Blender

This software/tool is available on Steam. Launch it now* or buy it here.
*Only works if Steam has been installed, please install Steam if you haven't already.

See Category:Blender for tutorials.

Blender is a free and open source 3D modeling package that can be used to create models for Source. Blender has also been available on Steam since April 3 2015, it comes with automatic updates but has no support for the in-app steam overlay currently.

Features

Blender offers free 3D modelling and texture mapping features.

• You can create texture, and animate models.
• Use addons to import and export numerous different file types like SMD and DMX for your Source mods or the Steam Workshop.

Blender and Source

• Follow the Blender for Source 2 tutorial to export a mesh from Blender to Source 2.
• The Blender Source Tools can import and export SMD and DMX.
• Similarly Blender VertexLitGeneric can help you design and export materials for models.
• VertexLitGeneric OSL is a VertexLitGeneric shader implementation for the Blender Cycles ray-tracing engine, supported by Open Shading Language.
• See Animation in Blender to learn how to rig and animate in a way that survives SMD export.
• You can store as many models as you like in the same .blend file. Use scenes and/or layers to easily manage the different elements.

Where can I learn to use Blender?

Although the Valve Developer Community has limited information about using Blender, we offer a variety of external resources for you to learn and master Blender.

• Official Blender Manual - The definitive manual on Blender 2.6, provided by and hosted on the Blender website.

• Blender 3D: Noob to Pro A helpful online resource book hosted on WikiBooks, a site that runs on the same format as this site.

• Blender Basics - 4th Edition an online(but printable) classroom textbook released under Creative Commons BY the Central Dauphin High School.

External links

• Blender homepage