Blender 4.1 marks a significant update in the ongoing development of this free and open-source 3D creation suite. It is known for its robust capabilities in modeling, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, motion tracking, video editing, and game creation.
This release brings many quality-of-life improvements and performance enhancements across the board, ensuring a smoother and more efficient workflow for artists and developers alike. So, let’s take a look at them.
Blender 4.1 Highlights
The splash screen for Blender 4.1 sets the tone for a version that’s not just about new features but also about refining the existing toolset to make the creative process more intuitive and powerful.
Geometry Nodes have received substantial attention, introducing the ability to save and load data from inside node groups. This update means that inputs don’t have to be recomputed, allowing for more performant geometries without sacrificing the procedural workflow.
The inclusion of a Bake Node supports still frames and animations, including volume objects, and optimizes file sizes for efficiency. New nodes like the Menu Switch and improvements to existing nodes must also be noticed.
The introduction of the Smooth by Angle modifier signifies a shift towards a more streamlined approach in handling mesh smoothness and edge sharpness, further enhancing Blender’s modeling capabilities.
Numerous performance optimizations in geometry nodes, such as faster extrusions and improved management tools, will help speed up your workflow with the app.
In addition, Cycles, Blender’s ray-trace-based production render engine, supports GPU-accelerated denoising, making high-quality denoising feasible at interactive rates in the 3D viewport.
But the novelties do not stop here. There is more. For example, the compositor has been upgraded for speed and efficiency, with full support for nodes like Cryptomatte, Defocus, and Vector Blur. Additionally, there are new nodes and options for precision settings.
Rigging and animation have also been enriched with hierarchical bone collections for better organization and a new way to insert animation keyframes for a more intuitive workflow.
Enhanced motion paths and graph editor functionalities further contribute to a streamlined animation process, making it easier to achieve desired results with less effort.
The video sequencer improvements promise a faster and more visually intuitive editing experience, catering to the needs of video editors looking for efficient and powerful tools within Blender.
Lastly, Blender 4.1 aligns with the VFX Reference Platform 2024, ensuring compatibility and ease of integration into studio pipelines as the update enhances support for USD export and import.
There are many more improvements and bug fixes that Blender 4.1 brings to the table, all of which can be explored in detail in the release announcement.
