Learning Blender: A Hands-On Guide to Creating 3D Animated Characters

Blender Render and Cycles

Blender has different built-in render engines: Blender Render and Cycles. In the middle of the Info Editor (the bar at the top of the interface), you’ll find a button that lets you select the render engine you want to use. By default, Blender Render is selected, and if you click the button, you’ll see two other options: Blender Game and Cycles. Blender Game allows you to play with real-time graphics as if Blender were a game engine. You can create games and interactive content that will run in the Blender Game engine.

Blender Render is the “old” engine; it allows you to setup materials that simulate reality, but it’s just a simulation, so achieving realistic results can be difficult. Although it’s not a realistic render ...