Many artists have heard about how Blender’s AgX color transform is technically better than standard sRGB, Filmic, ACES, and others, but, in practice, struggle to actually get the colors they want while using it because the default results can look a bit dull, and certain colors like neon yellow are hard to produce. In this article, I’m going to show you exactly why that is, how AgX actually helps you get more vibrant colors rather than less, how the mysterious RAW color transform might be the key you’re looking for, and a few techniques for making colors pop in Blender that I haven’t seen anyb ..read more

Over the years our beloved Blender has grown and matured to become, in my opinion, the best 3D software available. With over 17 million downloads via blender.org, according to the 2022 Blender report, I don't think I am alone with my opinion. Instructors Assistants (IA's), Martin, Omar and myself have the privilege to be a part of CGCookie interacting with our awesome community. As part of our daily tasks we answer many questions from our community on cgcookie.com, our Discord server and I also respond to CGCookie related questions on the Blender Market. We often see the same questions repeat ..read more

Creating good materials doesn’t have to be too complicated, but it also isn’t a topic to breeze past because, if it’s done wrong, it can really make a render look fake or boring. I’ve seen hundreds of exercise submissions for the Fundamentals of Materials and Shading course and many more beginner renders from my time as a teacher. To be honest, I can sometimes copy and paste feedback because so many people miss the exact same things. In this article, I’ll show you what mistakes to avoid so that, even if you are a beginner, you can improve your renders right away. Not using roughness textures ..read more

Blender 4.1 is set to launch on March 19th. You can download a early version of it from Blender.org https://builder.blender.org/download/daily/ This new version of Blender maintains the consistent trend of enhancing both performance and user experience, adding several workflow enhancements crucial for modelers and animators.  I've had the chance to explore some of these updates and I'm excited to share my insights on Blender 4.1 with you. User Interface In the Outliner, double-clicking an object or collection icon will now select all of its children (a hugely requested feature!), and Appl ..read more

Welcome to the new year at CG Cookie! At the core of our mission lies a belief that drive isn't just an external push; it's an internal force, shaping how we see the world and inspiring us to pursue personal and professional growth relentlessly. Our commitment at CG Cookie, Blender Market, and Orange Turbine is to foster and elevate creatives in the Blender community. It's at the heart of everything we do.  As we embark on 2024, I encourage you to picture where you want to be a year from now - envision your knowledge, accomplishments, and the life you wish to lead. Dream ambitiously, th ..read more

In 2008, we were among the few regularly providing Blender education to the community. Now, 15 years on, the landscape has expanded with thousands of talented Blender enthusiasts sharing their expertise with communities, schools, and studios alike. As the options for learning Blender have expanded immensely, we're dedicated to continually evolving our offerings. We aim to curate Blender topics that satisfy your current interests and guide you toward future possibilities. Our mission is the same: to foster and elevate the creative minds within the Blender community.  Today, we achieve thi ..read more

The CG Cookie community has been contributing gorgeous Blender art into the ether for over 10 years. 2023 was no exception. This year we want to kickoff a new annual tradition: Student Reels! We've been hand-picking a list of head-turning artwork from the Gallery, Exercise submissions, Discord, and Social Networks since January. It's profoundly rewarding to see students apply what they've learned in unique, jaw-dropping ways. Featured Artwork & Artists GEOFFREY ORBAN, Pothead This is one of the best Pothead course results I've seen over the course's two year lifespan. The metallic materia ..read more

Right from the start of Martin's CG Cookie Membership, it was clear he had a goal in mind. He rapidly progressed through Blender tutorials, submitting many exercises, and it was a proud moment when he shared the news of securing his first job at a VFX studio. We suspected Martin might have gone from opening Blender for the first time to landing a job in just one year, but that seemed almost unbelievable. ? Curious, we inquired, and incredibly, it was true: the day he got the job offer marked exactly 365 days since he first downloaded Blender. How did he remember the exact date? By the creation ..read more

Every new Blender update brings fresh features, and we're here to walk you through what's changed. While Blender 4.0 is delayed one week, we feel confident talking about some of the thrilling updates, including interface changes, rendering upgrades, and new geometry nodes! Continue reading to learn about all of the improvements and how they might impact your workflow.  Note: Expect Blender 4.0 to be released on November 14th!  User Interface The first thing you might notice is that Blender has embraced the notch design and has returned to a flat background. There’s also a brand-new ..read more

As we prepare for the release of Blender 4.0, the hype surrounding Blender 4.1 and EEVEE Next is already bubbling to the surface. After some internet sleuthing and playing with demo scenes, here is what I found out so far.  In the upcoming release of Blender 4.1 on March 5th, 2024, Blender will be including Eevee Next, the next iteration of Eevee with the promise of virtually no limits to the number of lights in the scene, increased shadow resolutions, shader displacement, and a complete rewrite of baking. In this article, I’ll show you how to download Blender 4.1 and discuss some upcomi ..read more