Blend File Sharing

I’m really curious. I see all of these beautiful projects, and people just hand the .blend files out willy-nilly. Am I the only one who is a little bit more possessive? When I play Minecraft with my friend (I’m aware that this will make me sound like a child) I always want to have a separate base because I don’t want to share resources (at least not when the only resources we share are the only resources we have), and this extends to blender. I find it intriguing and confusing that people will show a really nice piece of art (like this Lego truck I just saw in the finished projects section) and then just throw the .blend file at you like it’s nothing. In my mind, it appears as if the person has no respect or recognition of what’s rightfully theirs and I’m honestly very confused. So:

How possessive are you of your work?

Is my view extreme?

Open discussion.

Your view is extreme, but probably shared by many. Blender used to be a proprietary product, but the community bought it and made it open source. The Blender Foundation produces films and tutorials, all under a Creative Commons license which allows anyone to reuse whatever parts of the films: sets, characters, props… for their own projects. A lot of that has been uploaded to BlendSwap, just to make it more accessible.

My guess is the guy with the lego truck is done with it, he’s moving on, and in the spirit of community and giving back (we have all gotten much more than we’ve given here) gives people the blend file to add to their own projects, to animate, to develop further, who knows?

Had Faraday and Volta a similar opinion, we’d probably be living in a steam-punk dystopia.

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I think the thing is that we are so proud of our work we want everyone to see how it was made, how to make their ow variations, and so hopefully create some kind of www famous art project. My deal is that there is a shortage of good tutorials and example files out there, so I usually share my files in some way when I am done with them.

It’s about giving back to the community for me. If you have a file that won’t be used commercially and may help someone why not share it? Just because you’re sharing the source doesn’t mean you “lost” it and it’s no longer yours (unless you’re using CC0, in that case you’re giving it to the world).

It’s usual for artists to be possesive with their work. I guess how much depends on how feel about the piece (how personal it is, etc).

@runizgozilla, in addition to the other responses here, you also make the assumption that just by having someone else’s file, a person is somehow gifted with the skills it takes to create that file (or even manipulate it). That’s like saying just because you know the kinds of paint that Rembrandt used, a person is automatically imbued with the ability to paint that way. Never discount the hand of the individual artist.

Additionally, on a technical level some folks take what I sometimes think of as the “math problem” approach. Sure, you can look at the finished picture (or sequence of pictures) and see the result/solution, but there’s also value in “showing your work” as a part of your art as well.

Many people here use blender for hobby work rather than professional work. I’m in that boat, and develop games for fun.
Because it’s for fun and not for commercial gain, there is no competition introduced by releasing any files I create.

So I release files, and I assist other users where I can. And people use my blendfiles, and I get credited by them and thanked by them. It’s all the motivation I need to keep doing it.


Who would paint a masterpiece and keep it in the basement?

  • A person who makes a awesome blender piece and never shows anyone

Who paints a masterpiece, puts a cellphone quality photo on facebook and then puts the original in the basement?

  • A person who shares a render, and then forgets about the blendfile

Who paints a masterpiece, puts a cellphone quality photo on facebook, and then sells the original?

  • Anyone who’s doing blender for a job

Who paints a masterpiece, and distributes copies of it for free?

  • A person who did it for fun, and doesn’t mind others using it.

An interesting component of any online community is Respect. In an online community where no-one can see your face, it is important for people to recognize your alias, and to recognize and acknowledge what you post. In the case of a differing of opinions, unbiased people will take the side of the person, that to them, commands the most respect. And they are more likely to take your advice if they respect you.

So how does one get respect?

  • A moderator get’s respect out of fear (even though the BA moderators are very good at being people)
  • A person with high post count gets respect out of perceived level of experience
  • A person who lays out ideas clearly, and is regularly correct is either loved or hated depending on how they present themselves.
  • A person who consistently makes few, but useful posts also gets respect

Sharing blend files is a way of working on the last section. If people ask how something done, and you provide a blendfile, you get a little respect. If you do it without anyone asking, and simply share it, respect get’s given to you by a lot of people.
When I first joined this community, there were already names I knew. Agoose, Monster, Blendzo and a few others. (They are people who hang out mainly in the game forums) The reason I knew them was because they had shared resources that I had then used.

