Blender Portable for Windows

Truly amazing modeling, animation and rendering

Reviewing Blender Portable was like one of those nightmares where you suddenly realize that you are in deep water, but can't swim. Amazing in its variety, flexibility and features, Blender is a huge program, and no matter how thorough the review, it just doesn't seem to do it justice.

Blender Portable is a no-install version of the 3D content creation suite. As it doesn’t need installation, there is no messing around with managers or complicated set-up processes. You simply open the file, and away you go. For the uninitiated, the Blender Portable interface is a little overwhelming. There are a large number of different panels and bars, all full of explanations and icons, with tooltips for everything. The interface is also completely customizable, as you can add and remove sections as desired, as well as moving them around and resizing them.

Beneath the options menus are a world of functions, ranging from rigging and modeling to animation and game creation. In fact, Blender Portable has so many functions that listing them all here would take hours, so take a peek at the definitive feature guide here. Among the more surprising elements included in the program are a built-in text editor, audio playback/editing and a game engine.

Blender Portable has no configuration options to speak of as all the program's features can be toggled from the main interface. It is really a program for experts, or for users who hope to become much more proficient. Although there are good tutorials on the website that will get you making basic animations and 3D creations, Blender Portable is not a program that casual users would - or should - play around with. If 3D creation is your thing and you don't have a copy, you're almost certainly missing out.

Blender Portable is a hugely impressive 3D creation program that is very likely to scare off the uninitiated.