Blender is a free and open source 3D creation software. It is compatible with the whole 3D pipeline, such as modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, motion tracking and video editing. Blender can be used on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Sculpting and 3D Modeling
Blender offers a large number of 3D modeling tools. It can do polygon modeling as well as sculpting. The users are able to build models based on primitive shapes, extrude and subdivide surfaces and use modifiers. Blender also has an organic modeling mode of dynamic topology sculpting.
Rigging and Animation
Blender is equipped with an advanced animation system which enables one to make complex animations. It has keyframe animation, motion paths and inverse kinematics. Blender also has a character rigging system to make articulated characters. The user is able to set out bones, constraints, and control shapes to animate characters.
Physics and Simulation
Blender has realistic physics simulation tools. It has rigid body dynamics, soft body dynamics, fluid simulation and particle systems. Users are able to make animations of collision of objects, deformable materials and fluid flows. Blender also has a hair and fur simulation system to make realistic hair and grass.
Compositing and Rendering
Blender includes a rendering engine named Cycles that allows realistic ray-traced rendering. It also has an interactive preview and stylized rendering real-time rendering engine named Eevee. Blender supports post-processing of rendered images and generation of visual effects using a node-based compositing system.
Video editing and Motion tracking
Besides the 3D animation, Blender has a non-linear video editor that allows editing videos and applying visual effects. It facilitates simple video editing functions such as cutting, splicing and transitioning. Blender also has a matchmoving and compositing motion tracking system to integrate 3D elements into live-action video.
Community and Add-ons
Blender has a community of users and developers that is large and active. The community develops a large number of add-ons and extensions that increase the functionality of Blender. Add-ons to special modeling tools, rendering engines, and pipeline integration are available to be downloaded by users. Learning and troubleshooting are also supported by tutorials, forums, and the community of Blender.
