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Blender 2.46 Released

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the lots-of-new-toys dept.

The Penguin Man writes to mention the latest release of Blender, the popular open-source 3D graphics suite was officially launched today. You can download it from Blender.org. The culmination of half a year's work has resulted in many new features including a new particle system, approximate AO, the new cloth simulation system, and much more!

4 of 182 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Blender... by MrCoke · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You mean, like typing?

  2. Re:Looks like they've made some improvements. by Tychon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can't argue whether or not it's effective from the perspective of a person that "knows what they're doing", not being an artist myself.

    I can argue though that I managed to pick up 3D Studio Max, install it, and punch out a relatively simple spaceship model for a game I was working on. I'd even say it was slightly better than typical programmer art, but that's me. I did this in about an hour. I did this without tutorials or having really touched 3DSM prior to that point. I had the option to try it and I did. I won't say the interface is brilliant, but it was at the very least obvious for basic things.

    It took me a good part of that same hour just to figure out how I would achieve this in Blender because Blender's way is not obvious. I have to say I like Blender for what it is, I like the push to try something new, but not being an artist, I don't want to spend more time becoming familiar with something than the amount of time I'm actually going to spend using it.

    It may be stupid, but there's something to be said for a program that's so dumb that even a person completely unfamiliar with the field can use it to do what they want without training.

  3. Re:Looks like they've made some improvements. by mabinogi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    maybe, just maybe, Blender isn't for kids that just want to make a quick model of the Solar system for a school project.

    For what it's worth, my daughter (10) tried blender just recently, and it wasn't the interface that made her give up, it was a lack of tutorials that matched the current version.

    --
    Advanced users are users too!
  4. The f*sking interface argument again by Eth1csGrad1ent · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ..this is what will eventually KILL blender. Any time Blender is mentioned mainstream it quickly turns into a crap-fest argument about the interface - and any and all other discussion topics disappear into dust.

    There are two camps:
    1. People who want 3DS MAX/Maya/Lighwave for FREE and Blender happens to be the closest thing... so take that an MAKE IT MAYA.

    2. People who have been using Blender for many, many years and have come to either appreciate or at least get used to the speed that the interface allows... ONCE YOU KNOW IT!

    Given that the interface HASNT changed much in all this time... perhaps its time for the GIVE ME MAYA FOR FREE crowd to go and write their own FOSS 3D app.

    PS. For all those Blenderheads out there who haven't already seen it... check out www.indigorenderer.com for photorealism.