Blender

Blender is currently available on Steam.
 🛒 Get it on Steam for free (via Browser | Steam client*)
Supported OS: Windows • macOS • Linux + SteamOS (See system requirements)

Blender

Developer(s)

Blender Foundation

Initial release

Jan 2, 1994

Stable release

Nov 18, 2025
(5.0)

Written in

Operating system

Type

Model tool

Target engine(s)

Distribution

Freeware

Website

Website

Version

5.0

See also: Category:Blender for tutorials.

Blender is a free and open source 3D modeling package that can be used to create models for Source and Source 2. 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

Some of Blender's features include:

• 3D modelling.
• UV mapping
• 3D Texture painting.
• Texture baking (see Normal Map Creation in Maya | Note: this is for Maya same principles applies in ).
• Rigging & animations (see Skeletons and Rigging & Skeletal animation).
• Shape Keys (see Flex animation).

Tip: Use add-ons to import and export numerous different file types like SMD, DMX & FBX for your Source mods or the Steam Workshop.

Other useful features:

• Non-destructive modifiers (see Blender docs modifiers introduction).
• Sculpting.
• Node-based/procedural modelling & material shading.
• Physics simulation.

Blender and Source

• Follow the Blender for Source 2 tutorial to export a mesh from Blender to Source 2.
• Blender Source Tools can import and export SMD and DMX.
• SourceOps can also export SMD, and generate QC files.
• SourceIO can import models, maps, and textures from Source, Source 2, and GoldSrc.
• Source Engine Collision Tools can generate and optimize collision meshes for Source.
• 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 collections 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.

• Blender Documentation Hosted by Blender.org
•  YouTube Is probably the best place to begin learning blender

Getting help

Getting help with specific issues you are having.

•  Blender Community Discord Popular blender users discord

• Blender | Support portal Portal with a lot of place to find help. User Communities page also has links to non-english communities

External links

• Blender homepage
• Blender Documentation
• Steam Page

See also

• Anatomy of a Model