Why Is Blender Considered an Amateur Software by the Professional Industry

Blender is a powerful and versatile open-source software, used to create 3D models, animations, and visual effects. It has been used in the professional industry countless times. Many Marvel projects have used Blender for pre-vis, a famous example being in Captain America Winter Soldier, where it is used to simulate the helicarrier crash. Another example is in Next Gen, a Netflix movie where Blender is used as the main 3d software. The final and clearest example is the Blender short-films. These short films released by the Blender team clearly showcase Blender’s strength as 3d software.

However, despite its impressive capabilities and resume, it is often perceived as amateur software by the professional industry. This perception has led to many people overlooking Blender as a viable option for their 3D projects. Instead, many opt for more established software, such as Maya or 3DS Max. This then begs the question, why is Blender seen as an amateur software? In this blog, we’ll explore some of the reasons behind this perception and some solutions.

Blender’s History

Blender has only in recent times become popular. Blender was created by Ton Roosendaal in the late 1990s and has been on quite a journey to reach where it is now. Originally designed as an in-house tool for Dutch animation studio, NeoGeo, Blender was initially a closed-source software. However, everything changed in 2002. Ton Roosendaal created the Blender Foundation and released Blender as an open-source software. This allowed developers and users around the world to help contribute to the development of the software. Over the years, Blender has received many significant improvements. Today, known for its user-friendly interface, extensive features, and open-source nature, Blender is widely used by indie devs and freelancers.

Blender’s Community

The first reason for being called an amateur’s software is its community. Blender’s community is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, Blender’s open-source nature has created a vibrant and supportive community of users. However, because Blender is free and widely available, it has also attracted a large number of hobbyists and amateurs who may not be as serious about 3D modeling as professionals. As a result, some professionals may view Blender as a tool for hobbyists rather than a serious 3D software.

The Mindset of the Industry

The second reason is the industry mindset. Blender is a powerful tool, yet it has the biggest non-professional user base and lacks professional support. Because of this, Blender has not yet reached that level and is still on its journey. However, it can not reach that level if the industry continues to see Blender as an alternative or freelancer software.

Professional SUpport

Blender does not yet have professional support, which is essential for any industry level software to operate effectively in a professional environment. Professional support is the assistance the software developers or a dedicated support team provide to ensure that the software operates effectively.

Blender does not have this capability, as it is run as a small non-profit organization that relies on donations. Blender has already accomplished much, but can do more if they receive funding from professionals. If the professional industry invests into Blender, they can radically change and quickly reach industry standards.

Industry Teachings

The industry is currently set in an endless loop with the mindset that Blender is not a professional software. In art school, students are taught to use the current industry standard softwares of Maya, zBrush, and Nuke. Once entering the industry, students will stay with the softwares they were taught. These fresh recruits will then mature in the career. Then the loop will repeat as they now teach students to use the same softwares they use.

Fortunately, this loop can be broken if the industry is willing to invest into Blender Foundation. This will give a win-win situation to all. Freelancers, hobbyists, and indie devs will have access to software that has improved features. For the professional industry, they will gain the capabilities of Nuke, Maya, zBrush, and countless other softwares all in one free package.

How is Blender the Jack of All Trades

Finally, Blender is seen as a jack of all trades, master of none. Blender is powerful and versatile for modeling, texturing, and animating. However, many forget that it is also capable of video editing, scripting, drawing, and 2D animation. Because of its wide range in capabilities, Blender is seen as capable of everything, but unable to master any of them. However, this has changed in recent times. Blender has become more powerful in modeling with Blender 2.9, materials and lighting in Blender 3.0, and Blender 3.5 has updated sculpting and hair. While Blender may not be the best in every field, it is still very capable and has been catching up with other softwares. Blender is unique because one software has the capabilities of 5 different softwares. No longer do artists need to download multiple softwares, Blender can cover all those fields.

Blender’s Future as the Industry Standard

In conclusion, Blender is a capable and versatile 3D software that is able to compete with the established industry standards like Maya and 3DS Max. While in the past it may have been perceived as software for amateurs, this perception is becoming increasingly outdated. With continually evolving features and a growing community of professional users, Blender has become a serious tool for anyone looking to create stunning 3D models, animations, and visual effects.