Blender to Renderman Artist Tools Release 0.5
This is a project that was originally conceived in 2007 as a CD distribution of all the Blender to Renderman tools that could function well together. This would include Blender, Aqsis, Pixie, Shaderman, OpenEXR, Dr Queue and a library of shaders and documentation with the hopes that it would serve as a master CD for anyone to download and install. It would also include the source code for all the open source tools available thus adhering to the GPL license, as well as offer the ability to compile for other operating systems than Windows, Linux and OSX.
Currently this project is still underway, securing a permanent host for this large ISO file. The reason for the ISO was mainly for portability and ease of downloading. Rather than spend time searching the web looking for each package or source, it would be far easier to download a full CD with every single tool you need plus extra stuff.
The first release was made on May 3, 2009. BRAT v0.5 RC1
An update was issued days later that included missing sources and replaced Dev C++ with Code:Blocks. This was released on torrent. BRAT v0.5 RC2
The next ISO will be released after Blender 2.50 has been developed and fully tested.
Future plans include a Linux distro that has all this ready to run, in both workstation and server editions.
Documentation
Aside from the downloads and tools, the other part of this project is the documenting of this because nothing is worse than having a whole library of high power tools and not know how to use it. One of the hardest parts of RenderMan is learning it because of it's highly technical nature, both a blessing as well as a curse. While most render engines are built similarly under the hood, the interface of 3D packages or plugins usually eases that part of the process making it easy to render an image of a scene. That has been the hardest part of the Blender to Renderman effort, to make a workable interface that not only is easy to use but also powerful enough to take advantage of all the capabilities of RiSpec.
This is why I have made these sites, and this one wiki in particular, is to make that part as painless as possible. Documentation is the key to the success of the Blender to Renderman project, as it is with any software.
Websites
Below are the websites associated with Blender to RenderMan projects, most of which are centered around www.blendertorenderman.org, the core of the project.
Blender to Renderman Website - Central hub of the project
All of these resources are a collaborative effort to make the Blender to Renderman project mainstream, instead of just among the dedicated few and curious. Our intention is to allow individuals, small studios and students the chance to learn and use Renderman without having to take out a bank loan. All of this is available for free and if you are using a Linux operating system the only money you actually spend is on hardware. The reason for all of the documentation and websites is not so much for publicity and marketing as it is for the learning resources, Renderman is not easy but if one takes the time and dedication to learn the basics of the specification it in itself is rewarding to be able to use the same technology that started the CG effects and animation industry.
The BRAT distribution is based off the BtoR pipeline document with many additions since originally posted in 2006. The pipeline document has changed to a BRAT manual.
Remember that Pixar was only a small team of developers in LucasFilm in the early 1980's. A lot has changed since.
