Blender is a free and open source 3D animation suite software. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, even video editing and game creation.
Advanced users employ the app’s API for Python scripting to customize the application and write specialized tools; often these are included in the tool’s future releases. The tool is well suited to individuals and small studios who benefit from its unified pipeline and responsive development process.
Blender is cross-platform and runs equally well on Linux, Windows and Macintosh computers. Its interface uses OpenGL to provide a consistent experience. Blender has no price tag, but you can invest, participate, and help to advance a powerful collaborative tool: the app is your own 3D software.
Features and Highlights
Photorealistic Rendering
The tool now features a powerful new unbiased rendering engine called Cycles that offers stunning ultra-realistic rendering.
Fast Modelling
The app’s comprehensive array of modeling tools make creating, transforming and editing your models a breeze.
Realistic Materials
With the tool’s new rendering engine the possibilities for materials are endless.
Fast Rigging
Transforming a model into a poseable character has never been easier!
Animation toolset
Whether it’s simple keyframing or complex walk-cycles, the app allows artists to turn their still characters into impressive animations.
Sculpting
Experience the joy of sculpting organic subjects using the built-in sculpting feature set of the program.
Fast UV Unwrapping
Easily unwrap your mesh right inside the tool , and use image textures or paint your own directly onto the model.
Full Compositor
The program comes with a fully fledged compositor built right in. That means no more exporting to third party programs, you can do it all without leaving the program.
Amazing Simulations
Whether you need a crumbling building, rain, fire, smoke, fluid, cloth or full on destruction, the tool delivers great looking results.
Game Creation
Included in the software is a complete game engine, allowing you to create a fully featured 3d game right inside the app.
Camera and Object tracking
The product now includes production ready camera and object tracking. Allowing you to import raw footage, track the footage, mask areas and see the camera movements live in your 3d scene. Eliminating the need to switch between programs.
Library of Extensions
With a large community of enthusiasts and developers, the software comes loaded with a vast array of extensions that you can turn on or off easily.
Flexible Interface
Novice and advanced users will love the ability to customize their layout completely. From simply splitting their viewport, to fully customizing it with python scripting, the tool works for you.
File Formats
The app comes packed with import/export support for many different programs. Image: JPEG, JPEG2000, PNG, TARGA, OpenEXR, DPX, Cineon, Radiance HDR, SGI Iris, TIFF. Video: AVI, MPEG and Quicktime (on OSX). 3D: 3D Studio (3DS), COLLADA (DAE), Filmbox (FBX), Autodesk (DXF), Wavefront (OBJ), DirectX (x), Lightwave (LWO), Motion Capture (BVH), SVG, Stanford PLY, STL, VRML, VRML97, X3D.
Also Available: Download Blender for Mac