Blender is a free and open source 3D creation suite that is a real alternative to commercially available 3D design software. A cross-platform software package with millions of downloads annually, Blender is now one of the world"s most popular 3D design tools. Although Blender is free, it"s intended for design professionals and others motivated to become 3D artists. "The Essential Blender" will provide you with the knowledge you need to help integrate Blender into your work and begin to master its powerful creation tools. If you"ve never tried 3D design before, an introductory chapter will familiarize you with relevant terminology and concepts. If you"re already experienced with commercial 3D software, "The Essential Blender" will get you up to speed with Blender quickly. After a tour of Blender"s 3D modeling, animation, and rendering capabilities, you"ll learn how best to use Blender for these tasks: Object manipulation and animation. ...