![]() You also need to consider your career goals. While an alternative is to hotkey all your commands, relying too much on hotkeys while trying to learn a complex 3D package makes Blender harder to learn than other 3D packages that have more intuitive user interfaces. Finding the right tool at the right time becomes time-consuming. Additionally, the user interface is not highly intuitive, with some of its menus not clearly organized. Blender’s tools in areas like UVs (for texture mapping), animation, pipeline, and scene management could use improvement. The professional 3D animation pipeline is complex, however, with different disciplines requiring a wide assortment of tools. If you're a student who wants to make 3D models for your portfolio, Blender should be your top choice. Blender users can also create realistic renders using its powerful Cycles renderer. As a 3D modeling package, Blender gives you the tools you need to create professional-level 3D models. If you're looking for a free and accessible tool to start 3D modeling, digital sculpting, or learning the world of 3D in general, then Blender is right up your alley. Who is Blender best suited for? The answer ultimately relies on what discipline of 3D animation you fall into and what your career goals are. When designing something with hard edges and sharp angles, you really benefit from having specific modeling tools that create these types of shapes. A bundle of two popular add-on tools is Hard Ops and Boxcutter by masterXeon1001 ($37), which allows artists to create hard-surface assets, such as an engine block. While Blender is free, you may want to purchase add-ons to expand its toolset. A Maya subscription costs $225 per month, or $1,785 paid annually, though there are other flexible ways to essentially license it only when you need it using a new token system, or you can apply for a lower-cost indie license. ![]() For example, Cinema 4D costs $94 per month or $719 per year. Free is an attractive price for beginners or anyone else who's still learning how to master 3D modeling (Opens in a new window), especially when you consider the cost of major 3D modeling packages. Big names like AMD and Ubisoft have made considerable contributions to support Blender. It's supported by donations from individuals and a development fund. Read our editorial mission (Opens in a new window) & see how we test (Opens in a new window).īlender is 100% free and open source. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. Professionals working on complete productions across all pipeline stages are better off with industry-standard options such as Maya, our Editors' Choice winner for professionals all around, or Houdini, our Editors' Choice for special effects. It's an attractive choice for beginners, who can use it to dabble in the world of 3D art. Who is Blender for? Can you make professional-grade 3D art with it? Is Blender a truly great 3D tool, or, as in NetZero's case, is it an example of getting what you pay for?īlender is a strong 3D package for certain disciplines that come early in the professional 3D production pipeline, like digital sculpting and 3D modeling. Get past the feel-good message, though, and anyone interested in Blender needs to ask themselves a few questions before sinking time into learning the tool. Unlike NetZero, Blender has made its name as the leader in free 3D animation software amid other programs that cost thousands of dollars. The same year, the 3D modeling and animation software Blender was released publicly online as freeware with a similar mission. Its service was spotty at best and it was loaded with ads, but it was still free. In 1998, NetZero set out on a mission to offer free dial-up internet access to all. ![]()
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