Special effects

ADB wrote on 2/9/2008, 12:10 AM

I've been using a 3D modelling product called Blender over the past few weeks. It is an ideal adjunct to VMS for almost any sort of effect you can think of, smoke, fire, explosions, solids interactions, animated titles, even splashes and fluid flow. It's quite an amazing product and what is most amazing is that it's free, with no spyware - Blender.org

Comments

Eugenia wrote on 2/11/2008, 5:01 PM

Yeah, too bad that it's on-purpose a pain to use. Before Blender became open source it was left to have this weird usability, just so they can sell the manual. And after becoming open source, little has changed towards a better usability.

I met its creators back in 1999 in London btw, at a trade show (I went there as a reporter for the now defunct BeNews.com ). Good guys though.

ADB wrote on 2/14/2008, 4:19 PM

The manual is also free ... just click on help ... although I do prefer written manuals. There's heaps of tutorials (video and written) around as well that cover just about everything.

I've used 3D Studio as well and moving to Blender does take a bit of time getting used to the interface. However, the interface may even be more efficient once it is mastered. Once over the initial learning hump, it is fairly straightforward. It is an incredibly powerful product and it also takes a while to learn the full scope of what it can do.