To get the most out of this book
You will need an internet connection to download the latest version of Blender and the source files for the projects (an internet connection is not required after downloading the software and the files).
Blender requires about 670 MB of storage space to install. The project files in this book are approximately 1.1 GB all together (you do not need to download them all at once). It's a good idea to have at least 1 GB of additional free storage so that you can create your own 3D sculptures and renders. In total, about 3 GB of space should be enough for everything covered in this book.
This book has been tested for Blender 2.93 LTS. Blender 3.0 was released shortly before this book's publication and is also compatible, although there are some very subtle user interface differences from the reference images. Future Blender releases should remain compatible as well, however the Blender Foundation is always looking for ways to improve software.
A graphics tablet with pressure sensitivity is highly recommended for following along with this book.
A graphics card from Nvidia is recommended for the best experience in Chapter 10, Rendering Sculptures for Your Portfolio, although the Blender Foundation is actively working to support graphics cards from other brands.
The Blender Foundation maintains several versions of Blender at the same time. Version 2.93 LTS is a Long-term Support release for users who want the most stable version of the software. You can download it here: https://www.blender.org/download/lts/2-93/.
Version 3.0 is the latest release with new features. This cutting-edge version has not been available as long as the LTS version, so some bugs may be present. You can download it here: https://www.blender.org/download/.
Either version of Blender will be perfect for following along in this book. However, version 3.0 or later is recommended for following along with Chapter 10, Rendering Sculptures for Your Portfolio, since there have been major performance improvements for the Cycles render engine.
