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
From Blender:
Blender is the open-source software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback. It is available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License.Mostly a bug-fixing release, but it also adds a few new features like subsurface scattering (SSS) support and two new composite nodes. Version 2.46 includes cloth and fur simulation, physics caching and baking, shading, glossy reflection and refraction, raytraced soft shadows, improved rendering features, and more.
What's new in this version: Version 2.46 includes cloth and fur simulation, physics caching and baking, shading, glossy reflection and refraction, raytraced soft shadows, improved rendering features, and more.
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All versions:
4.0 starsout of 141 votes
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Current version:
4.1 starsout of 28 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"The best free 3d program available on the internet."
Version: Blender 2.46
Pros
Convenient, more user-friendly than most other software, amazing render options, advanced options for designing characters, vehicles, furniture, architecture, etc. Full rigging options, advanced fluid, cloth, softbody and physics simulation.
Cons
No support for AfterBurn or FumeFX. (This Con should not be taken serious.)
Not THAT easy to learn, however, if you take enough time to study tutorials, this Con also doesn't count.Summary
It is very advanced, it can easily match professional programs in interface, functions and capabilities. It is easier to learn than 3dsMAX (No offense Autodesk) and has even a built-in fluid simulator, which costs money to buy as a plugin for most professional programs. There are a lot of tutorials available to learn it, and most important of all, it's free!!!
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"aweome,but hard to deal with"
Version: Blender 2.46
Pros
this software is amazing for a free software it has amazing graphics that can be exported to game creation formats! amazing
Cons
is a little hard to deal with
Summary
awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE best free product EVER!!!
Updated on Jul 19, 2009 -
"Great, if you know how to use it"
Version: Blender 2.46
Pros
Good advice from other users on this page. Its a very useful and even addictive program, and for free, you couldn't ask for more.
Cons
None really, but I gave up on it, only because of my own impatience. You must be prepared to spend some time to learn it. Follow the advice of nbonaparte1. I have tried those tutorial yet, but sounds worth a try.
Summary
Good, but must be prepared to learn it.
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"GREAT PROGRAM 5/5*"
Version: Blender 2.46
Pros
This is probably the best 3d animator I have ever seen. It is basically 3d max, except free. Just try it, go on youtube and look at some tutorials
Cons
Very Complex. When I downloaded I had no idea how to use it, but now I finally understand (sort of.) Unless you are a highly-skilled computer person, don't expect to know what you are doing at first. Like I said, go on youtube and watch some tuts.
Summary
Pretty much great product, the BEST free animating software out there. Hard to use, but you will get used to it.
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""Just Amazing!""
Version: Blender 2.46
Pros
First off its FREE! I would have to say this is just about as powerful as Autodesk Maya if not more powerful at a more affordable price and a lot smaller file size. It also has good rendering abilities.
Cons
Unfortunately with every pro comes cons. First off it can be brutal to learn. But lucky for anyone who downloads this program their are good tutorials out there to help you through the process of the learning the program
Summary
Blender has an infinite amount of possibilites. You could create a world protected by One eyed flying chimps with four arms trained in the ancient art of war. I could go on and on. All I have to say is download it, its well worth the try. It is a small file a little less than 9 MB and if you don't like it uninstall. A good set of tutorials is very helpful in learning this program I found a little free online textbook that helped a lot for me I realize it is for the 2.42a version of Blender but it still helps a lot I found it at Central Dauphin High Schools website and the little text book is called Blender Basics - 2nd Edition Classroom Tutorial Book and it was intended for 2.42a. I hope that review helped decide whether it was worth downloading or not or if it helped you where to look for Tutorials. Well good luck in your endeavors.
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"lots of import variations awesome"
Version: Blender 2.46
Pros
everything but user friendky features for beginner would be a plus simular to iclone
Cons
everything its like a mini-maya7 in a box
Summary
I highly recommend this product
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"Simply the best, better than all the rest"
Version: Blender 2.46
Pros
Blender is simply put, Maya. Just free and open-source, which basically equals the greatest thing ever. Easy to get, easy to do stuff in (once you know how), you can even make games!
Cons
Blender's learning curve is very steep indeed. It's pretty much mandatory you watch a few tuorials on it first, I suggest ones by super3boy.
Summary
The only £D program anyone will ever need. Only bad thing is mentioned learning curve.
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"Very complete"
Version: Blender 2.46
Pros
The shortcuts
Cons
To large instructions
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"This is Free software at its BEST!"
Version: Blender 2.46
Pros
One of the best programs anywhere, at any price for any kind of 3D programming you want to do. Gaming, animation, vectoring, illustration, you name it. Get over to YouTube and watch the tutorials!
Cons
A ***** to learn. Extremely steep learning curve for newbies, but once you get it down, you'll never go to anything else.
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"Get the latest version of blender from www.blender.org"
Version: Blender 2.46
Pros
Great Program
Cons
This version is now outdated get the latest version from the blender 3d website
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