(UPDATE: February 13, 2020)
#Blender3D is a free and open source program for 3D modeling. Everything from videos to intricate 3D models can be produced with Blender. Game developers even use Blender for assets and even complete games. However, Blender does get a bad rap from some people for a number of reasons. Even still, what you can accomplish in Blender goes far beyond what most other 3D modeling software can do. So I decided to blog about Blender and show some respect for it. Does Blender get the proper respect? I will explain why you should care (or maybe not) in this blog post here on "John's Creative Space!"
Before I Begin...
This is my first JCS blog post of 2020. Happy new year!
LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):
FEB 13 2020 - added some extra details
Does Blender Get the Respect it Deserves?
Allow me to discuss Blender to you all.
^ from: (Pinterest) -
The Blender logo. Does Blender get the respect it deserves? I explain in this blog post.
Blender's history dates back to 1994, and its initial release dates back to 1998. What you can accomplish in Blender for development of media is astonishing. Many people look up to programs like 3D Studio Max as the gold standard of 3D modeling. It is a top-tier industry standard in regards to 3D modeling. Blender, however, is sometimes criticized for a number of reasons. People say the interface and UI are not very charming. Blender also has a seemingly steep learning curve. As someone who has not had much success making proper 3D models, even I am more comfortable using a program like Wings3D (which is also free) for 3D modeling. Maybe even another reason people discredit Blender is because it is free and open-source, usually meaning that free programs don't have the same level of quality compared to the top-level programs. When you finally learn and master Blender, you can do almost as much as you can with the more popular 3D programs like 3D Studio Max, Maya, Cinema 4D, and more. Blender makes you able to make impressive material without needing to stick to a payment schedule or subscription like most of today's 3D modeling powerhouse programs. You can use certain renders outside of Blender's own render engine to produce your images. These include the likes of the Cycles Renderer and the Eevee (not to be confused with the Pokémon Eevee) engine. While you can make 3D models, you can even do simple video editing as well as create entire videos and films with Blender. A popular example of a Blender film is the 2008-released film "Big Buck Bunny." Blender is free and always will be free unless someone buys Blender and cheapen the Blender experience entirely.
It took me over 20 years to make a 3D model I could be proud of when I made my first true Blender creation back circa 2016. My 3D skills are still subpar, but I have tried especially recently to learn Blender and utilize it. A handful of YouTube videos on Blender have helped me to develop my 3D modeling skills in Blender. I slowly tried to develop and practice using Blender techniques to produce 3D models. I still have a lot to learn, but I feel I can do a lot to try to master using this program.
One reason I have tried to learn Blender better is because I am offering my material for sale through sites like Turbosquid and Envato's 3D Ocean. Surely the latter is one of the different programs you can share as being the program you made models in. As of the time of this initial blog post (February 12, 2020), these are the accepted programs for which you share as being what 3D model was made in:
--- 3DOcean Accepted 3D Modeling Programs ---
• 3D Coat
• 3D Studio Max
• Autocad
• Blender
• Cinema 4D
• Lightwave
• Maya
• Moda
• SoftImage
• Vue
• ZBrush
You can still use whatever programs you like to 3D model in, but that is pretty much a list of top-level 3D modeling programs for you to sell your models on sites like 3DOcean. Blender even has a suite where people can sell their Blender 3D creations on called
Blender Market.
One must also consider using Blender for more popular applications. For one, there is the crowd of using Blender for virtual reality and augmented reality. VR/AR has its own specifications and considerations when modeling. Blender can be a good enough program to use for VR or AR if you know what you're doing.
Blender for Gaming and Game Development.
Blender was made in C++ and Python. If you have skill in using Python, you can make simple games in Blender using Python code. Blender has had its Blender Game Engine (BGE) serve as the gaming base for those who develop games using Blender. Of late, however, Blender has dropped support of the Blender Game Engine. A program that maintains the appeal of the former BGE is a program called UPBGE. UPBGE stands for "Uchronia Project Blender Game Engine." Many of the features that made BGE an excellent suite for gaming and game development can be had with the UPBGE package.
While Blender could be used to develop games, some people ranging from hobbyists to various independent (indie) developers make assets in Blender to be used in programs like Unity3D and Unreal Engine. People who compete in game jams use programs like Blender for simple modeling of 3D models. Such people even do as great of a job with modeling 3D assets in Blender as almost anyone could with popular paid 3D modeling software.
Blender can also be used for programs like Armory3D. Armory3D is a 3D framework that integrates into Blender. So using a combination of Armory3D and Blender can work perfectly fine in the development of 3D games. So everything from a casual game project to a AAA-quality game could be made with a combination of Blender and Armory3D. You can use a number of other 3D frameworks and interfaces to use in game development with Blender, but Armory3D is a popular option.
Blender for Web Development.
Did you know you can build 3D websites with Blender? People use programs like Blender to build things such as 3D stores and various configurators of products. You could see 3D material with Blender with items ranging from fashion goods to even building your own car. I am mostly positive this suite for Blender mostly pertains to front end development and not much about front end and back end web development. There are people who model through Blender for website development to packages such as WebGL, Blend4Web, and Verge 3D.
Even I have thought of practicing making a 3D environment people can use to navigate for material I've created. Though, I haven't made anything cool enough to warrant any sort of attention. Stay tuned to "John's Creative Space" if I do develop some kind of 3D online environment for you to explore.
Blender for Video Production.
Let's face facts. Blender will NOT replace or substitute programs like After Effects, Premiere Pro, or Vegas. A lot of the videos and video effects you can make in most popular video programs can be done in Blender. If you were to try to upload your creations to video sites like Envato's Videohive, you can't say you created the video material in Blender. So you may need to find some other programs for which to produce videos with. I haven't had too much video experience with Blender, so I will leave my discussion there.
Since I mentioned Blender in a number of lights, does this program get the respect it deserves? Here are my final thoughts...
Does Blender Get the Respect it Deserves? - Final Thoughts
Just because something is free doesn't mean it lacks the quality of more established programs. Really, Blender has become its own established program throughout its development. Some people don't want to commit to a subscription service just to use a high-quality 3D modeling program. Those who don't want to do so have limited options for which to 3D model with. Therefore, Blender and its free nature is a boon to the 3D modeling community. Just because not many people look to Blender for quality 3D modeling doesn't mean there is no reason to use Blender. The interface may be tough, the learning curve may be steep; but once you master using Blender and learn many techniques to model with Blender, it becomes apparent this program is just as good... if not better... than most of the top-level, *industry standard* 3D modeling programs. You can always make Blender better if you develop scripts and add-ons to enhance the capabilities of Blender. Just because Blender is free doesn't mean it lacks the quality and polish of other top-level 3D modeling software. You can always make sacrifices if you feel Blender is somehow not good enough to meet your standards of 3D modeling.
So if you are on the fence about Blender, give it a chance and try to learn to use Blender. Try to master using Blender even if you are more comfortable using other 3D modeling software. Blender actually deserves more credit than most people give it. At least... to me.
For More Information...
Learn more about Blender by going to
www.blender.org. Find more 3D resources I've curated by visiting
my Creative Resources page.
Those are my own thoughts on Blender. Let me know what you think...
Do you think Blender gets the respect it deserves?
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