Name: Blender
Version: 2.49b
Date: 9/3/2009
Category: 3D Modeling
Cost: Free (Open Source)
Compatibility: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista/7, Mac OSX, Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD, Irix
Requirements: 7-Zip, Python 2.6.x
Author: The Blender Foundation
Source: TESNexus.com
File Mirror for 2.49b Bundle: FileFront, 4shared, MediaFire
File Mirror for 2.47 Bundle: FileFront, 4shared, MediaFire
File Mirror for 2.46 Bundle: FileFront, 4shared, MediaFire
File Mirror for 2.45 Bundle: FileFront, 4shared, MediaFire
File Mirror for 2.43 Bundle: FileFront, 4shared, MediaFire
RELz Thread: The Elder Scrolls Forum
Tutorials: Resources for 3D Modeling
DDS Tools: List of Known DDS Texture-Related Tools

NOTE: If you experience a crash during startup of Blender and you're not running Windows Vista, you may need to download and install
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable Package

Description
Blender is the free open source 3D content creation suite, available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License. The primary download contains all the programs you need to create content for the Bethesda games (NIF import / export)

Version Differences
The version 2.49b download (Blender 2.49b, Python 2.6.5, Blender NIF Scripts 2.5.5, NifSkope 1.0.22, PyFFI 1.1.5) is the currently "accepted" version and contains all related files and versions known to work well together.

The version 2.47 download (Blender 2.47, Python 2.5.2, Blender NIF Scripts 2.3.7, NifSkope 1.0.12, PyFFI 1.0.0) is out-dated but functional. It does not enjoy the fixes in the newer version.

The version 2.46 download (Blender 2.46, Python 2.5.2, Blender NIF Scripts 2.3.3, NifSkope 1.0.10, PyFFI 0.10.9) is out-dated but functional. It does not enjoy the fixes in the newer version.

The version 2.45 download (Blender 2.45, Python 2.5.1, Blender NIF Scripts 2.1.11, NifSkope 1.0.6, PyFFI 0.4.7) is out-dated but many of the tutorials was written specifically with this version in mind.

The version 2.43 download (Blender 2.43, Python 2.4.4, Blender NIF Scripts 1.5.7, NifSkope 0.9.8) is made available since it was combination of file versions that have worked well together for Oblivion modding in the past. It is also required if you are using NifBlend version 0.4 or lower to produce animation (.kf) files.

Features
* Revolutionary non-overlapping and non-blocking User Interface delivers unsurpassed workflow.
* Modeling
* Rigging
* Animation
* Rendering
* UV Unwrapping
* Shading
* Physics and Particles
* Imaging and Compositing
* Realtime 3D/Game Creation
* Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, FreeBSD, SGI Irix, Sun Solaris

Installation
Install Blender and the required support files per the following instructions.

This was documented on a Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit) machine.

This documentation was designed to work well for Vista or Windows 7.

NOTE: You must use the 32-bit versions until all components have 64-bit editions. You cannot mix-n-match.

Install Python
Source: Python.Org (If you download from Python.org, do not install versions of Python that do not match what Blender requires. If you install newer versions, you may have problems getting the older versions to work right)

1. Run Python-2.6.5.msi
2. Setup - Select "Install for all users" and click Next
3. Select Destination - Click Next to accept default of C:\Python26\
4. Customize Python - Click Next to accept defaults
5. Setup Complete - Click Finish

Install Blender
Source: Blender.Org (download from Blender.org only if you want to experiment with new versions which may or may not even work with the necessary files to produce NIFs)

1. Run Blender 2.49b.exe
2. Welcome - Click Next
3. License Agreement - Click I Agree
4. Choose Components - Click Next to accept defaults
5. Choose Location - Change from C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender to C:\Apps\Blender and click Next
6. Specify User Data - Select "Use Installation Directory" and click Next
7. Required System DLL Check - Click OK
8. Setup Complete - Click Finish
9. Make sure Blend starts up correctly and then close Blender.

If Blender fails to start, install MS Visual C++ 2008 runtime (included on this page)

Install PyFFI
Source: SourceForge.net (download from SourceForge only if you want to experiment with new versions)

NOTE: If you do not have Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Runtime installed, do so now.

1. Run PyFFI-2.1.5-windows.exe
2. Select Language - Click OK to accept default of English
3. Welcome - Click Next
4. License Agreement - Click I Agree
5. Choose Components - Click Next to accept defaults of Documentation, Python 2.6 (32 bit) and Blender 2.4x (Python 2.6, 32-bit)
6. Choose Install Location - Change from "C:\Program Files\PyFFI" to "C:\Apps\PyFFI" and click Install
7. Setup Complete - Click Finish
8. Delete the "QSkope" shortcut on your desktop.

Install NIF Scripts
Source: SourceForge.net (download from SourceForge only if you want to experiment with new versions)

1. Run blender_nif_scripts-2.5.5-windows.exe
2. Welcome - Click Next
3. License Agreement - Click I Agree
4. Choose Install Location - Click Next to accept default of C:\Apps\Blender\.blender\scripts
5. Choose Documentation Location - Change from C:\Program Files\NifTools\Blender NIF Scripts to C:\Apps\NifTools\Blender NIF Scripts
6. Installation Complete - Click Next
7. Setup Complete - Click Finish
8. Review the Readme and then close the file.

Install NifSkope
Source: SourceForge.net (download from SourceForge only if you want to experiment with new versions)

1. Run nifskope-1.0.22-windows.exe
2. Welcome - Click Next
3. License Agreement - Click I Agree
4. Choose Install Location - Change C:\Program Files\NifTools\NifSkope to C:\Apps\NifTools\NifSkope and click Install
5. Installer will check for required DLLs - Click OK
6. Installation Complete - Click Next
7. Setup Wizard - Click Finish
8. Review the Readme and then close the file.

Configure NifSkope
1. Start NifSkope
2. Click Render, Settings
3. Click the button called "Auto Detect Game Paths" which should add Oblivion's Data folder.
4. If you extracted Oblivion's BSA files with BSA Commander, also add that path by clicking Add Folder
5. I also like having a 3rd path which always gets changed each time I download and extract a mod to a temp folder such as C:\Downloads\.
6. Click Render, Settings and make sure "Startup Version" is 20.0.0.5
7. Change the background color to match Oblivion's menu color by clicking Render, Settings, Colors tab, right-click on Background, click Hex Edit, type in RGB values of E6 CE A4
8. On an as-needed basis, toggle the display of the collision box by clicking Render, Draw Havok.

E - X - T - R - A - S

Install YafaRay - This is an additional render program for use with Blender.
Source: YafRay.org

1. Run YafaRay-0.1.1.exe
2. Installer Language - Click OK to accept default of English
3. Welcome - Click Next
4. License Agreement - Select "I accept the terms of the license agreement" and click Next
5. Select Destination Location - Change from "C:\Program Files\YafaRay" to "C:\Apps\YafaRay" and click Next
6. Installation Complete - Click Next
7. Setup Complete - Click Finish

Full Human Male and Female Topless ImportReady Body - This is an optimized body for 3D programs with NIF im-/ exporters (Blender, 3DS max, Maya) created by CuteUnit and m4444x. Because of the skeletal bones, this is the best base to create or rework armor and clothing.

Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 - These are the required DLL files for Blender, NifSkope and PyFFI.

RPG-BlackDragons Skeleton Resource - This skeleton is a template and standard for all modders which provides several improvements over the original skeleton.