Blender is a popular 3D software today thanks to its open-source code, powerful features, and user-friendly interface. By being open source, Blender allows users to access and modify the source code freely. From that, it encourages innovation, customization, and idea sharing among users. Then it has built a huge community of 3D graphics enthusiasts all over the world.

In this blog, let’s join Chip Render to dig into the Blender software overview and the user community’s role in helping Blender develop into what it is today.

Blender is a powerful and free open-source 3D creation suite. It supports the entire 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, and motion tracking. It also includes capabilities for video editing and game creation. Blender is used to create a variety of media, including animation, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, interactive 3D applications, video games, and architecture. The software has a strong and active community that contributes to its development, leading to regular updates and improvements. 

The Brief Story of Blender Software

The story of Blender began in 1995 when Ton Roosendaal developed as an internal tool of the Dutch animation studio NeoGeo. Due to financial difficulties, Blender was released to the public as open-source software.

At first, Blender was quite new and had limited features, so it received many mixed opinions. Luckily, it still attracted a small group of users impressed with its potential. They helped promote and provide feedback and suggestions for improvement. By 2002, Blender had gradually grown in popularity and maturity, becoming open-source software with various strong features. Also that year, the Blender Foundation – a non-profit organization was established to promote the development of Blender.

It’s undeniable that it has a remarkable journey to become the leading Blender animation software suite. The Blender Foundation initiated significant changes and improvements to the software. It led to major milestones such as the integration of the Cycles rendering engine and the development of the real-time EEVEE rendering engine. 

Blender animation, image via all3dp.com

Blender Software Price

As you may know, the cost of Blender is totally free under the terms of the GNU General Public License. Being an open-source 3D software, it is available to download and use for free. There are no costs associated with downloading, installing, or using Blender as it is supported by the Blender Foundation and a community of users worldwide. Users can access all the features and functionalities of Blender at no charge. 

The great contribution of the Blender users community to its development is undeniable. Its diverse user community includes 3D artists, animators, software developers, educators, and enthusiasts from around the world. These contributors help in many ways, such as writing code, creating tutorials, designing content, reporting bugs, translating software into different languages, and providing support to other users. Blender’s development is open to anyone who wants to participate, making it a collaborative effort that benefits from the creativity, expertise, and passion of community members.

The Blender Development Fund was established to manage donations from users, serving the maintenance and development of Blender. In addition, it is also maintained by Blender market and many active groups and forums.

Blender Development Fund

The majority of Blender Foundation’s income comes from the Blender Development Fund. They encourage donations from individuals and organizations. This helps employees in the Blender team to work full-time and get paid. It also provides a budget for organizing community activities, Blender Conferences, and support development projects. Above all, it helps ensure the maintenance of facilities, and new features research and development.

You can become a member with only a €5 contribution per month. Each member has a badge, and based on the level of contribution, the individual/organization’s name may appear on the fund’s official website here. In particular, Blender encourages organizational donations with more advantages. With a contribution from €6.000 per year, they will appear with their name and logo on the official website. Furthermore, they also have the right to participate in discussions, supervise, and have decision-making power in projects that will be funded with their money.

Organization badges on Blender Development Fund website, image via fund.blender.org

Blender Development Fund always ensures transparency. Specifically, all grants and supported projects of the Foundation have been published on the company’s official website since 2011. Blender also produces annual reports that provide an overview of development projects, the amount of money coming in and out, and individuals/projects that have been supported. These reports are shared on blogs and forums for everyone to discuss.

The fund not only helps maintain the quality and innovation of the software, but it also demonstrates the commitment of the Blender community and industry partners to ensure its long-term viability and success. By contributing to the Blender Development Fund, individuals and organizations are directly supporting the continuous improvement of Blender. And in turn, it benefits the entire community of users, developers, and artists who rely on Blender for their creative work.

The Market for Blender Software

If you’re working on a large project and don’t have much time to create 3D models, you can look for assets available on marketplaces. There are many markets for Blender such as CGtrader, Blenderkit, Sketchfab, etc. But Blender Market stands out as the largest place to trade and exchange assets specifically for Blender.

Founded by CG Cookie in 2004, Blender Market is where 3D artists can turn their passion into a source of income and give a percentage of their income back to Blender. In the Blender Market, users can find a wide variety of products and services, including 3D models, textures, materials, animations, add-ons, training courses, etc. Due to its open-source nature, the Blender market has various resources at different prices, from free to premium products. Individuals and organizations participate in buying, selling, and exchanging on the market to speed up their projects. Not only does this promote innovation and collaboration within the Blender community, but it also creates opportunities for professionals to showcase their skills and monetize their creations.

Various resources on Blender Market, image via blendermarket.com

Besides, the Blender Market allows participants to voluntarily contribute a portion of their income directly to the Blender Development Fund. This means that purchasing from the marketplace not only supports creators but also helps keep Blender growing. With the ability to access, buy, sell, and exchange flexibly, Blender has become a popular choice for 3D artists and creators in different fields.

Blender Software Groups and Forums

Blender boasts a strong and active community of users who regularly participate in discussions, share their work, seek help, and collaborate on projects through various groups and forums. These platforms provide a valuable space for users to connect, learn, and develop their skills in 3D design and animation. You can find independent Blender globe groups here.

Blender Artist Community is known as the most outstanding official forum. It hosts a forum where users can discuss everything Blender-related, seek feedback on their work, and receive support from community members. This forum is a great resource for both beginners and experienced users alike. It provides a wealth of knowledge, guidance, and discussion on various topics within the Blender ecosystem.

Active Blender Artist Forum, image via blenderartists.org

In addition to the official forum, there are also numerous groups and forums on platforms like Reddit, Discord, Facebook, and other social media networks dedicated to Blender 3D. Groups and forums come from many countries around the world with many languages. This helps you comfortably communicate without worrying about language barriers. These communities often support specific interests like Blender for architecture, game development, animation, etc. They provide an avenue for users to connect with like-minded people, share tips and tricks, and seek advice on their projects.

Participating in these groups and forums can be incredibly beneficial for Blender users as they provide a space to connect, learn, and receive valuable feedback on their creations. This is also a great way to stay up to date with the latest developments, trends, and opportunities in the Blender community.

Blender software is a great present for the 3D modeling and animation design community. It is open-source and allows you to use the features for free. By donating to the Blender Development Fund or joining the Blender market, you will become a part of Blender’s development. Each individual and organization will contribute to maintaining stability and opening up a successful future for Blender.