Download.com también está disponible en Español Visitar Sitio

Blender

CNET Editors' review

If you've ever thought about making professional-quality animations but decided not to because of the cost of the software, your excuse just got up and walked out the door. Blender is a free, open-source 3D rendering program that puts the power of the medium back into the hands of the artist.

Blender features a laundry list of animation essentials that can be broken down into categories: Interface, Modeling, Rigging, Rendering, Animation, UV Unwrapping, Shading, Physics and Particles, Imaging and Compositing, and Real Time 3D/Game Creation. The interface, though loaded with complicated tools, is remarkable for neither obscuring nor interfering with the image being worked on. A brief sampling of tools and functions includes 3D paint for vertex weighing, polygon meshes, 2D and 3D procedural brushes, edge rendering, textures, collision simulation, and support for around two dozen 2D and 3D file formats. Extras can be added with Python scripting, and since it's open source, many scripts can be easily found for download in the user forums.

Blender is not for the faint of heart. Learning to use it is time-consuming and best done by following the detailed tutorials available on the Blender Web site. There is also an extensive online Blender community, making familiarization with the app less painful--if not pain-free. However, none of these detracts from the overall experience or usefulness of the program, and we strongly recommend it for advanced users.

Publisher's Description

More Products to Consider

  • IrfanView
    View and edit most graphics formats simply and quickly.
    Download Or, Learn More About IrfanView

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • FastStone Image Vie...
    Manage, view, convert, and edit your images.
    Download Or, Learn More About FastStone Image Viewer

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • PhotoScape
    View, edit, print, or add frames to your photos.
    Download Or, Learn More About PhotoScape

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Paint.NET
    Create and edit photos using layers, effects, and other tools.
    Download Or, Learn More About Paint.NET

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • PicPick
    Capture and edit your images with various tools.
    Download Or, Learn More About PicPick

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Zoner Photo Studio
    Manage, edit, and share your photos.
    Download Or, Learn More About Zoner Photo Studio

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Photo Pos Pro
    Edit, enhance, and manipulate your digital photos or graphics.
    Download Or, Learn More About Photo Pos Pro

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Magix Photo Designe...
    Optimize your photos and turn them into paintings or funny cari...
    Download Or, Learn More About Magix Photo Designer

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • GIMP
    Create and alter photos and graphics manually or via scripting.
    Download Or, Learn More About GIMP

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Snagit
    Take a snapshot of anything on your computer screen.
    Download Or, Learn More About Snagit

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Funny Photo Maker
    Edit photos, add photo frame, photo effects, and funny backgrou...
    Download Or, Learn More About Funny Photo Maker

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Picture Frame Wizar...
    Convert your digital camera photos into frame with some twist.
    Download Or, Learn More About Picture Frame Wizard

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • DSLR Shutter
    Capture images from digital SLR cameras.
    Download Or, Learn More About DSLR Shutter

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Picasa
    Organize, edit, and share pictures with this free photo manager...
    Download Or, Learn More About Picasa

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Snappy Portable
    Capture the entire desktop, the active window, a portion of the...
    Download Or, Learn More About Snappy Portable

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Adobe Photoshop Ext...
    Create powerful images and discover new dimensions in digital i...

    This download is served from an external site

    close

    NOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.

    Continue to download

    Sponsored Products

    Visit Site Or, Learn More About Adobe Photoshop Extended
  • Snappy
    Capture the entire desktop, the active window, a portion of the...
    Download Or, Learn More About Snappy

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • VueScan (64-bit)
    Get the most out of your scanner by improving its productivity ...
    Download Or, Learn More About VueScan (64-bit)

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Magic Photo Editor
    Blend pictures and create single composition of two images.
    Download Or, Learn More About Magic Photo Editor

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • VueScan
    Get the most out of your scanner by improving its productivity ...
    Download Or, Learn More About VueScan

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Photo Story 3 for W...
    Process your digital photos and create slide shows for sharing.
    Download Or, Learn More About Photo Story 3 for Windows

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • PhotoShine
    Add your photo into different beautiful templates.
    Download Or, Learn More About PhotoShine

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Odin Frame Photo Cr...
    Edit and print images on your PC.
    Download Or, Learn More About Odin Frame Photo Creator

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Photo Collage Max
    Make unique collages for memorable occasions with your own phot...
    Download Or, Learn More About Photo Collage Max

