Blender in Docker

This repository can be used as a simple template to build Blender services in Docker.

Build

Build Docker image.

docker-compose build blender

Blender version can be updated in the .env file if needed.

[blender]
# Blender packages are available at https://download.blender.org/release
# Use .tar.xz packages for this Docker image
blender_package_name=blender-2.83.2-linux64
blender_package_url=https://download.blender.org/release/Blender2.83/blender-2.83.2-linux64.tar.xz
blender_path=/usr/local/blender
blender_python_path=/usr/local/blender/2.83/python/bin

Python Script

The script service is just a dummy Python script printing Hello world!.

docker-compose run script

Render Animation

The render service creates .png files for every frame of the animation.

• Place .blend file in the ./input folder
• Update render_input_file parameter in .env file
• .png files are created in the ./output folder

docker-compose run render

Testing

Connect to the Docker container in interactive mode to test different command lines arguments. Do not forget to replace your_path parameter below.

# Run Docker container on Linux
docker run -it --rm --volume /your_path/blender-docker/input:/tmp/input --volume /your_path/blender-docker/output:/tmp/output --volume /your_path/blender-docker/scripts:/usr/local/blender/2.83/scripts/addons/ubisoft blender sh

# Run Docker container on Windows Pro
docker run -it --rm --volume C:\your_path\blender-docker\input:/tmp/input --volume C:\your_path\blender-docker\output:/tmp/output --volume C:\your_path\blender-docker\scripts:/usr/local/blender/2.83/scripts/addons/ubisoft blender sh

# Run Docker container on Windows Home
docker run -it --rm --volume /c/your_path/blender-docker/input:/tmp/input --volume /c/your_path/blender-docker/output:/tmp/output --volume /c/your_path/blender-docker/scripts:/usr/local/blender/2.83/scripts/addons/ubisoft blender sh

Manually execute commands for testing.

# Render first frame with EEVEE engine
/usr/local/blender/blender --background /tmp/input/bouncing_ball.blend -noaudio --render-output /tmp/output/frame_##### --render-format PNG --engine BLENDER_EEVEE --render-frame 1

# Render first frame with Cycles engine
/usr/local/blender/blender --background /tmp/input/bouncing_ball.blend -noaudio --render-output /tmp/output/frame_##### --render-format PNG --engine CYCLES --render-frame 1

# Execute Python script
/usr/local/blender/blender --background -noaudio --python /usr/local/blender/2.83/scripts/addons/ubisoft/main.py -- --argument1 "Some dummy argument value"

Blender Documentation

For additional information on Blender's command line arguments and options, visit Blender Documentation.