Blender 4.2 Reference Manual

Welcome to the manual for Blender, the free and open source 3D creation suite.

This site can be used offline:

• Download the manual as web pages (HTML)

• Download the manual in an e-book format (EPUB)

Getting Started

About Blender

Installing Blender

Configuring Blender

Help System

Getting Started

• About Blender
• Installing Blender
• Configuring Blender
• Help System

Sections

User Interface

An introduction to Blender’s window system, widgets and tools.

Editors

Overview of the interface and functionality of all editors.

Scenes & Objects

Objects and their organization into scenes, view layers and collections.

Modeling

Meshes, curves, metaballs, text, modeling tools, and modifiers.

Sculpting & Painting

Sculpting, texture painting and vertex painting.

Grease Pencil

2D drawing and animation with Grease Pencil.

Animation & Rigging

Keyframes, drivers, constraints, armatures and shape keys.

Physics

Physics simulations, particle systems and dynamic paint.

Rendering

Rendering and shading with EEVEE, Cycles and Freestyle.

Compositing

Post-processing with the compositing nodes.

Motion Tracking & Masking

Video motion tracking & masking.

Video Editing

Video editing with the sequencer.

Assets, Files, & Data System

Data-block management and the structure of blend-files.

Add-ons

Additional functionality available as add-ons.

Advanced

Python scripting, how to write add-ons and a reference for command-line arguments.

Troubleshooting

Solving crashes, graphics issues and Python errors, recovering data and reporting bugs.

Glossary

A list of terms and definitions used in Blender and this manual.

Manual Index

A list of terms linked to the Glossary.

Sections

• User Interface
  • Window System
  • Keymap
  • Interface Controls
  • Tools & Operators
• Editors
  • 3D Viewport
  • Image Editor
  • UV Editor
  • Compositor
  • Texture Nodes
  • Geometry Node Editor
  • Shader Editor
  • Video Sequencer
  • Movie Clip Editor
  • Dope Sheet
  • Timeline
  • Graph Editor
  • Drivers Editor
  • Nonlinear Animation
  • Text Editor
  • Python Console
  • Info Editor
  • Outliner
  • Properties
  • File Browser
  • Asset Browser
  • Spreadsheet
  • Preferences
• Scenes & Objects
  • Scenes
  • Objects
  • Collections
  • View Layers
• Modeling
  • Introduction
  • Meshes
  • Curves
  • Curves (New)
  • Surfaces
  • Metaball
  • Text
  • Volumes
  • Empties
  • Modifiers
  • Geometry Nodes
  • Transform
• Sculpting & Painting
  • Introduction
  • Brush
  • Selection & Visibility
  • Navigation
  • Modes
• Grease Pencil
  • Introduction
  • Object
  • Structure
  • Primitives
  • Selecting
  • Multiframe
  • Properties
  • Modifiers
  • Visual Effects
  • Materials
  • Animation
  • Modes
• Animation & Rigging
  • Introduction
  • Keyframes
  • Armatures
  • Lattice
  • Constraints
  • Actions
  • Drivers
  • Markers
  • Shape Keys
  • Motion Paths
• Physics
  • Introduction
  • Rigid Body
  • Cloth
  • Soft Body
  • Fluid
  • Particle System
  • Dynamic Paint
  • Forces
  • Collision
  • Baking Physics Simulations
  • Simulation Nodes
• Rendering
  • Introduction
  • EEVEE
  • Cycles
  • Workbench
  • Cameras
  • Lights
  • Materials
  • Shader Nodes
  • Color Management
  • Freestyle
  • Layers & Passes
  • Render Output
• Compositing
  • Introduction
  • Sidebar
  • GPU Compositor
  • Node Types
• Motion Tracking & Masking
  • Motion Tracking
  • Masking
• Video Editing
  • Introduction
  • Setup Your Project
  • Edit Your Project
• Assets, Files, & Data System
  • Introduction
  • Blender File
  • Data-Blocks
  • Custom Properties
  • Linked Libraries
  • Asset Libraries
  • Media Formats
  • Importing & Exporting Files
• Add-ons
  • Add-ons Category Listings
• Advanced
  • Using Blender From The Command Line
  • Scripting & Extending Blender
  • Creating Extensions
  • Application Templates
  • Keymap Customization
  • Working Limits
  • Operators
  • Blender’s Directory Layout
  • Deploying Blender in Production
  • Appendices
• Troubleshooting
  • Startup
  • 3D Viewport
  • Graphics Hardware
  • Crashes
  • Python Errors
  • Recovering Data
  • Compatibility
• Glossary
• Manual Index

Get Involved

This manual is maintained largely by volunteers.

Please consider to join the effort and Contribute to this Manual.