blender
3D creation suite for modeling, animation, and rendering
TLDR
Start Blender GUI
$ blender
Open file$ blender [model.blend]
Render in background$ blender -b [scene.blend] -a
Render specific frame$ blender -b [scene.blend] -f [10]
Execute Python script$ blender --python [script.py]
SYNOPSIS
blender [options] [file]
DESCRIPTION
blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite. It supports the entire 3D pipeline: modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, motion tracking, and video editing.
The software is used for creating animated films, visual effects, games, and 3D printed models.
PARAMETERS
-b, --background
Run in background (no GUI)-a, --render-anim
Render animation-f, --render-frame n
Render specific frame-s n -e n
Set start and end frames-o path
Set render output path--python file
Execute Python script--python-expr expr
Execute Python expression-x n
Set render extension-E engine
Render engine (BLENDER_EEVEE, CYCLES)
BACKGROUND RENDERING
$ # Render animation
blender -b scene.blend -a
# Render frames 1-100
blender -b scene.blend -s 1 -e 100 -a
# Render single frame to PNG
blender -b scene.blend -o //output_#### -f 1
# Use Cycles engine
blender -b scene.blend -E CYCLES -a
blender -b scene.blend -a
# Render frames 1-100
blender -b scene.blend -s 1 -e 100 -a
# Render single frame to PNG
blender -b scene.blend -o //output_#### -f 1
# Use Cycles engine
blender -b scene.blend -E CYCLES -a
PYTHON SCRIPTING
$ # script.py
import bpy
# Create cube
bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add()
# Render
bpy.ops.render.render(write_still=True)
import bpy
# Create cube
bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add()
# Render
bpy.ops.render.render(write_still=True)
CAVEATS
Heavy resource usage. Learning curve is steep. Background rendering requires all dependencies. GPU rendering needs compatible drivers. Python API version-specific.
HISTORY
Blender was originally created by Ton Roosendaal in 1995 as in-house software, open-sourced in 2002 under GPL and has since become one of the most popular 3D creation tools.