Blender v4.4.3 (3D animation software) Free-Open Source

Blender is a powerful and free open-source 3D graphics software, widely used in modeling, animation, rendering, video editing, and other fields.

Release Notes

Detailed introduction of Blender’s features and functions:

I. Core Features

1. Free, Open Source, and Cross-Platform Blender follows the GNU General Public License (GPL), is completely free and open source, and supports various operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux 1. Its small size (approximately 318 MB) and efficient performance make it easy to distribute and use.
2. Full Workflow Integration Provides a complete solution from modeling, animation, material rendering to post-processing compositing, without relying on other software. For example, the built-in Video Sequence Editor (VSE) supports non-linear editing, transitions, and audio processing.
3. Flexible Interface and Customization
   • The user interface is highly customizable, supporting free splitting and merging of windows, and can be adjusted to a minimum size of 27px × 19px micro-windows.
   • Supports interface scaling and theme color adjustment to adapt to high-resolution screens and personalized needs.
4. Community-Driven and Continuous Innovation The Blender Foundation promotes development through community collaboration and regularly releases major updates. For example, the plan for 2025 includes the launch of new features such as node system integration, sculpting layers, and storyboard tools.

II. Main Features

1. Modeling and Sculpting
   • Supports polygon modeling, curve modeling, NURBS surfaces, and Metaballs.
   • Sculpting mode provides a variety of brushes, and non-destructive sculpting layers will be added in 2025 to enhance detail control.
2. Rendering Engine
   • Cycles: A physically based renderer based on ray tracing, supporting GPU acceleration.
   • EEVEE: A real-time rendering engine suitable for quick previews and animation production.
   • In 2025, optimize EEVEE’s shader compilation performance to improve rendering efficiency in complex scenes.
3. Animation and Rigging
   • Supports keyframe animation, skeletal rigging, and character skinning, with animation tool scores even exceeding Maya.
   • Added a Geometry Nodes editor for procedural modeling.
4. Post-processing and Compositing
   • Built-in compositor supports node-based post-processing, such as keying, color grading, and adding visual effects.
   • The Video Sequence Editor (VSE) can edit multi-track videos, and storyboard functionality will be enhanced in the future.
5. Physics Simulation Provides rigid body, soft body, fluid, cloth, and particle simulations, suitable for game and film special effects.
6. Extensibility and Scripting Support Functionality can be extended through Python scripts, and plugin development is supported.

III. Application Scenarios

• Film and Animation: Used for producing short films (such as the open-source film “Spring”) and special effects.
• Game Development: Once included a game engine (removed after version 2.8), but still supports interactive content export.
• Industrial Design: Combined with precise modeling and rendering, suitable for product visualization.

Summary

With its open-source, free, fully integrated workflow, and high degree of customization, Blender has become the preferred tool for professional artists and amateur enthusiasts. Continuous community innovation (such as performance optimization and functional expansion in 2025) further consolidates its competitiveness.