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Review
Blender3D
Issue: 4.1 (September/October 2005)
Author: Brian Rathbone
Article Description: No description available.
Article Length (in bytes): 3,921
Starting Page Number: 8
RBD Number: 4102
Resource File(s): None
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Known Limitations: None
Full text of article...
3D object modeling, rendering, and animation have become important parts of a game programmer's toolkit. There are also more mundane uses for 3D modeling. Deciding which software to use can be a difficult task. There are several high-end commercial packages that are packed with features, but also boast hefty price tags.
I was recently challenged with the task of creating some 3D renderings for a hobbyist effort. I had absolutely no 3D modeling experience, so I was looking for a solution that was well documented, or at least had a large number of tutorials available. I was also on a tight budget, and searched for applications that were either free or under $50 USD.
I did not have to search long before I found Blender3D, and I was pleasantly surprised. I had not expected to find a really nice, free, cross platform 3D modeling application, but Blender3D is all of those things and more.
Versions are available for the following platforms: Windows 98+, Mac OS 10.2+, Linux (i386 and PPC), Solaris (Sparc), FreeBSD, and even Irix (mips3).
One of Blender3D's strengths is its Python scripting support, which allows independent developers to create their own import, export, and automation scripts. Many third party scripts are available, including export support for Flash, .3DS, .OBJ, .X, and more.
The Blender3D installer does not install Python, and without a true install of Python, only the built-in scripts will run. If you wish to make use of third party scripts, then you must install the same version of Python that your version of Blender3D uses internally.
The latest version of Blender3D for Windows, for example, requires Python 2.3. After installing Python on Windows, you must also set up the PYTHONPATH environment variable in order for Blender3D to recognize the Python installation.
The interface may seem cumbersome at first, but that is more due to the robust feature set than it is a result of poor interface design. The scope of functionalities is so broad that one can easily become lost in all of the options.
There are numerous keyboard/mouse commands and combinations. Once you master a few of these, you will find Blender 3D's navigation to be much more intuitive.
When testing Blender3D on my PowerBook, I found navigation to be more difficult than on a desktop PC. The single mouse button requires additional keyboard modifiers in order to access some of the functionality, and the numeric keypad is also critical for navigation. If you plan to use a laptop, then a three-button mouse and a full size keyboard are highly recommended.
When attempting to import 3D Studio .max files, I was unable to find a file format that would preserve all of the data. I was able to import a .3DS file, which included everything except the UV Mapping. This was admirable but disappointing.
Blender3D is easier to use than the commercial alternatives I tested, and boasts many of the same features. Blender3D has made a 3D modeler of me.
IN BRIEF Product Blender3D Manufacturer The Blender Foundation Price Free Contact Info http://www.blender3d.com/ Pros Supported on many platforms Extensible via Python scripts
Cons No direct 3DS Studio (.max) import Difficult to use with one mouse button
Rating (1.0-5.0): 4.0
End of article.
Article copyrighted by REALbasic Developer magazine. All rights reserved.
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