Blender 3.1 (blender.org)

Article summary

Blender 3.1 has been released, featuring a new Metal GPU backend, improved performance, and new features such as a Point Cloud object and 19 new nodes in the procedural system. The update also includes improvements to the node editor, geometry nodes, and subdivision surfaces. Blender 3.1 is compatible with Apple M1 computers and AMD graphics cards on macOS 12.2 or newer. The release notes highlight various performance improvements and new features.

Main themes

• Blender 3.1 features
• Metal backend
• Performance improvements
• Geometry nodes
• Procedural system
• Community and training
• Scripting and API
• Open-source development
• Software updates and stability

What commenters say

• The Metal backend is a significant improvement, but its current compatibility with only M1 and newer AMD GPUs is a limitation.
• Blender's pace of development is impressive, but it can be challenging for users to keep up with the constant changes.
• The community provides excellent training materials, making it easier for new users to learn the software.
• Some users feel that the frequent updates can be overwhelming and that it's difficult to learn new interfaces and features in time.
• The addition of new features and improvements is exciting, but some users wish that more attention would be given to scripting and the Python API.
• Blender is considered one of the best open-source projects, with a well-organized development process and a high-quality application.
• The software's ability to provide high-end features and performance while being free and open-source is impressive and inspirational.
• Some users suggest using the LTS versions of Blender to avoid the constant updates and focus on stability.
• The performance improvements in Blender 3.1 are significant, with some users reporting speed boosts of up to 10X in certain tasks.