Blender (software)

Blender is a professional free and open-source 3D computer graphics software product used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, interactive 3D applications and video games. Blender's features include 3D modeling, UV unwrapping, texturing, raster graphics editing, rigging and skinning, fluid and smoke simulation, particle simulation, soft body simulation, sculpting, animating, match moving, camera tracking, rendering, video editing and compositing. Alongside the modeling features it also has an integrated game engine.

History

The Dutch animation studio Neo Geo developed Blender as an in-house application, with the primary author being software developer Ton Roosendaal. The name Blender was inspired by a song by Yello, from the album Baby. When Neo Geo was acquired by another company, Tod Roosendaal and Frank van Beek founded Not a Number Technologies (NaN) in June 1998 to further develop Blender, initially distributing it as shareware until NaN went bankrupt in 2002.

Blender

A blender (sometimes called a liquidiser in British English) is a kitchen and laboratory appliance used to mix, purée, or emulsify food and other substances. A stationary blender consists of a blender jar with a rotating metal blade at the bottom, powered by an electric motor in the base. Some powerful models can also crush ice. The newer immersion blender configuration has a motor on top connected by a shaft to a rotating blade at the bottom, which can be used with any container.

Characteristics

Different blenders have different functions and features but product testing indicates that many blenders, even less expensive ones, are useful for meeting many consumer needs. Features which consumers consider when purchasing a blender include the following:

Countertop blenders

Countertop blenders use a 1-2 liters (4-8 cups) blending container made of glass, plastic, stainless steel. Glass blenders are heavier and more stable. Plastic is prone to scratching and absorbing the smell of blended food. Stainless steel is preferred for its looks, but limits visibility of the food as it is blended.

Tears of Steel

Tears of Steel is a live-action/CGI short film by producer Ton Roosendaal and director/writer Ian Hubert. The film was made using new enhancements to the visual effects capabilities of Blender, a free and open source all-in-one 3D computer graphics software package.

Overview

Work began in early 2012 as the Mango Open Movie Project. The film is a combination of live-action and computer generated sets, props and special effects. It was officially released online for viewing and download on September 26, 2012.

Following Elephants Dream, Big Buck Bunny, Yo Frankie and Sintel, the short movie is the fifth project from the Blender Foundation. Tears of Steel was created by the Blender Institute, a division of the foundation set up specifically to facilitate the creation of open content films and games.

The film was funded by the Blender Foundation, donations from the Blender community, pre-sales of the film's DVD, the Netherlands Film Fund and Cinegrid Amsterdam. The film itself and any material made in the studio are released under the Creative Commons Attribution License.

The Tube

The Tube may refer to:

See also