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Blender is a 3D creation suite that can be used to model video game characters. You can also use it to create compelling artwork, gifts, diagrams, screencasts and more.
The software is free to use but you may need detailed guidance to help you navigate its features. Look no further than an online Blender course to get started.
A Quick Look: Best Blender Courses
Here’s a sneak peek at Benzinga’s top picks:
- Blender Essential Training by LinkedIn Learning
- Complete Blender Creator: Learn 3D Modelling for Beginners by Udemy
- Blender 2.8: Your First Day — Get the Basics Right by Film VFX
- Blender: Tips, Tricks and Techniques by LinkedIn Learning
- Basic 3D Animation using Blender by edX
- Blender: Hard Surface Modeling by LinkedIn Learning
- Blender Character Creation for Games and Animation by Udemy
- Advanced Prop Modeling — 3D Modeling in Blender by Udemy
- Become a Material Guru in Blender 2.8x, Cycles by Udemy
What Makes a Blender Course Great?
Need a checklist that can help you determine which course is best? Check for these qualifications.
1. Taught by an Experienced Professional
Does the instructor have experience working with Blender? Is he or she able to communicate the core concepts in a way that's easy to comprehend? Look at online reviews and check out his or her bio on LinkedIn to make sure the instructor is a good fit for you.
2. Includes Hands-On Demonstrations and Projects
You won’t know if you really understand Blender and how it works until you use the 3D production suite. Classes that task students with completing projects are a plus. It also helps if the instructor offers demonstrations beforehand.
3. Affordable
It’s not necessary to break the bank to enroll in a Blender course. Begin with a free option if money’s tight and invest in paid classes as your budget permits.
Our Top Picks
We’ve analyzed several options and narrowed down the list to the top 9 Blender courses. Our picks are from LinkedIn Learning, Skillshare and Udemy.
The courses are categorized by skill level — beginners, intermediate students and advanced students. We’ve also included a description and price point to help you find the perfect Blender course for you.
Blender Course for Beginners
You may find these courses useful if you’re just getting started with Blender.
1. Blender Essential Training by LinkedIn Learning (Formerly Lynda.com)
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: Included in the monthly membership
Learn how to model, animate and render 3D graphics using Blender with this introductory course from LinkedIn Learning. You’ll also learn how to edit basic objects and apply materials, textures and lighting to scenes.
The course is taught by George Maestri, animation director and producer, and spans a little over 9 hours and includes 12 modules. Course material is delivered through video lectures and there’s also a quiz at the end of each module.
Enrollment is included with a $29.99 monthly LinkedIn membership or you can register for free by signing up for a 1-month trial.
2. Complete Blender Creator: Learn 3D Modeling for Beginners by Udemy
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: $194.99
This bestselling course by Udemy introduces the fundamentals of Blender, animation and modeling. You will learn how to use the open-source software to model your own digital assets that can be used for virtual home plans, video games, 3D printing and more.
You’ll have instant access to 64.5 hours of on-demand video, 6 articles and 19 downloadable resources when you enroll for $194.99. The course is also backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied for any reason.
The class is led by technology teacher Michael Bridges and game creator Rick Davidson.
You should have access to a PC or Mac that can run Blender Version 2.77 or above before enrolling.
3. Blender 2.8: Your First Day — Get the Basics Right by Film VFX
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: Free
If you're just getting started with Blender 2.8, this course may be a good fit. It’s offered by Film VFX and can help you get acclimated with the open-source software without growing overwhelmed or frustrated.
You will learn the basics of Blender along with best practices for modeling workflow and using reference images. The course also teaches you how to create a model, illuminate the scene and shade the model.
The class includes 6 core lessons:
- Blender 2.8 Course Introduction
- Blender 2.8 Introduction and Interface
- Blender 2.8 Modeling
- Blender Camera and Lighting
- Blender 2.8 Shading and Rendering
- Rendering Variations of Your Model
Enrollment is free and there are no prerequisites.
Intermediate Blender Courses
Consider these intermediate courses if you have experience using Blender.
4. Blender: Tips, Tricks and Techniques by LinkedIn Learning (Formerly Lynda.com)
- Who it's for: Intermediate students
- Price: Included in the monthly membership
This 13-hour course covers Blender fundamentals and ways to leverage its features. You will learn about materials and multi-scatter GGX, render settings, Rigify, compositing and mesh editing tools, just to name a few.
There's no cost to enroll if you have a $29.99 monthly LinkedIn membership. You can also grab a free seat by registering for a 1-month trial.
