Chapter 1. Introduction

Table of Contents

What is Blender?
Blender's History
About Free Software and the GPL
Getting support - the Blender community

What is Blender?

Blender is an integrated suite of tools enabling the creation of a broad range of 3D content. It offers full functionality for modelling, rendering, animation, post-production, creation and playback of interactive 3D content with the singular benefits of cross-platform operability and a download file size of less than 2.5MB.

Aimed at media professionals and artists, Blender can be used to create 3D visualizations, stills as well as broadcast quality video, while the incorporation of a real-time 3D engine allows for the creation of 3D interactive content for stand-alone playback.

Originally developed by the company 'Not a Number' (NaN), Blender now is continued as 'Free Software', with the sources available under GNU GPL.

Key Features:

  • Fully integrated creation suite, offering a broad range of essential tools for the creation of 3D content, including modelling, animation, rendering, video post production and game creation;

  • Small executable size, for easy distribution;

  • Cross platform, with OpenGL based GUI, ready to use for all flavours of Windows, Linux, OSX, FreeBSD, Irix and Sun;

  • High quality 3D architecture enabling fast and efficient creation work-flow;

  • Free support channels via www.blender3d.org;

  • More than 250.000 people worldwide user community;

You can download the latest version of Blender at download.blender.org.