Blender 2.42 Released open source software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering

[Kristijntje]

Blender 2.42 released and available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Solaris, and FreeBSD

Blender is the open source software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback. Available for all major operating systems under the GNU Public License.

some of the new features:

    * A new render pipeline with a wealth of new features such as: 128 bits image buffer, rendering in different passes, better memory management, live render preview, tile based rendering
    * Node editing systems for compositing and materials.
    * The sequence editor has been completely redone: better memory management (you can now edit full movies), SPEED, chroma vectorscope and luma waveform windows, FFMPEG support for Linux.
    * New Mesh tools: merging & collapse options, better select mode conversions, Loop multi-select, Path selecting, and improved Mirror modifier.
    * Support for anisotropic materials.
    * Improved fluid simulation which can now also handle moving obstacles.
    * Better character animation tools. This includes “Custom Bones”, to create useful 3d interfaces to manipulate Armatures, and support for “Bone Layers”, allowing you to organize a rig much better.

full announcement: http://www.blendernation.com/2006/07/15/...-released/
description of new features: http://www.blender.org/cms/Blender_2_42.727.0.html
download the software here: http://www.blender.org/cms/Download.13.0.html