Sign In
Sign in
English

  BlenderRetrospective2017.jpg    


January 1, 2018 9:00 AM

 

by Editor in Chief

 

What was the biggest Blender news in 2017--especially for professional users of Blender? Here are some of the top 10 Blender news from 2016. Please remember hobbyist-grade news or well-known facts--such as the use of Blender in product and arch viz--may have been omitted. 

BR1710.jpg

  

10. Experimental & Third-Party Custom Blender Builds


Talented artists and specialists continued to develop amazing task-specific custom Blender builds. Among them are Fracture Modifier and Mantaflow.

Related link: 
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aOiiiiDSds
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m6hiHfYyz4
3. https://blender.community/c/today/vZbbbc/mantaflow-builds-available-on-sebbas-github-win64
4. BlenderNews.org http://graphicall.org/1199
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFREDHkAMZU
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i17Wod4k-o4&feature=youtu.be
BR1709.jpg

  

9. AMD and Nvidia Battle over Speed for Blender Cycles


AMD seems to have an upper hand in lower-end cards while Nvidia has it in its high-end cards.
Related link: 
1. https://code.blender.org/2017/11/cycles-benchmarks-nvidia-update/
2. https://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Dev:Source/Render/Cycles/OpenCL
3. https://pro.radeon.com/en/software/prorender/
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SoNUeAPtgk 

BR1708.jpg   


8. Massive Exodus of General 3D Forum Visitors
to a Blender-related Forum

An interesting phenomenon has been confirmed in 2017. The number of daily users of Blenderartists.org now almost doubles that of a world-renounced general 3D forum site--cgtalk.com. "It used to be the other way around just a few years ago," says a frequent visitor of both sites. Check it out yourself. It might reflect increased popularity of Blender at least among hobbyists, freelancers, and small studios. It's a phenomenon major players in the industry cannot afford to ignore.
Some have already made the move. Last year, Maxon has made Cycles available in C4D. This year, AMD has become an official sponsor for Blender Conference and worked closely with Blender developers to make Cycles work in AMD graphic cards. And AXYZ has added export option for Blender in its 2017 version of ANIMA

Related link: 

1. http://forums.cgsociety.org/

2. https://blenderartists.org/forum/index.php

3. https://www.blender.org/conference/2017/news/announcing-blender-conference-2017-sponsors

4. http://cgpress.org/archives/cycles-coming-to-cinema-4d.html

5. http://blendernews.org/xe/Feature_Articles/13294

6. https://www.blender.org/press/industry-support-for-blender/


BR1707.jpg

  

7. Blender Noted for Industrial Use


2017 saw a Blend4Web-powered project won a Red Dot Award. And a jewelry brand "Caviar", a Russian-Italian company specializing in bespoke iPhones, Samsungs, have designed 3D-constructor of mobile phones. 
Moreover, Softsynth UIs of music industry's major players such as KORG turned out to have been made using Blender.

Related links: 
1. https://www.blendernation.com/2017/11/11/phone-configurator-made-blend4web/
2. https://www.blend4web.com/en/community/article/357/
3. https://yandex.com/everest/
4. http://blendernews.org/xe/Feature_Articles/13612

BR1706.jpg   

6. Blender Conference 2017


Held on 27~29 October, this year's Blender Conference turned out to be most informative ever. Please check out the recorded sessions on official youtube channel

Related link: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa1F2ddGya_9XER0wnFS6Mgnp3T-hgSZO
BR1705.jpg

 

5. New Short Films Released by Blender Animation Studio 


"Agent 327" was released with good reviews. "The Daily Dweebs"--a pilot episode--also successfully demonstrated Blender's capabilities.
Related link: 
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN0zPOpADL4
2. https://cloud.blender.org/p/agent-327/blog/gold-award-at-the-aeaf-festival
3. https://cloud.blender.org/p/agent-327/blog/more-festival-selections-klik-and-siggraph-asia
4. https://cloud.blender.org/p/agent-327/blog/agent-327-selected-for-stash126
5. https://cloud.blender.org/p/agent-327/blog/festivals-update-tmmf-himpff-nafa-spark
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJnKaAtBPhA
7. https://www.dailydweebs.com/

BR1704_.jpg

 

4. Use of Blender for Films & VFX


With Barnstorm VFX nominated for VES award for their outstanding work on the TV series “The Man in the High Castle,” Blender has been noted by industry experts and have been used in impressive projects.
Related link: 
1. https://www.blender.org/user-stories/visual-effects-for-the-man-in-the-high-castle/
2. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-one-dutchman-changed-world-david-andrade/
3. https://www.blender.org/user-stories/title-design-from-wonder-woman-to-xxx/
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QiBJB0-okA
5. https://vimeo.com/202027380
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmCmpb3UGg4&t=2m52s
7. https://www.artstation.com/artwork/LXAGA
BR1703.jpg

 

3. Blender-specific Third Party Add-ons and Products


Growing number of third-party add-ons and products are making Blender more attractive than ever--sometimes even irresistible.
Among them are Animation Nodes, Boxcutter, and Hardops.

