Blender 3D: The Free 3D Program

There are many 3D programs on the market, some of the best known and most popular ones being Cinema 4D, 3ds Max or Maya. But one of the stands out from the rest: Blender 3D.

A little bit about the software

The special thing about Blender is not really exclusive functions that are missing in other programs, nor is it an outstanding user friendlyness (in this point even most of the Blender fanatics will agree: User friendliness or intuitive operation is certainly not the first thing that would come to your mind to describe Blender).

Blender much more captivates in a completely different way: While most extensive 3D programs are not only extensive, but also expensive, Blender is a hundred percent free. Of course there are other programs that can do 3D and are free, but none of them get even close to the broad functionalities of commercial 3D programs. Blender on the other hand has close to every function, the commercial competitors have to offer, though they may sometimes be not that easy to find in the program layout of Blender.

Learning to use Blender may not be easy, especially without having experience with other 3D programs beforehand, but it is definitely worth it. From modelling to animation and simulation of liquids, particles, soft bodies, rigid bodies and smoke, so basically all relevant physics simulations, blender offers everything one could wish for in a 3D program. Including modifiers, node-based materials and an extensive compositor. All of these functions give an incredible control over every little detail, as soon as you know how to use them. Blender 3D is about on the same level as the commercial 3D programs listed earlier in this article, without costing the user anything.

One last point that should be mentioned is the extremely large and flourishing community, Blender is built upon, whose members very actively support each other and the development of blender. This is something you would not find in most other 3D programs. Thus, if seen from the right perspective, Blender may partially even be ahead of its competitors.

Those who are now interested should have a look at the Blender website, as 3D really is indeed something for everyone!