How to install Blender 2.80 on Linux Mint 19.1

A Comprehensive Guide to Installing Blender 2.80 on Linux Mint 19.1

Blender is a powerful open-source 3D creation suite that has gained immense popularity for its rich feature set and versatility. Whether you’re interested in animation, modeling, simulation, rendering, compositing, or motion tracking, Blender provides tools that cater to all. With Blender 2.80, new features and enhancements have been introduced, making it even more user-friendly and robust. In this guide, we will walk you through the installation process of Blender 2.80 specifically on Linux Mint 19.1, providing detailed instructions and relevant tips to ensure a smooth setup.

Understanding the Requirements

Before installing Blender 2.80, it’s crucial to ensure that your system meets the minimum requirements. Operating on Linux Mint 19.1, you should have:

• A functional Linux Mint 19.1 installation
• At least 8 GB of RAM (16 GB is recommended for more complex tasks)
• A graphics card with OpenGL 3.3 support
• Sufficient storage space (around 500 MB for Blender itself, plus additional space for projects)

Step 1: Preparing Your System

To have a seamless installation experience, it’s beneficial to keep your system up to date. Open your terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T and execute the following commands:

bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

These commands will fetch and install any updates for your system, ensuring that software dependencies for new applications like Blender are met.

Step 2: Installing Necessary Dependencies

Blender may require some additional libraries and dependencies for optimal functionality. To install these, you can use the following command in your terminal:

bash
sudo apt install libglu1-mesa freeglut3-dev mesa-utils

This command installs OpenGL utilities required by Blender, which improves its graphical performance, especially if you’re working with detailed models or heavy textures.

Step 3: Downloading Blender 2.80

The easiest way to install Blender is by downloading the official release directly from the Blender website. Here’s how:

1. Open a web browser and navigate to the official Blender website.
2. Select the version for Linux and choose the 2.80 release. You will typically find a .tar.bz2 file, which is a compressed archive.
3. Download the file to your preferred location, often the Downloads folder.

Step 4: Extracting the Blender Archive

Next, you’ll need to extract the contents of the downloaded archive. To do this, return to your terminal and run the following commands:

bash
cd ~/Downloads
tar -xjf blender-2.80-linux-glibc217-x86_64.tar.bz2

This command navigates to the Downloads folder and extracts the downloaded .tar.bz2 file. You might need to adjust the filename slightly based on the version you downloaded.

Step 5: Running Blender from Terminal

After extracting, you can run Blender from the terminal. First, navigate into the extracted Blender directory:

bash
cd blender-2.80-linux-glibc217-x86_64

Then, execute Blender with:

bash
./blender

This command launches the Blender application. You should see the Blender splash screen appear, followed by the main interface.

Step 6: Creating a Desktop Shortcut

If you plan to use Blender frequently, it’s wise to create a desktop shortcut for easier access. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Open a terminal and create a new desktop entry with the following command:

bash
nano ~/.local/share/applications/blender.desktop

2. In the text editor that opens, paste the following lines:

[Desktop Entry]
Version=2.80
Type=Application
Name=Blender
Comment=3D Modeling Software
Exec=/home/yourusername/Downloads/blender-2.80-linux-glibc217-x86_64/blender
Icon=/home/yourusername/Downloads/blender-2.80-linux-glibc217-x86_64/blender.svg
Terminal=false
Categories=Graphics;3DGraphics;

Replace yourusername with your actual username.

3. Save and exit by pressing Ctrl + X, then Y, and finally Enter.
4. You should now see Blender listed in your applications menu.

Step 7: Configuring Blender Settings

Upon first running Blender, you might want to adjust your initial settings. This can involve configuring things like themes, the user interface, and addon preferences. Spend some time going through the options to customize the workspace according to your needs.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While the installation process is generally straightforward, you might encounter some issues. Here are a few common hassles along with their solutions:

• Blender won’t start: Ensure your graphics drivers are updated, primarily if you are using proprietary drivers from NVIDIA or AMD.
• performance issues: If Blender lags or appears slow, check if your system meets the hardware requirements and consider closing other applications. Also, updating your graphics drivers may help.
• Missing libraries: If you receive error messages related to missing libraries when you try to run Blender, it’s likely that some dependencies were not installed correctly. Recheck Step 2 for the installation of dependencies.

Conclusion

Installing Blender 2.80 on Linux Mint 19.1 is a relatively straightforward process if you follow the outlined steps. With its new features and improvements, Blender continues to be an outstanding choice for 3D creation. Enjoy creating stunning visuals, animations, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What operating systems support Blender 2.80?
A1: Blender 2.80 is available on Windows, macOS, and various Linux distributions, making it highly versatile for users across different platforms.

Q2: Can I install Blender using a package manager instead of downloading it?
A2: Yes, you can use the Snap Store or Flatpak to install Blender. For instance, you can install via Snap with sudo snap install blender --classic, which simplifies updates and dependency management.

Q3: How do I uninstall Blender after installation?
A3: If you installed Blender by extracting the .tar.bz2 file, you can simply delete the extracted folder. If you used Snap, run sudo snap remove blender to uninstall it.

Q4: Are there any plugins or addons I should consider?
A4: Yes, many addons enhance Blender’s capabilities. Some popular ones include the Animation Nodes for advanced motion graphics and BlenderKit for asset management.

Q5: What resources are available for learning Blender?
A5: Blender offers extensive tutorials on its website, and platforms like YouTube, Udemy, and Coursera also provide comprehensive courses for beginners to advanced users.

Q6: How can I contribute to Blender?
A6: As an open-source project, Blender welcomes contributions from users. You can help by reporting bugs, donating to the Blender Foundation, or even contributing code if you have the skills.