# Is blender a good program?
**URL:** https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325
**Category:** Asset & Content Management
**Tags:** Asset-Importing-and-Exporting, Blender
**Created:** [August 11, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325 "2010-08-11T16:35:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@anon\_47039345](https://discussions.unity.com/u/anon_47039345)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/1 "2010-08-11T16:35:21Z")
is Blender a good program for making programs and animations? are there viruses in it? its the only free character making program
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### Author:  [@anon\_47039345](https://discussions.unity.com/u/anon_47039345)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/2 "2010-08-11T16:48:18Z")
any one use blender?
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### Author:  [@Tiles](https://discussions.unity.com/u/Tiles)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/3 "2010-08-11T17:14:07Z")
> [@](#):
>
> are there viruses in it
What about using a antivirus software and try it at Blender? đ
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### Author:  [@SystemIsGod](https://discussions.unity.com/u/SystemIsGod)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/4 "2010-08-11T17:47:51Z")
> [@""](#):
>
> is Blender a good program for making programs and animations? are there viruses in it? its the only free character making program
Lol, Blender is used by tons of people, there is no virus.
[www.blender.org](http://www.blender.org) is their site
I used blender when I was in high school because it was free and it kind of opened my mind to 3d designâŚ
But it is free, and with anything free you have to know there is better out there.
Currently I use Maya 2011, and I think it is best (So did James Cameron )
But yes, tons of people even in Unity use blender.
What do you want for free, your money back? đ
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### Author:  [@Dantus](https://discussions.unity.com/u/Dantus)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/5 "2010-08-11T18:29:45Z")
As far as I know there is a FPS on Steam which used Blender. So I think it should be usable.
No viruses if you use the download links provided on [blender.org](http://blender.org).
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### Author:  [@anon\_94789000](https://discussions.unity.com/u/anon_94789000)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/6 "2010-08-11T20:02:26Z")
I like it a lot and as of 2.5 the UI is shaping up real nice, mainstream and a lot easier in my opinion, so I suggest you use the 2.5 version.
Here are the best tutorials: [http://www.blendercookie.com/](http://www.blendercookie.com/)
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### Author:  [@BlackMantis](https://discussions.unity.com/u/BlackMantis)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/7 "2010-08-11T22:39:32Z")
I used blender for a while but didânt like it. I like fragmotion. I think its free and fully functionable but with a reminder to to buy. Its only like 30 dollars to get rid of the reminder and has tons of features, real easy to use, and fast workflow. If you look at the docs you will see that only most but not all parts of a model export into unity. Fragmotion needs a good converter, i use ultimate Unwrap and the combo of the two work very well for getting all the model and animation parts to export to .FBX. Together they will run you around eighty bucks. đ But when you compare the learning curve of blender to fragmotion you will gladly pay. đ
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### Author:  [@Dreamora](https://discussions.unity.com/u/Dreamora)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/8 "2010-08-11T22:41:00Z")
> [@""](#):
>
> is Blender a good program for making programs and animations? are there viruses in it? its the only free character making program
This question is equal to âIs hell a warm placeâ
Yes, but you must be the right person for it đ
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### Author:  [@reset](https://discussions.unity.com/u/reset)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/9 "2010-08-11T23:21:49Z")
Blender is AMAZING!!! software. AND free!!!
Head here for great vid tutes on the new Blender 2.5
[http://blendercookie.com/](http://blendercookie.com/)
Cant wait for fully implemented BMESH!!!
[http://vimeo.com/6430167](http://vimeo.com/6430167)
AND Vpaint!!!
> **[Letâs Paint!](https://www.blendernation.com/2010/08/04/lets-paint/)**
>
> MiikaH is doing some eye-popping experiments with dynamic mesh painting. MiikaH writes: Displacement map painting Particle Painting Mesh Paint Sub-steps Painting Mancandy LinksâŚ
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### Author:  [@Tiles](https://discussions.unity.com/u/Tiles)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2010, 6:43am UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/10 "2010-08-12T06:43:47Z")
> [@](#):
>
> fragmotion
Fragmotion is a animation tool for bones animation. Blender is a full 3D package, including a bones system for bones animation. That`s not really comparable đ
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### Author:  [@SteveJ](https://discussions.unity.com/u/SteveJ)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2010, 7:01am UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/11 "2010-08-12T07:01:23Z")
> [@""](#):
>
> Fragmotion is a animation tool for bones animation.
Itâs actually a modelling package just like Blender. Obviously Iâm not saying they both have exactly the same feature set.
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### Author:  [@Tiles](https://discussions.unity.com/u/Tiles)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2010, 7:15am UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/12 "2010-08-12T07:15:19Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Itâs actually a modelling package just like Blender
Ah, you are rigt. It has some limited modeling features too. Have mixed it with another soft it seems. I would nevertheless not really compare Fragmotion with Blender. Even when it`s a nice little tool đ
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### Author:  [@the\_motionblur](https://discussions.unity.com/u/the_motionblur)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2010, 12:32pm UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/13 "2010-08-12T12:32:11Z")
Aw man ⌠:x
To chime in with all the other people:
Yes - blender is free. Yes - Blender is the only free 3D program that is compareable to commercial applications (in how complete the feature set is - in some aspects itâs even better in some others it lacks). Blender is free because itâs open source and itâs a useful program because it has people behind it working hard to let Blender evolve.
Yes - you can use blender commercially.