    Installed

    Smart Install
All User Reviews
  • All versions:

    4.0 stars

    out of 142 votes

    • 5 star: 78
    • 4 star: 28
    • 3 star: 12
    • 2 star: 8
    • 1 star: 16
  • Current version:

    4.4 stars

    out of 18 votes

    • 5 star: 13
    • 4 star: 3
    • 3 star: 0
    • 2 star: 1
    • 1 star: 1
  • My rating:

    0 stars

    Write review

Results 1-10 of 18

  • 1.0 stars

    "I don't know how to make animation"

    December 11, 2008  |   By nathan9888

    Version: Blender 2.41

    Pros

    All I like is the 3d

    Cons

    I don't understand it

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (0) (1)

  • 5.0 stars

    "almost as good and somtimes better than pro software, without even considering $"

    January 8, 2007  |   By rk5

    Version: Blender 2.41

    Pros

    Its seam based uv unwrapper is extreamly easy to use, Ive used maya's non seam based unwrapping(auto projection) and it dosent even begin to compare, all you get is tons of chunks that you have to pice together and it takes hours to finish assembling a proper uv map compared to minutes that it takes in blender(which i wish i knew befor i wasted all that time in maya, you can export the uv maps from blender into maya and i could have saved alot of hard work).

    Blender also has all the modeling tools that maya has even though they be slightly harder to use than their maya couter parts. Finally its physics engine is almost nearly identical to maya's.

    Overall without even considering the fact that its free blender can almost go head to head with any of the leading commercial 3d packages(ive used maya 7 a good bit, and 3d max a little, trust me its close).

    The lastest version can be downloaded on their web site which is currently 2.42 and soon to be 2.43 which will have a zbrush like sculpting tool:)

    Cons

    Blenders biggist weaknesses are with rendering and special effects. It lacks a intergrated solution for photon mapping that renders at a reasnable speed(yaf ray takes to long), but its use of ambient occlusion is a good solution for global ilumination.

    It also lacks support for sub surface scattering which is important for rendering semi translucent materials like skin.

    Another waekness of blender is that its particle based effects arent usally powerful as maya's, the problems being

    particle collision and variety of particle types(smoke, liquid, meta, etc).

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (1) (0)

  • 5.0 stars

    "Get the new version now at Blender3d.org!!!"

    December 25, 2006  |   By need4lightspeed

    Version: Blender 2.41

    Pros

    Listen to me when I say, AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! AWESOME!!! If you can find a better 3D application for FREE, I'm missing out! But don't download this version from download.com instead go to blender3d.org/cms/Download.13.0.html and get the new better version(7mb zip file). And remember that if you need help with Blender 3D, go sign up at blenderartists.org/forum and just ask a question. It's that simple!!! You should be on your way to becoming a 3D artist or special effects master in no time, sort of.

    Yes you can do blue screen FX for movies with this FREE program. Imagine doing your own Star Wars!!! (Lightsabers can be a piece of cake when you know how!!!) You could if you and your friends mastered the multitude of features this program offers. (by "this program" I mean blender 2.42 not 2.41) I bet you wouldn't mind being able to make an animated movie like Final Fantasy Advent Children or Shrek(with alot of help, of course). Well, go try this out before you spend thousands of dollars on a "pro" app. Start small, don't try your epic trilogy until you get aquainted with the hotkeys based interface Blender uses.

    By the way you have to start somewhere so visit the "BLENDER 3D NOOB to PRO" (write this down or google it after you get Blender on your computer!)tutorial guide for Blender 3D. en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Blender_3D/Noob_to_Pro (copy/paste) You'll thank me later . . . PEACE

    P.S. Again, blenderartists.org/forum is THEE best place to get quick answers to your beginner questions.

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (2) (0)

  • 4.0 stars

    "Not for newbies"

    November 8, 2006  |   By Truejamaicanyouth

    Version: Blender 2.41

    Pros

    This program is good for animation and rendering. It can be save in various formats.

    Cons

    Too complicating. You kinda have to know the whole program by heart.

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (1) (4)

  • 5.0 stars

    "With this software you can make cartoons 3d model save them as mpeg jpeg etc"

    August 30, 2006  |   By Africanjamaicanyouth

    Version: Blender 2.41

    Pros

    Everything is good about it. It has so many functions. If you visit the website and read the tutorials you will be able to make animation that you be seeing on tv, and be able to make 3d model. The best part is that you can save them as mpeg and more.