Well, I will try to explain my point of view on this;Let’s pick two games I play: Minecraft and Terraria, I am incredibly possessive of my resources, this is how I play games.However when I create content I have no issue with sharing it, some content I create to give away and this is for many reasons.One is self advertising, being able to showcase a large library of high quality 3D assets available for free is a great way to advertise yourself but I also do it because why not? If I made a model just for fun with no intent of using it, what would be more wasteful: letting it sit and collect dust on my hdd or share it to the general public?But I don’t give everything away, I regularly do freelance and commission jobs and I’m working on a library of 3D models for sale which will be sold on various sites such as turbosquid.Either way the way I see it most people probably do it for portfolio purposes, a potential employer may be interested in studying your 3D models up close to determine your skill level.

more you offer, the more you get, this is the great lesson of sharing.

Yes I do agree with your theory, but at the same time the offer has to be a pretty good one! Then definitely the response will be a decent one.

I agree with all responses here and as mentioned the vast majority of us are hobbyist. Although I’ve seen amazing work in this forum by these very same hobbyist. Sadly I’m not in that group. But, my point is if you’re not pursuing a monetary gain from a project why not share the blend file. Chances are this forum helped you get to that point.

And, someone mentioned moving on. We are constantly moving on even as hobbyist. Like the man once said; ‘A work of art is never finished just abandoned’

Now my only reluctance to share a blend file would be because of my sloppy modeling. Early on a forum member looked at one of my blend files and exclaimed; ‘I don’t know what the hell you have here!’ LOL And, he was right looking back on it.

And, even through we go for the throat occasionally and have knock down fights on here it’s still about sharing what knowledge you have. The same guy you were in a pissing contest with yesterday might help you on a project today by sharing a blend file with no thought to any copyrights. Oh, I just looked at your join date. I was thinking you were relatively new here. Sorry, excuse me.

I just have not taken the time to zip everything and post is at blender Swap. Any file I have I will share. The day Pixar calls me on the phone then I will think it is worth keeping. I am " pursuing a monetary gain " but you can have my files anyway.

i almost always post the blender file, mostly because i appreciate it when others post theirs. others can add stuff onto the model, fix stuff, etc.
its especially good for finding out whats wrong with your model, because if you are having a problem with your model and you cant figure it out, someone else can. but only if they have the .blend.

I’ve learned quite a bit from all the shared files this community has contributed, so it’s a no brainer for me to share things that I’ve done to give back as a thank you. I’ve put some stuff on Blendswap and I plan to share more things soon when my job allows :slight_smile:

I have confidence in my own work to the point that I don’t mind giving some things away. Things that I’ve put tons of hours into may stay with me, but for the most part I’ll share whatever I can. The only thing that would dissuade me from doing so would be if someone took something that I did and turned around and tried to claim it as their work or if they try to profit from it without giving due credit.

There are some who teach and learn, because there joy is not in their own monitary gain, but in the learning…

Every .blend I give away is like a contribution back to a program that has given me so much.

Eventually I may try and make money with my skills, I may even use my own mit 3.0 cc licenced materials in those games just like anyone else could, the difference is my art, and creative proccess, and even my implimentation. The difference is solving other peoples problems give you a much more dynamic problem solving set.


I actually can copy almost anyones work now, but what fun is that!

The ideas of ownership and property are just impractical ideologies that we made up. It’s just a social construct that really doesn’t make any sense. This community is formed around a software title and business model that is based in collaboration and contribution; and ownership doesn’t really apply in context. This worldview is influencing our individual and collective heuristics; and it’s a beautiful thing. :slight_smile:

So finally this thread has no .blend files…:frowning:
What,I must put up mine?
Impossible:mad:

Sent from my A1 using Tapatalk 2

http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27194
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27195
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27196
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27197
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27198
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27200
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27201
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27202
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27203
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27204
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27205
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27206
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27207
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27208
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27209
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27210
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27211
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27212
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27213
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27214
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27215
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27216
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27217
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27218
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27219
http://www.pasteall.org/blend/27220

hmm…

Here b stuff :smiley:

pickUpandDrop = Tab = pick up gun space = fire
Basic Ai - P play, watch :ba:
Another take on Mouse = mouse + AD + mouse button L

Attachments

PickUpPistolDropAndFire (1).blend (671 KB)BasicAi1.blend (576 KB)AnotherTakeOnMouseOver (Enemy).blend (584 KB)