No - it does not have any viruses. Go to [www.blender.org](http://www.blender.org) and download it there.
Yes - there are quie a lot of people using blender.
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### Author:  [@anon\_16641374](https://discussions.unity.com/u/anon_16641374)
#### Post date: [August 16, 2010, 10:36am UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/14 "2010-08-16T10:36:11Z")
> [@Black Mantis](#):
>
> I used blender for a while but didânt like it. I like fragmotion.
Fragmotion has been developed having games in mind while Blender is a general purpose 3d programm ( same as Maya , Max, Softimage etc)
Blender supplies a lot of feature which have nothing to do with games
I do hope that many hobbyests game programmers want to support Fragmotion
Unfortunately similar programs such as the excellent PaceMaker died because many user prefer to waste time to learn stuff which they will never use rather than using essential tools
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### Author:  [@the\_motionblur](https://discussions.unity.com/u/the_motionblur)
#### Post date: [August 16, 2010, 2:04pm UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/15 "2010-08-16T14:04:21Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Unfortunately similar programs such as the excellent PaceMaker died because many user prefer to waste time to learn stuff which they will never use rather than using essential tools
If youâre going to do 3D graphics youâll have to know a little more than just your game related knowledge. The more thech you know how to use properl the better your results will be.
BTW - what are âessentialâ tools to you? modeling and UV mapping? Have fun getting all those cool efects done by hand, then. Except maybe really way-off thinks like hair or rendering post effects, a lot of the things you can do with advanced 3D packs can be utilised for game content very well. I would not consider baking cavity- or AmbientOcclusion pases as something youâll never use. GI rendering can be very useful if you donât have a cool lighting system like Beast. Advanced character setups with IK and all those bells and whistles can very well be used for animation easier and faster some of the lifelike animations - youâll just have to know how to transfer those animations over to your in-game rig.
What about mutires sculpting (a feature blender has) ⌠not useful for games?
You get my point đ
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### Author:  [@anon\_16641374](https://discussions.unity.com/u/anon_16641374)
#### Post date: [August 16, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/16 "2010-08-16T18:51:25Z")
in principle you may be partially right but in practice it is an other matter
Letâs make the following exercise
Go through the Unity3d comunity games
Tell me which ones really needed 3dmax , or Maya or Blender
Tell me which ones can not be developed with a simple software such as fragmotion
âEssentialâ for me means :
To use the simplest tool which makes the job
You can not develop neither Avatar nor an AAA game with Fragmotion but for sure 99 % of the Indie games around
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### Author:  [@the\_motionblur](https://discussions.unity.com/u/the_motionblur)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2010, 7:27am UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/17 "2010-08-17T07:27:09Z")
How many of those do you find appealing?
If you want to do graphics for a game to look good youâll have to know your tools - no way around that.
If you want your graphics simplay as placeholder for the game machanics or donât have the need for complex art then thatâs another thing. Thatâs not what I think of when thinking about art.
Art is a craft. As any craft itâs the person who produces the results. Never the less good tools and a prfound knowledge of your craft get you far. Being narrow minded and excluding certai techniques as not-needed will make your life harder in the long run.
The simplest tool often does not have the best workflow. Neither do all the expensive programs - but it matters what workflow suits you. Donât exclude more complex tools because they are too âdifficultâ. Exclude them if you really feel you donât need them _after_ you know what you miss out on. Not before.
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### Author:  [@anon\_16641374](https://discussions.unity.com/u/anon_16641374)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2010, 11:38am UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/18 "2010-08-17T11:38:50Z")
> [@""](#):
>
> How many of those do you find appealing?
Do you mean the Unity3d comunity games ?
None,but this has nothing to do with Blender
These games have been developed by a single person or a small team
To design an AAA game you need a big team, a lot of resources and plenty of time
An hobbyest game programmer must take care of the artworks, the gameplay, the code, the AI, the debugging, etc
It makes little sense in my opinion to waste a lot of time to learn a tool of which an amateur may exploit , letâs say, 10 % of its power
An hobbyest game programmer must optimize his /her time and resources rather than focusing on one aspect only of game design
The point is that many people speak of games but they have really in mind Virtual Reality
A game is first of all interactivity
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### Author:  [@the\_motionblur](https://discussions.unity.com/u/the_motionblur)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/19 "2010-08-17T14:54:21Z")
Your argument is: why bother with advanced tech that could save you loads of time and increase your quality in the long run if youâre never going to reach the quality anyways?
That argument kind of reminds me of Homer Simpson: âTrying is the first step towards failure.â
seriously: thereâs nothing wrong in using easier tools to start at some point. But the quesion was: is blender a capable tool for game creation? Yes it is.
You added arument was - do you need all that extra stuff for game content creation? Not necessarily but itâs good to know itâs there.
If youâre going to do everything yourself then itâs even better. How do you know what all those texture maps do and how they are used properly if youâre not going to know the techniques of how to create them?
Your point surely is valid in a very narrow sense. But Iâd still recommend not leave out advanced toolsets if one is seriously interested in any of the aspects of creating a game. More so if one not yet sure what aspect of creating a game or application is the best suitable for him or her.
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### Author:  [@SystemIsGod](https://discussions.unity.com/u/SystemIsGod)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://discussions.unity.com/t/is-blender-a-good-program/420325/20 "2010-08-18T04:20:17Z")
I agree with motionblur.
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