Blender

Blender is a free open source 3D graphics program, available under the GNU General Public License for the Linux, Mac OS X, FreeBSD, OpenBSD and Microsoft Windows operating systems.

Blender's features include 3D modeling, UV unwrapping, texturing, rigging, water and smoke simulations, skinning, animating, rendering, particle other simulations, video editing software, compositing, the ability to create interactive 3D applications, video games, animated film, or visual effects. More advanced tools include rigid, realistic body, fluid, cloth and softbody dynamics simulation, modifier-based modeling, character animation, a node-based material and compositing system, and embedded scripting in Python.

There are currently two version of Blender that people are using. Blender v2.49 has been criticised as being hard to learn and not up to date with the needs of the graphics artist community in general. Blender 2.5x is the result of an effort by the Blender community to update the interface of Blender as well as to make it more feature rich.

For the purposes of Second Life Blender can allow a user to design and create the files necessary to import sculpties as well as the "mesh" object type.

Support

The user base forms the core of the support mechanisms for Blender. Most users learn Blender through community tutorials and discussion forums on the internet such as Blender Artists [1].

There are many inworld Second Life user groups (in numerous languages) that are dedicated to helping and teaching blender users. Simply search for Blender in groups.

Numerous other sites, for example BlenderArt Magazine[2]—a free, downloadable magazine with each issue handling a particular area in 3D development—and BlenderNation, provide information on everything surrounding Blender, showcase new techniques and features, and provide tutorials and other guides.