Related link: 
1. https://www.blendermarket.com/
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB8R_xPpaSc
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U7U-4ar91w

BR1702.jpg 

2. Blender 2.79 Released 

Among new features that will have a profound impact on real production includes Denoiser, Filmic Blender, and improved
Grease Pencil. 
Not to be overlooked are many new built-in add-ons to be explored

Related link: 
1. https://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Dev:Ref/Release_Notes/2.79
2. https://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Dev:Ref/Release_Notes/2.79/Add-ons
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuGYwZX35u4
BR1701.jpg

  

1. Real-time Rendering in Blender Evee


Evee--Blender's new production-quality realtime rendering capability became the hottest Blender news in 2017. 
Even before its official release in Blender 2.8 and with limited features, "early-adapters" have released stunning results.
You too can test it yourself with the latest test builds released by Blender Foundation.

Related link: 
https://code.blender.org/2017/12/blender-2-8-xmas-report/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWSBYZ6bd7U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3H3G_YwU_I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LydQVCj8ICg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmZVpc9sJOM&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAVjwXEjDdo

List of Articles
No. Subject Author Views Votes Date Last Update
Notice Blender Retrospectives 2020 Blender Retrospective 211129   Feb 20, 2021 Feb 21, 2021 01:20
Notice Tutorials Free Online Blender Tutorials Released in 2019 Worthy of Your Note - for Animation & VFX file 563268   Jan 25, 2020 Mar 24, 2020 10:13
Notice Tutorials Free Online Blender Tutorials Released in 2019 Worthy of Your Note - for CG, Games & Viz file 426360   Jan 25, 2020 Mar 24, 2020 10:13
Notice Tutorials Top 12 Free Online Blender Tutorials Released in 2019 file 432119   Jan 25, 2020 Mar 24, 2020 10:15
Notice Tutorials Top 15 Highest-Rated Free Online Blender Tutorials Released in 2019 file 376022   Jan 25, 2020 Mar 24, 2020 10:12
Notice Tutorials Free Online Blender Tutorials Released in 2018 for Blender 2.8 file 345182   Jan 23, 2019 Jan 23, 2019 23:35
Notice Tutorials Free Online Blender Tutorials Released in 2018 Worthy of Your Note - for CG, Games & Viz file 684481   Jan 23, 2019 Jan 25, 2019 23:34
Notice Tutorials Free Online Blender Tutorials Released in 2018 Worthy of Your Note - for Animation & VFX file 408552   Jan 23, 2019 Jan 23, 2019 15:48
Notice Tutorials Top 12 Free Online Blender Tutorials Released in 2018 file 345090   Jan 23, 2019 Jan 25, 2019 10:33
Notice Render of the Year Render of the Year Awards 2018: Winners Annouced file 381822   Jan 02, 2019 Jan 02, 2019 13:20
Notice Blender Retrospectives 2018 Blender Retrospective file 376216   Jan 02, 2019 Jan 02, 2019 13:42
Notice Tutorials Top 12 Free Online Blender Tutorials Released in 2017 file 969161   Jan 09, 2018 Jan 25, 2019 23:35
Notice Blender Retrospectives 2017 Blender Retrospective file Admin 696947   Jan 01, 2018 Jan 09, 2018 04:55
Notice Render of the Year Render of the Year Awards 2017: Winners Annouced file 550929   Dec 26, 2017 Jan 09, 2018 04:55
Notice Tutorials Top 12 Free Online Blender Tutorials (Videos) Released in 2016 file 765560   Jan 16, 2017 Jan 16, 2017 05:18
Notice Blender Retrospectives 2016 Blender Retrospective file 1060470   Dec 29, 2016 Feb 01, 2017 10:28
Notice Render of the Year Render of the Year Awards 2015: Seven Winners Annouced file 790713   Jan 20, 2016 Feb 02, 2016 03:35
Notice Blender Retrospectives 2015 Blender Retrospective file 762433   Jan 12, 2016 Feb 20, 2016 22:40
Notice Tutorials Top 12 Free Online Blender Tutorials Released in 2015 file 805784   Jun 26, 2015 Jan 01, 2016 05:33
Notice Render of the Year Render of the Year Awards 2014: Five Winners Annouced file 813999   Jan 02, 2015 Jan 02, 2015 16:04
Notice Tutorials Top 12 Free Online Blender Tutorials Released in 2014 file 852867   Dec 11, 2014 Jan 24, 2015 21:31
248 Render of the Week '... Reality TV?' by Didier Barreteau - the Winner of the Week of September 22, 2014 file 37432   Sep 22, 2014 Sep 22, 2014 17:42
 