    Cons

    Too many function. It needed to be a little like google sketech up but to be able to save them in various format makes this the best software.

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (4) (1)

  • 4.0 stars

    "hard but great!"

    August 27, 2006  |   By darkdonkey

    Version: Blender 2.41

    Pros

    this is a good modeler but hard to get the hang of but when you do you unlock the world of making stunning models

    Cons

    i would not reccomend this to a new moddeler new modelers should start with wings or animator then move on to this

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (1) (0)

  • 5.0 stars

    "Great."

    August 13, 2006  |   By zimbloggy

    Version: Blender 2.41

    Pros

    Blender is great...

    completely free...

    Cons

    The interface can be daunting to new users, i highly recommend the online tutorials.

    This isn't the newest version, though.

    Version 2.42a is available at blender3d.org

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (1) (0)

  • 5.0 stars

    "Feel the power of free open source 3D modeling"

    August 2, 2006  |   By eblind

    Version: Blender 2.41

    Pros

    Great tool for anyone wether just interested in 3D modeling and/or animation, or in need for free tool to get the job done. For a free tool, Blender is amazingly well designed program. It's extendable with Python scripts. It has almost all functionality of commercial products.

    It intergrates well with Yafray and couple other renderers, so there's some choice how you render whatever you're rendering :)

    Interface isn't what most people are used to, but doesn't matter. It's actually very intuitive when you get to know all the keyboard shortcuts. Ofcourse it takes some time to get hang of it, but isn't that the case with every 3D modeling tools out there.

    Cons

    Takes some time to get used to the UI if already used to Windows like user interface.

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (1) (0)

  • 5.0 stars

    "Great Product, well on its way to competing with the likes of Maya"

    August 1, 2006  |   By Cthos

    Version: Blender 2.41

    Pros

    Many many options, ability to render to many different formats, built in IPO editor and sequence editor, Raytracing, UV image mapping, Game Engine, Fluid Simulation is coming along nicely.

    Cons

    The learning curve is kinda steep. Once you've got the hotkeys down, you'll love it though.

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (1) (0)

  • 5.0 stars

    "Amazing"

    July 25, 2006  |   By cooper823

    Version: Blender 2.41

    Pros

    Its a fairly simple program to use and has meany tools to create loads of 3D shapes and its FREE!! NO virus's found yet! :)

    Cons

    nothing really

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (1) (0)

Results 1-10 of 18

Add Your Review

or Log in or create an account to post a review.
You are logged in as . Please submit your review for Blender 2.41
Add Your Review

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited.
Click here to review our site terms of use.

Submit your reply

Submit

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited.
Click here to review our site terms of use.

cancel

E-mail this review

Submit cancel

Report offensive content

If you believe this comment is offensive or violates the CNET's Site Terms of Use, you can report it below (this will not automatically remove the comment). Once reported, our staff will be notified and the comment will be reviewed.

Select type of offense:

Offensive: Sexually explicit or offensive language
Spam: Advertisements or commercial links
Disruptive posting: Flaming or offending other users
Illegal activities: Promote cracked software, or other illegal content
Submit cancel

Previous Versions:

Error

close

ERROR MESSAGE

If you think this is an error, please contact CNET TechTracker Support for further assistance.

Ok

Running Request

close

loading

Smart Install Software

close

CNET TechTracker will now automatically install software without requiring further action by you. (Note: This feature automatically accepts associated EULAs and third party applications on your behalf.)

You have selected the following software to Smart Install:

CNET TechTracker will attempt to install this software without interrupting you again. If an application requires manual installation, CNET TechTracker will download the installer and prompt you to take further action.

Proceed with Smart Install?

Confirm Standard Install Cancel

Submit a problem report for Blender

close

Please describe the problem you have with this software. This information will be sent to our editors for review.

Problem:

The CNET Installer isn't working as expected

The download link does not work

The software has a newer version

The software contains malware

Other

Description:

Please select a feedback type.

Please enter a description.

Submit Problem Report

Problem Report submitted

close

Thank you for submitting a problem report! The Download team is committed to providing you with accurate software information.

OK

This download is served from an external site

close

NOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.

Continue to download

Sponsored Products

Or, Learn More About Blender

Installed

Smart Install
Blender