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Introduction & Setup

BEGINNER
📖5 min read

Installation

We strongly recommend Blender Launcher to manage multiple versions side-by-side for stability.

Hardware

Visual investigation is resource-heavy. 32GB+ RAM and a dedicated GPU are key for large datasets.

Peripherals

A 3-button mouse and Numpad are mandatory for efficient navigation. Don't skip these.

Installing Blender​

There are two primary methods for installing Blender. For visual investigation work, Method 2 is strongly recommended.

Method 1: Standard Installation​

  1. Download the latest stable release from blender.org
  2. Choose your operating system
  3. Install following the standard procedure

For professional workflows, use Blender Launcher V2.

Download: GitHub - Victor-IX/Blender-Launcher-V2

Why use it? Blender Launcher is a standalone software client that provides management for stable, daily and experimental builds of Blender 3D. Blender is community-driven and evolves rapidly. Consequently, specific add-ons or forensic tools may only function on older, stable versions (e.g., Blender 3.6 LTS) and break in newer releases (e.g., Blender 4.2).

Benefit: Blender Launcher allows you to install, manage, and launch multiple versions of Blender side-by-side without conflict. This ensures you can always match the software version to the specific requirements of your tools or legacy case files. It also makes it easier to stay up to date with the latest features and improvements of Blender 3D together with the security of stable releases.

Note: In Blender Launcher settings you can set file association so your OS will recognize to open .blend files via Blender Launcher.

Blender System Requirements​

Visual investigation often involves handling large datasets (point clouds, photogrammetry) and heavy rendering. The following specifications are recommended for a smooth workflow.

Minimum Requirements​

  • OS: Windows 10/11, macOS 11.0+, or Linux
  • CPU: 64-bit quad core CPU with SSE2 support
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • GPU: Graphics card with 2 GB RAM, OpenGL 4.3
  • Display: 1920×1080
  • CPU: 64-bit 8-core CPU (Intel i7/i9 or AMD Ryzen 7/9)
  • RAM: 32 GB or higher (Useful for photogrammetry and large scenes)
  • GPU: 8 GB VRAM or higher (NVIDIA RTX series recommended for CUDA/OptiX acceleration)
Performance Notes

For optimal performance with large forensic datasets:

  • RAM is often the most important factor for photogrammetry workflows
  • GPU acceleration significantly speeds up rendering and viewport performance
  • Consider workstation-grade hardware for professional visual investigation work

Peripherals​

Blender is designed around a specific input workflow. Lacking these peripherals will significantly hinder navigation and efficiency.

1. Three-Button Mouse​

A mouse with a clickable scroll wheel is mandatory.

  • Left Click: Select/Confirm
  • Right Click: Context Menu/Cancel
  • Middle Click (Scroll Wheel): Orbit Viewport (Essential for 3D navigation)

2. Keyboard with Numpad​

The Number Pad is hard-coded into Blender for precise view switching and camera control.

  • Numpad 1, 3, 7: Front, Right, and Top orthographic views
  • Numpad 5: Toggle Perspective/Orthographic
Important Recommendation

If using a laptop or Tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard, purchase a separate USB Numpad. While "Emulate Numpad" exists in settings, it conflicts with other standard modeling shortcuts and is not recommended for professional work.

Last updated on by blender-visual-investigation