247 Product Visualization PRODUCT VISUALIZATION IN BLENDER for the week of September 22, 2014 file 33265   Sep 22, 2014 Sep 22, 2014 17:12
 
246 Render of the Week 'Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea' by Grant Parsley - the Winner of the Week of September 15, 2014 file 37494   Sep 15, 2014 Sep 15, 2014 17:42
 
245 Architectural Visualization ARCHITECTURAL VISUALIZATION IN BLENDER for the week of September 15, 2014 file 39870   Sep 15, 2014 Sep 15, 2014 17:04
 
244 Product Visualization PRODUCT VISUALIZATION IN BLENDER for the week of September 8, 2014 file 34665   Sep 08, 2014 Sep 08, 2014 21:33
 
243 Render of the Week 'Mercenaries' by Kalinin Dmitrii - the Winner of the Week of September 1, 2014 file 36101   Sep 01, 2014 Sep 01, 2014 23:26
 
242 Architectural Visualization ARCHITECTURAL VISUALIZATION IN BLENDER for the week of September 1, 2014 file 32588   Sep 01, 2014 Sep 01, 2014 22:22
 
241 Render of the Week 'Rainy Day in the Forest' by Niko Maisuradze - the Winner of the Week of August 25, 2014 file 34706   Aug 26, 2014 Aug 26, 2014 17:15
 
240 Product Visualization PRODUCT VISUALIZATION IN BLENDER for the week of August 25, 2014 file 32623   Aug 26, 2014 Aug 26, 2014 16:56
 
239 Render of the Week 'Green Basilisk' by Michael Grebstad - the Winner of the Week of August 18, 2014 file 38291   Aug 18, 2014 Aug 18, 2014 22:37
 
238 Architectural Visualization ARCHITECTURAL VISUALIZATION IN BLENDER for the week of August 18, 2014 file 33052   Aug 18, 2014 Aug 18, 2014 22:15
 
237 Render of the Week 'The Waterfall House' by Mateusz Kociolek - the Winner of the Week of August 11, 2014 file 37719   Aug 11, 2014 Aug 11, 2014 13:15
 
236 Product Visualization PRODUCT VISUALIZATION IN BLENDER for the week of August 11, 2014 file 33234   Aug 11, 2014 Aug 11, 2014 12:29
 
235 Render of the Week 'Fiend of Chaos' by Kfir Merlaub - the Winner of the Week of August 4, 2014 file 33871   Aug 05, 2014 Aug 05, 2014 21:09
 
234 Architectural Visualization ARCHITECTURAL VISUALIZATION IN BLENDER for the week of August 4, 2014 file 34628   Aug 05, 2014 Aug 05, 2014 20:22
 
233 Render of the Week 'Gladiador de las arenas' by Pablo Rethemias - the Winner of the Week of July 28, 2014 file 34740   Jul 29, 2014 Jul 29, 2014 03:35
 
232 Product Visualization PRODUCT VISUALIZATION IN BLENDER for the week of July 28, 2014 file 32059   Jul 29, 2014 Jul 29, 2014 03:11
 
231 Render of the Week 'Construction Site' by Roberto Dailey - the Winner of the Week of July 21, 2014 file 38416   Jul 21, 2014 Jul 21, 2014 22:33
 
230 Blender Whiz The Artist Behind 'Creek:' Abdul-mu'min Smith file 49361   Jul 21, 2014 Jul 21, 2014 22:05
 
229 Render of the Week 'Nectar: Media Center Bar' by Enrico Cerica - the Winner of the Week of July 14, 2014 file 36268   Jul 14, 2014 Jul 14, 2014 12:45