Blender is a 3D creation suite for modelling, sculpting, animation, rendering, visual effects and video editing. It provides an integrated environment for creating everything from individual 3D objects to animated films, motion graphics and game assets.
The application combines a comprehensive collection of modelling tools with advanced rendering engines, procedural workflows and animation systems. Artists can work on almost every stage of a production without switching between separate applications.
Blender is used by independent artists, game developers and professional studios for producing illustrations, animations and visual effects.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Model 3D objects using meshes, curves, surfaces and extensive geometry editing tools.
- Non-destructive modelling with subdivision surfaces, bevels, Boolean operations and other modifiers.
- Digital sculpting with brushes, dynamic topology and multiresolution sculpting.
- Procedural modelling, instancing and simulation workflows using Geometry Nodes.
- UV unwrapping, texture painting and physically based materials.
- Node-based shading with procedural textures and custom material effects.
- Render photorealistic scenes using Cycles, with CPU and GPU acceleration.
- Real-time rendering and interactive scene previews using EEVEE.
- Character rigging with armatures, constraints, inverse kinematics and skinning.
- Keyframe animation, shape keys, nonlinear animation and motion editing.
- Draw and animate 2D artwork in 3D scenes using Grease Pencil.
- Simulate rigid bodies, cloth, fluids, smoke, fire and other physical effects.
- Camera and object motion tracking for integrating computer-generated imagery with live footage.
- Node-based compositing for colour correction, masking and visual effects.
- Video Sequencer for editing footage, audio, transitions and effects.
- Asset Browser for organising and reusing materials, objects, poses and other assets.
- Extend functionality and automate workflows through Python scripting and add-ons.
- Cross-platform support – runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Website: www.blender.org
Support:
Developer: Blender Foundation
License: GNU General Public License v2.0
Blender is written in C and C++. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
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| OpenShot | Non-linear editor built with Python and Qt |
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| LosslessCut | Swiss army knife of lossless video/audio editing |
| Blender | 3D content creation suite targeted at media professionals and artists |
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Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| Modelers | |
|---|---|
| Blender | Very fast and versatile 3D modeler/renderer |
| Blockbench | Low poly 3D model editor |
| Bforartists | Complete 3D suite to create 3D content |
| Wings 3D | Advanced subdivision modeler that is both powerful and easy to use |
| MakeHuman | Character creation suite using 3D morphing technology |
| Gmsh | Automatic three-dimensional finite element mesh generator |
| Dust3D | Create low poly 3D models for video games, 3D printing, and more |
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| CharMorph | Character creation tool for Blender |
| Maverick Model 3D | Triangle-based 3D model editor |
| K-3D | 3D modeling and animation system |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| Renderers | |
|---|---|
| Blender | 3D computer graphics software toolset that excels in many areas |
| Cycles | Physically based production renderer developed by the Blender project |
| Mitsuba | Extensible rendering framework written in portable C++ |
| LuxCoreRender | Physically based and unbiased rendering engine |
| MoonRay | Production path-tracing renderer |
| pbrt | Physically based ray tracing system |
| Malt | Fully customizable real-time rendering framework |
| Art of Illusion | 3D-modeler, renderer and raytracer |
| appleseed | Physically-based renderer targeted at production rendering |
| Renderer | Interactive 3D visualization of triangle meshes |
| Radiance | Suite of tools for performing lighting simulation |
| MiniLight | Minimal global illumination renderer |
| MantaRay | Advanced renderer which uses modern rendering techniques |
| Aqsis | 3D rendering solution adhering to the RenderMan standard |
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| Ray Tracing Software | |
|---|---|
| POV-Ray | Full-featured ray tracer |
| Blender | 3D content creation suite with a huge range of uses |
| McXtrace | Monte Carlo Xray Tracing for simulation X-ray beamlines and experiments |
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| LuxCoreRender | Rendering system for physically correct image synthesis |
| pbrt | Physically based ray tracing system |
| OSPRay | Scalable and portable ray tracing engine |
| BRL-CAD | Combinatorial Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) solid modeling system |
| Visionaray | C++ ray tracing template library |
| MantaRay | Advanced renderer using modern rendering techniques |
| YafaRay | Montecarlo raytracing engine |
| Tachyon | Parallel / multiprocessor ray tracing system |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| Animation Tools | |
|---|---|
| Synfig | Capable of producing feature-film quality animation |
| Blender | 3D creation suite with a huge variety of uses including animation |
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| K-3D | 3D modeling and animation software |
| enve | Create vector animations, raster animations, with sound and video files |
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| Material and Texture Authoring Tools | |
|---|---|
| Material Maker | Procedural texture authoring with a flexible node workflow |
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| ArmorPaint | GPU-accelerated 3D painting focused on fast material texturing |
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| Gaffer | Node-based look development and scene tooling for VFX pipelines |
| Laigter | Generates normal, specular and occlusion maps for 2D game artwork |
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