The class is taught by award-winning animator David Andrade. He's also the co-founder of Theory Studios and has experience working with movies and games like R.I.P.D. and Transformers. Andrade earned a degree from the University of Tampa in the Animation Mentor's Inaugural class.
5. Basic 3D Animation using Blender by edX
- Who it's for: Intermediate students
- Price: Free
Basic 3D Animation using Blender is a part of the Fundamentals of 3D Visualization professional certificate program from IIT Bombay. It’s a 4-week course that takes an in-depth look at Blender and teaches you how to explore 3D visualization concepts and create 3D animation using motion. You will also learn how to achieve perfect timing in your animations.
The course is free or you can pay $49 to receive a verified certificate when you reach the finish line. Expect to complete the course in 4 weeks if you work at a pace of 4 to 6 hours each week.
Complete SKANI101x: Basic 3D Modeling using Blender before you sign up.
6. Blender: Hard Surface Modeling by LinkedIn Learning (Formerly Lynda.com)
- Who it's for: Advanced students
- Price: Included in the monthly membership
Looking to acquire the necessary skills to model hard surface objects? Consider this intermediate course from LinkedIn Learning that will show you how to use Blender to get the job done.
The class comprised of 5 modules that walks you through the process from start to finish:
- Establishing the Foundation Forms
- Connecting Forms
- Creating the Interior
- Adding Details
- Materials, Textures and Rendering
Instructor Darrin Lile is a 3D artist, animator and writer. He currently serves as a full-time faculty member at the Art Institute of Wisconsin.
A seat in this course is free with a $29.99 monthly LinkedIn membership. Or you can test drive the course by signing up for a 1-month trial.
Advanced Blender Courses
Accelerate your 3D modeling skills with these advanced Blender courses.
7. Blender Character Creation for Games and Animation by Udemy
- Who it's for: Advanced students
- Price: $19.99
Whether you want to sharpen your character creation skills for the workplace or your own company, you may find this course useful. You will discover an easy step-by-step process to create characters for games and animation using Blender.
Also taught by Darrin Lile, the class includes 91 lectures packed into 15 hours of on-demand video and 92 downloadable resources to supplement your learning.
It’s $19.99 to enroll and you’ll receive a certificate of completion when you reach the end of the course. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied with the material for any reason.
Make sure you have a basic understanding of Blender before signing up. You should also have access to a graphics tablet.
8. Advanced Prop Modeling — 3D Modeling in Blender by Udemy
- Who it's for: Advanced students
- Price: $99.99
This course is another highly-rated selection from Udemy that will help you master 3D modeling in Blender. It’s designed for professionals who want to hone their 3D modeling, texturing, rendering and exporting skills.
Advanced Prop Modeling — 3D Modeling in Blender includes 6 hours of on-demand video, 1 article and 2 downloadable resources on an array of integral topics. These include hard surface modeling, UV unwrapping, organic modeling, finish the model and textures, shading and rendering.
The class is offered by Concept Courses and facilitated by Timothy Trankle, a 3D modeler, FX artist and game developer.
It’s $99.99 to enroll and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. You should have access to Blender 2.8 and a working knowledge of the program before signing up.
9. Become a Material Guru in Blender 2.8x, Cycles by Udemy
- Who it's for: Advanced students
- Price: $49.99
Become a Material Guru in Blender 2.8x, Cycles is hot off the press and already has stellar reviews from students. It’s the most comprehensive online course that covers creating materials and texturing using Cycles.
The $49.99 enrollment fee includes full lifetime access to 89 lectures jam-packed into 12.5 hours of on-demand video. You will also receive 32 downloadable resources to enhance your knowledge of the material introduced in the lessons.
Facilitator Joakim Tornhill is a Blender expert and highly-rated Udemy instructor.
Make sure you have a working knowledge of Blender and access to the tool before you register for a seat in the class.
Choose the Right Blender Course for You
As you search for the best Blender course, confirm that the instructor is an experienced professional that has hands-on experience using the creation suite. The class should also include hands-on demonstrations and projects so you can practice applying your skills.
Consider our list of top Blender courses to facilitate your search and get you on the right track to Blender mastery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can beginners learn to use Blender easily?
Blender has a learning curve. Using tutorials and courses, you can become proficient.
How long does it take you to learn Blender?
You can learn it in 2 to 3 months as a beginner. If you have more experience, you can become proficient in 1 to 2 months.
Southern New Hampshire University Online
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