Blender (software)

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Blender

Original author(s)	Ton Roosendaal
Developer(s)	Blender Foundation
Initial release	January  1, 1995 (1995-01-01)
Stable release	3.0 / December  3, 2021 (2021-12-03)
Repository	{{URL|example.com|optional display text}}
Written in	C, C++, Python
Engine
Operating system	Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, Haiku, AmigaOS
Platform	IA-32, x86-64, ARM
Size	200 MB
Available in	Multilingual
Type	3D computer graphics
License	GPL-2.0-or-later
Website	blender.org

Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software toolset used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, motion graphics, interactive 3D applications, virtual reality, and computer games. Blender's features include 3D modeling, UV mapping, texturing, raster graphics editing, rigging and skinning, fluid simulation, smoke simulation, particle simulation, soft body dynamics, sculpting, animating, match moving, rendering, video editing and compositing.

History

Blender was initially developed by Ton Roosendaal as an in-house application for the Dutch animation studio NeoGeo and Not a Number (NaN). The software was released as shareware in 1998. In 2002, the software was released as open-source software under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL), following a successful crowdfunding campaign.

Features

Blender provides a wide range of tools for various aspects of 3D production:

• Modeling: Blender supports a variety of modeling techniques, including polygonal modeling, curve modeling, and sculpting.
• Animation: Blender includes a powerful animation system with support for keyframe animation, non-linear animation, and rigging.
• Rendering: Blender's rendering engine, Cycles, is a path-tracing engine that provides realistic lighting and shading.
• Compositing: Blender includes a node-based compositing system for combining rendered images and effects.
• Video Editing: Blender's video sequence editor allows for basic video editing tasks such as cutting, splicing, and color grading.
• Simulation: Blender supports various simulation types, including fluid dynamics, smoke simulation, particle systems, and soft body dynamics.

Community and Development

Blender is developed by the Blender Foundation, a non-profit organization. The development is driven by a community of volunteers and funded by donations, grants, and the Blender Development Fund. The Blender community is active and provides a wealth of resources, including tutorials, forums, and user groups.

Applications

Blender is used in a variety of industries, including film, video games, architecture, and education. Notable projects created with Blender include the open movies produced by the Blender Foundation, such as Elephants Dream, Big Buck Bunny, and Sintel.

See also

• List of 3D modeling software
• Comparison of 3D computer graphics software
• Free and open-source software

Related Pages

• 3D computer graphics
• Animation
• Rendering (computer graphics)
• Blender Foundation
• Cycles (render engine)