Blender 3.5

SOFTWARE REVIEW - PRICE Free COMPANY Blender WEBSITE blender.org

- Paul Hatton

Since Blender 3.0 was released in 2021 we've been treated to a number of iterations, and we're now at version 3.5. The past 18 months have seen improvements in every area of the software including modelling, animation and rendering, as well as the asset management.

Version 3.5 ships with some stonking new features and improvements including a Vector Displacement Map (VDM) brush for sculpting, a set of assets to use with the incredible hair system, and a Viewport compositing experience that promises to be particularly useful. Not only that, but the update also includes new nodes for procedural modelling and image processing, lighting improvements, and Grease Pencil advancements among many other changes.

VECTOR DISPLACEMENT MAP BRUSH

The feature I was most impressed by in this release was the all-new VDM brush; sculpting brush that enables displacement of the mesh in three different dimensions. Those familiar with Mudbox and ZBrush will wonder what all the fuss is about, but advanced and bespoke features like this in a nonspecialist piece of software are exciting, especially when that software is absolutely free.