the limit operates.    

 

COPY LOCATION CONSTRAINT

  COPY LOCATION CONSTRAINT

For this constraint to work we need two objects - a source(owner) object and the target object. Copy location constraint is applied on the owner object and the target object is the controlling  object.

1.Once the copy constraint is applied on the source object, it copies the location of the target object. The source object will get located at the target object location.

2. Depending on whether X,Y or Z is ticked(selected), the corresponding X,Y or Z location of the target  is picked by the source.If only X is ticked, the source will take the X value of the target. Either X, X and Y or X,Y and Z can be selected or its inverted values.

3. Activating the invert option will pick the negative value of the corresponding axis of the target object.

CONSTRAINTS

 Constraints are a way to control an object’s  location, rotation or scale. Constraints can be used on objects or bones.Constraints are  mainly  used in animation. It can also be used on objects for controlling in a static sense. While constraints are used on the object as a whole it can also be used to control a vertex group or a bone part.
 

To apply a constraint to an object(or bone), first select it.

Constraints can be activated from the Properties panel  by clicking on the button having two chain links as its image icon. Hovering the cursor over this icon will display its name.

 When you have an object in the 3D window, constraints can be  activated by going to the header bar which is below the 3D windows, clicking on Object ->Constraints-> "Add constraints with target".  Keyboard shortcut for this is Shift+Ctrl+C. This will open the constraints menu panel. Here click on the particular constraint. This will open the particular constraint's menu window where required setting should be made to  activate the constraint. 

 More than one constraint can be applied to an object which is known as cascading constraints. All the constraints from top to be one below till the last one will have its effect on the object. 

 A constraint when applied to an object may be temporarily deactivated by clicking on the eye icon in the constraint window, to closing it. 

 Further the influence setting which has a value varying from 0 to 1 can be animated. Setting the influence value to zero will also deactivate  constraint.

TO COPY NODE TREE FROM ONE OBJECT TO ANOTHER.

Assume that you you have made a node tree to set up a new material for an object(Let us say an UV Sphere). Now you add  another object (let us say a Cube). To copy the node tree from UVSphere to the Cube follow these simple steps:

1. Select the UVSphere. In the node editor set up a simple material node tree and save it. Now select all the nodes using Box select option. To copy these node tree to clip board click on the first floppy disk (like icon in light yellow color on the menu bar of the node editor.

2. Select the Cube,click on new material and click on new. You will see a Diffuse BSDF node connected to the Material Output node.Click inside the node editor window using LMB. Now click on the floppy disk icon on the right side. The node tree of the UVSphere will be pasted here. Select the 3D window  and press Shift+Z to see the rendered view of both objects with the new material. Change in material setting of the nodes of UVSphere does not affect the material settings of the Cube.

ARRAY MODIFIER

 TO CREATE MULTIPLE OBJECTS OF THE SAME TYPE(BLENDER 2.79b)

 If you want to create, let us say 10 cubes of the same size , placed side by side with some spacing between the cubes Array modifier can be used.
 

  First open the 3D window and a cube.To active the Array modifier, go to the Properties window and clip on the spanner icon.A window with a  heading "Add Modifier" will appear. It has a drop down menu with a number of modifier options. Under the Generate heading click on "Array" to open the Array modifier option. In the window which opens, set count to 10 and under the Relative option, against x axis set it to 1.1 . Then click on Apply button to create an Array of 10 cubes.

 You can try out different settings by varying the count setting, and offset settings. Similarly set the offset along Y or Z axis and  see the result.For more details on Array modifier, see some video tutorial on the subject.

 Once the array is created, go to edit mode and hit "P" key and then click on Separate  by loose parts. Then go to object mode,select all the cubes and click on Ctrl+Shift+Alt+C to move the origin to the centre of each cube. Now each cube can be moved separately. Before you did this, all the cubes would move together.

Array modifier can be used to create a row of cubes(any object), which we may define as 1X5 for a row of 5 cubes in one row. Two dimension layout of cubes can also be created, which we may define as 5x5 and three dimension can be defined as 5x5x5.

To create a 2D array of say 5x5, first create an array of 5 cubes. Select all the 5 cubes, again open Array modifier set the count to 5 and the offset against y axis as 1.1 and click on Apply button.

To create a 3D array, select all the 25 cubes created above, set count to 5 and the offset against Z axis to 1.1 and click on Apply button.

SAMPLE WORKS DONE WITH BLENDER

Image-Animation2 Some of the art work created with blender are made available for viewing.The links for the same are provided below. Click on the  link  to  see/play the image/video.

HEXAGON ANIMATION

TWO-SPHERES

CUBES-GRID ANIMATION

QUADCOPTER-GENERIC 6 DOF CONSTRAINT

BALL-LAMP -TRACK TO CONSTRAINT

CAR ANIMATION-GENERIC 6 DOF CONSTRAINT

GEARS ANIMATION -COPY ROTATION CONSTRAINT

 DUPLIVERTS-ANIMATION

ELECTRON-SPIN

DUPLIVERTS-PLANES 

DUPLIVERTS-ICOSPHERE 

DUPLIVERTS-ICOSPHERES1 

PARTICLES SIMULATION 

PARTICLES-ASTRO-SIM1 

PARTICLES-ASTRO-SIM2

Thermo-Electric 

DNA-HELIX

Scientific Visualization

Scientific Visualization-3

Scientific Visualization-4

Scientific Visualization-5-Magnetic Field

Scientific Visualization-6-Graphene Tube

Scientific Visualization-7-Galaxy

Multiple Gears Animation

 Drones

Swarm Drones 

Image Animation 

Cubes Animation 

Image Animation 2