If you're interested in 3D art, animation, character design, video game development, or even in using 3D modeling to support your 2D digital drawing and illustration practice, Blender is one of the best software applications to learn. It's free, full-featured, and there are tons of resources online for learning to wield it. One of those resources is CG Cookie.
CG Cookie is an online learning community that provides a wealth of Blender software tutorials and trainings, with a bunch of expert instructors and hours upon hours of free and paid courses. If you aren't sure where to start, the recently updated Blender Basics course from CG Cookie is a great option – whether you're completely new to the world of 3D graphics, are switching to Blender from another 3D Software, or have been away from the software for a while and want to get caught up with new features.
Check out the first video below, which gives an overview of what the course covers. It's based on Blender 4.5 LTS. While Blender 5.0 is being released later this year, CG Cookie recommends beginners start with 4.5 LTS.
You don’t need any 3D experience to learn Blender. This course is made for beginners and will teach you how to navigate Blender, model objects, and create basic animations. In this course, you’ll learn Blender essentials like navigation, modeling tools, object selection, modifiers, materials, and rendering. It’s the ideal starting point for anyone wanting to learn Blender from scratch.
Why Blender?
Blender is the fastest-growing 3D software in the world, downloaded over 17 million times in a single year. It’s completely free and open source, and now supported by industry giants like Adobe, Meta, and Epic Games. It’s not just a powerful alternative to expensive software – it’s a thriving creative ecosystem used by hobbyists, freelancers, game devs, and studios alike.
Blender is a great choice for beginners interested in animation or game development. This course introduces you to Blender’s key tools so you can start creating models, environments, and even simple animations right away.
Blender Basics by CG Cookie – What the course covers
This course walks you through the essentials – navigating the 3D Viewport, selecting and transforming objects, editing mesh components, and more – everything you need to create your first 3D model in Blender.
Chapter 1: Intro to 3D Space
The first chapter starts off with a brief overview of Blender and introduces you to the world of 3D by demonstrating how to navigate and work with objects.
Chapter 2: Editing Objects
In Chapter 2, things will start to really take off as you learn numerous ways to edit objects, many of them easier than you might expect! The course tackles instancing, advanced transforms, basic modeling tools, and much MUCH more!
Chapter 3: The Blender Way
Lastly, you'll learn the basics of each of the main areas of Blender, from animation to sculpting, as well as how to set yourself up for success going forward.
Ready to sign up?
Whether you want to create 3D models, animate your own short films, explore lighting and rendering, or build visual effects, this course gives you the foundation to start bringing your ideas to life in Blender 4.5. Click here to sign up and take the whole free course!
About CG Cookie
CG Cookie is an online resource for anyone looking to learn 3D. Learn at your own pace with in-depth courses from professional instructors, who have vast professional experience in the world of 3D and are also great teachers. A CG Cookie membership gives you instant access to every course, which you can stream or download to work offline. You can also get access to instructor feedback, project file downloads, and a supportive community.
