blender

3D creation suite for modeling, animation, and rendering

TLDR

Start Blender GUI

$ blender

Open file

$ blender [model.blend]

Render in background

$ blender -b [scene.blend] -a

Render specific frame

$ blender -b [scene.blend] -f [10]

Execute Python script

$ blender --python [script.py]

blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite. It supports the entire 3D pipeline: modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, motion tracking, and video editing.The software is used for creating animated films, visual effects, games, and 3D printed models.

PARAMETERS

-b, --background

Run in background (no GUI)

-a, --render-anim

Render animation

-f, --render-frame n

Render specific frame

-s n -e n

Set start and end frames

-o path

Set render output path

--python file

Execute Python script

--python-expr expr

Execute Python expression

-x 0|1

Add the file format extension to render output names (use-extension)

-E engine

Render engine: CYCLES, BLENDEREEVEE, or BLENDERWORKBENCH (run `blender -E help` to list)

-P file

Run the given Python script file (same as --python)

--factory-startup

Skip reading the user config and startup file for a clean session

--version

Print the Blender version and exit

BACKGROUND RENDERING

$ # Render animation
blender -b scene.blend -a

# Render frames 1-100
blender -b scene.blend -s 1 -e 100 -a

# Render single frame to PNG
blender -b scene.blend -o //output_#### -f 1

# Use Cycles engine
blender -b scene.blend -E CYCLES -a

PYTHON SCRIPTING

$ # script.py
import bpy

# Create cube
bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add()

# Render
bpy.ops.render.render(write_still=True)

INSTALL

sudo apt install blender

sudo dnf install blender

sudo pacman -S blender

sudo apk add blender

sudo zypper install blender

nix profile install nixpkgs#blender

CAVEATS

Heavy resource usage. Learning curve is steep. Background rendering requires all dependencies. GPU rendering needs compatible drivers. Python API version-specific.

HISTORY

Blender was originally created by Ton Roosendaal in 1995 as in-house software, open-sourced in 2002 under GPL and has since become one of the most popular 3D creation tools.Note that order matters: arguments are evaluated left to right, so the .blend file must be given before the render flags that act on it.