The Ultimate Guide to Getting Started with Blender in 2025

Matt the Creator

12/16/2024

First thing's first, What is Blender?

Blender 3D is a free, powerful software used to create 3D models, animations, and special effects. It allows you to design objects, paint textures, animate movements, and render realistic images or videos, all within one program. Whether you're a beginner or pro, Blender offers a wide range of tools to create anything from simple shapes to complex scenes. It's an amazing, all-in-one platform that’s perfect for artists, filmmakers, and game developers, with plenty of tutorials available to help you get started.

Master the Basics

Let’s be real: the Blender interface can look like a spaceship cockpit. But once you know your way around, it becomes a second home. Before you start sculpting dragons or animating explosions, you need to master the essentials.

But before we get into all that, I'd love it if you took some time to watch a video I wish I'd watched when I was starting out with Blender. It's by one of My favourite 3D artists, Smeaf, where he explains a lot more about starting your journey into 3D, and going from Beginner to Pro.

Download and Install Blender

Blender is Free and getting started, is as simple as heading to Blender.org and clicking that big, beautiful "Download" button. Blender’s latest version is sleeker and faster than ever. Plus, it runs smoothly on most modern devices. Make sure your system meets the minimum requirements:

  • Processor (CPU): 4 cores with SSE4.2 support

  • RAM: 8GB or more (16GB recommended)

  • Graphics Card: 2 GB VRAM with OpenGL 4.3(NVIDIA, AMD, or Apple Silicon)

Pro Tip: If you’re running a potato PC (lower specs) don't let these requirements scare you too much, Just make sure you keep your projects lightweight. Blender’s optimization has come a long way! and if you use a gaming PC you're pretty much safe!

How quickly you'll get used to Blender depends on how often you'll be practicing and working in Blender. when I was starting it took a while but I ended up using Blender everyday for a month until I really got going.

I've picked out some tutorial series that will help you get the hang of Blender. There's a lot of Tutorial series on YouTube, it can get overwhelming. These are the ones that helped me the most and are compatible with the latest version of Blender.

The first is the Holy grail of Blender tutorials, Blender Guru's 'Donut Tutorial'. The other two tutorial series are quite good and really solidified my understanding of Blender, these are not as up to date as they were made with Blender version 2.8, but they still hold up and are worth the watch.

Find a Beginner-Friendly Project

The best way to learn Blender is to create something. Start small but meaningful:

  • Simple Objects: Model a coffee cup, a donut (shoutout to Blender Guru), or even a funky little spaceship.

  • Low-Poly Art: Focus on creating clean, minimalistic models. Perfect for beginners!

  • Short Animation: Animate a bouncing ball to get a feel for Blender’s timeline and keyframes.

Pro Tip: Don’t aim for perfection. Make mistakes, laugh at them, and try again. Every stumble is a step forward.

Join the Blender Community

Blender’s community is one of its greatest assets. Whether you’re stuck on a problem or seeking inspiration, the community has your back and don’t keep your masterpieces to yourself. Share them :

  • You can join our growing Community of 3D artists in Malawi on Whatsapp. Join now

  • Forums: Blender Artists and Blender’s Reddit are treasure troves of knowledge.

  • Discord Servers: Join beginner-friendly channels where you can share your work and ask questions.

  • YouTube and TikTok: Blender content creators are making tutorials, challenges, and live streams more engaging than ever.

Pro Tip: Participate in Blender challenges like Pwnisher’s render competitions. Even if you don’t win, you’ll learn a ton and have fun doing it.

Final Thoughts

Starting with Blender in 2025 might seem daunting, but it’s a journey worth taking. With dedication, creativity, and the incredible support of the Blender community, you’ll surprise yourself with what you can create. Good luck! Your life's about to change forever!