What is BLEND?

BLEND files are Blender's native format - complete project files containing everything: 3D models (meshes, curves, surfaces), materials/shaders (Cycles, Eevee), textures, animations (keyframes, rigging), physics simulations (fluids, cloth, particles), compositing nodes, video editing data, Python scripts, and more. Binary format with gzip compression. Backward and forward compatible across Blender versions (mostly). Completely open specification - anyone can read/write BLEND files.

Blender is the leading open-source 3D software - used in film (Spider-Verse, Next Gen), games, architectural visualization, product design, and VFX. BLEND files are self-contained project files for: 3D modeling, sculpting, animation, rigging, VFX, video editing, motion graphics, and rendering. Blender rivals Maya, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D while remaining free. Massive community, tutorials, and assets. Exports to FBX, OBJ, glTF for other software/game engines. BLEND files unique to Blender ecosystem but represent complete creative workflows.

Did you know? Blender is 100% free and open source - professional-grade 3D for everyone!

History

Ton Roosendaal created Blender as an in-house 3D tool, later open-sourced by the Blender Foundation, growing into industry-standard free 3D software.

Key Milestones

  • 1994: Blender 1.0 (in-house NeoGeo)
  • 2002: Open-sourced under GPL
  • 2008: Big Buck Bunny film
  • 2015: Cycles rendering engine
  • 2019: Blender 2.80 (modern UI)
  • Present: Film/game industry adoption

Key Features

Core Capabilities

  • Modeling: Mesh, NURBS, sculpting
  • Animation: Rigging, keyframes, motion paths
  • Rendering: Cycles (ray tracing), Eevee (real-time)
  • Simulation: Fluids, cloth, physics
  • VFX: Compositing, tracking
  • Video Editing: Built-in NLE

Common Use Cases

Animation

Films, short films, TV

Game Assets

3D models for games

VFX

Visual effects, compositing

Arch Viz

Architectural rendering

Advantages

  • 100% free and open source
  • Professional-grade features
  • All-in-one tool (modeling, animation, VFX, video)
  • Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux)
  • Active community and resources
  • No subscription or licensing costs
  • Open BLEND file specification

Disadvantages

  • BLEND files only open in Blender
  • Steep learning curve
  • Less industry adoption than Maya/3ds Max
  • Version compatibility issues occasionally
  • Limited direct studio pipeline integration
  • Requires export (FBX/OBJ) for other tools

Technical Information

Format Specifications

Specification Details
File Extension .blend
MIME Type application/x-blender
Format Binary (gzip compressed)
Contents Complete Blender project data
License Open specification (GPL)
Export FBX, OBJ, glTF, Alembic, USD

Common Tools

  • Primary: Blender (free, open source)
  • Rendering: Cycles (ray tracing), Eevee (real-time)
  • Export: FBX (Unity/Unreal), OBJ, glTF, USD
  • Scripting: Python API for automation