[Free 3D CG Software] The Benefits and Cautions of Starting with Blender
Nice to Meet You! I’m Klala.
I’m a 30-something company employee working as a mechanical engineer.
During last year’s stay-at-home period, I started using the free 3D CG software Blender as a hobby.
The more I create, the more fun it becomes—I’ve fallen into an endless loop of creativity! Now, after more than a year, I’m still enjoying my Blender journey to the fullest. 😊👍✨✨
I decided to write this article because I want to share this joy with as many people as possible.
Here, I’ll talk about the benefits of starting Blender and some important things to keep in mind.
If you’re interested in getting into 3D CG or just a little curious, I hope you find this helpful!
For any thoughts or questions, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter: @klala_lab 😊
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About Blender
Blender is a free 3D CG software developed by the Blender Foundation.
It offers a vast range of features (so many that mastering them all might be impossible!) and is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu.
Blender’s development is funded by donations from partner companies and individuals worldwide.
You can download Blender for free from the official website:
Once you learn the basics, you’ll be able to create 3D-rendered images like the one below in about 30 minutes!
Blender isn’t just for still images—you can also create animations.
Since many people use Blender, you can find tons of tutorials on YouTube, blogs, online courses, and books to help you get started!
Why I’m Glad I Started Using Blender
Now, let me share some of the best things about starting Blender! 😊
- You Can Create Anything in CG
- Connect with Others Through Blender on Social Media
- Gain a Deeper Understanding of What You Create
- Numerous Ways to Use It
- Maximizing Your PC’s Power
You Can Create Anything in CG
As I learned by creating in Blender, I gradually became able to make various things in CG—including vehicles, landscapes, everyday objects, and even Pokémon!
Here are some of the creations I made in the first half of 2021.
Many of these were made by following YouTube tutorial videos (I’ll share my recommended tutorial channels at the end of this article!).
I still have a lot to improve, but my goal is to master more realistic and lifelike modeling in the future!
Right now, I’m focusing on car modeling, as introduced in the article below. I’ll continue to share my progress on Twitter and this blog, so stay tuned!
👉 [Blender 2.93] MINI Cooper S Part 2 – Exterior Parts Modeling [Car Modeling]
Connect with Others Through Blender on Social Media
If you’ve started using Blender, I highly recommend sharing your creations and progress on social media!
By posting your work on Twitter with hashtags like #blender初心者 (Blender Beginner), #b3d, or #blender, you’re likely to receive likes and engagement from the community.
As you continue posting, your followers will gradually increase, and the number of likes you receive will grow, boosting your motivation!
I started actively posting on Twitter in 2021, and thanks to that, I’ve gained many followers. My followers come from various backgrounds and age groups, and I truly appreciate the interactions and support I receive from them.
Of course, you don’t have to limit yourself to Twitter—you can also share your work on Instagram or YouTube! 👍✨
Another huge benefit of social media is that if you ever run into trouble or don’t know how to use a certain feature, you can ask for help on Twitter. Just use hashtags like #blender相談室 (Blender Help Desk) or #blender初心者 (Blender Beginner), and there’s a high chance someone will assist you.
The Blender community is full of kind and helpful people, so don’t hesitate to reach out and connect!
Gain a Deeper Understanding of What You Create
Whether it’s anime characters, cars, landscapes, or something else, the things you want to create in Blender will vary from person to person.
However, one thing is universally important—to create realistic 3D models, you need to study references, such as photos, and carefully analyze the details.
For example, when I worked on car modeling, I collected numerous reference photos and carefully crafted the details. Through this process, I learned that cars are composed of countless intricate parts, which I had never fully noticed before.
By diving deep into your subject during the modeling process, your understanding will deepen, and as a result, your appreciation and attachment to it will grow even stronger.
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Blender Offers Endless Possibilities
Once you become proficient with Blender, a whole new world of creative opportunities opens up.
For instance, you can:
- Use Adobe After Effects or Premiere Pro to edit and enhance Blender-generated images and videos, creating professional-quality animations.
- Export 3D models to Unity or other game engines for game development or use them in social VR platforms like VRChat or Cluster.
- Print your creations using a 3D printer or even run basic physics simulations.
- Learn Python scripting to automate tasks in Blender, create custom tools, or develop add-ons to expand its functionality.
- Use Blender as a stepping stone to professional-grade 3D software like Maya or ZBrush, further expanding your creative skills.
Blender skills are incredibly versatile and can be applied in many fields. No matter how you use it, learning Blender is never a waste of time!
Maximizing Your PC’s Power
Back in my student days (over 10 years ago), I was into building custom PCs. My main use case was numerical simulations for university research, and I built systems using high-end CPUs of the time, such as the Core i7 and Phenom II.
However, after becoming a working professional, I drifted away from PCs since I didn’t play demanding games that required powerful hardware.
That all changed when I started using Blender!
Unlike many other applications, 3D modeling and rendering require a decent level of PC performance. In fact, the better your PC, the faster your workflow, so having a high-end PC is never a waste when using Blender!
This makes Blender an excellent tool for tech enthusiasts who want to put their powerful rigs to good use.
Blender’s Recommended Specs (from the official website)：
- CPU: 4-core processor
- Memory: 16GB RAM
- Graphics Card: 4GB VRAM
If you’re just getting started with Blender and wondering about PC specifications, check out this article for reference:
Things to Keep in Mind When Using Blender
While Blender is an amazing tool, there are two important things to keep in mind when diving into the world of 3D modeling.
- Be Careful Not to Get Too Absorbed!
- Avoid Comparing Yourself Too Much to Others
Be Careful Not to Get Too Absorbed!
I can totally relate to this one—I often lose track of time when I’m deep into modeling in Blender! 😅
The danger here is that if you get too absorbed in your work, you might start neglecting time with family or loved ones. This could lead to strained relationships, or even worse, breakups—so it’s definitely something to keep in mind! 💧
Also, sacrificing sleep to keep working isn’t a great idea either. It lowers your focus and could negatively affect your health in the long run. 😅
The key to enjoying Blender (or any hobby) is to keep a healthy balance. Good relationships and health come first—so always prioritize time with loved ones, meals, and sleep! 🌟
Avoid Comparing Yourself Too Much to Others
If you’re active on social media platforms like Twitter, you’re likely to come across high-quality works created by others on a daily basis.
Comparing your work to others is actually a great way to spot areas for improvement. However, if you focus too much on the comparison, it can cause you to only notice the flaws in your own work, which might lower your confidence. So, it’s important to be mindful of that.
When you start feeling less confident due to constant comparisons, try this: Compare yourself to your past self instead of others. If you’ve been using Blender for a while, you’ll likely see that you’ve improved compared to where you were before. This perspective shift can help you boost your confidence and regain motivation. Keep going, you’re getting better! ✨
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In Conclusion
I hope this summary of the things I’ve enjoyed and the cautions I’ve learned while using Blender was helpful. My goal is for this article to inspire as many people as possible to start using Blender. If it does, that would make me really happy! 😊✨
As I mentioned in my self-introduction page, here are 4 YouTube channels I highly recommend for Blender beginners (these are channels I personally followed, so I’m confident in recommending them):
- VARY GRAPHICS (as of February 19, 2022, this channel is no longer available)
- 3D Bibi
- Mdesign
- Sasara Bch
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