3d Programs

[soulty]

Here is a listing of the more popular 3d application available, please go through this thread before posting a “what 3d app” related threads.

And for those who are starting and dont know what application they should start using, start by downloading the trial versions of a few 3d applications, try them out then see which one you are comfortable with and which one is easy for you to use.

Remember you will not lose time with learning a 3d application (learning the basics of 3d… moving/rotating/scaling object, editing vertices, texturing, rendering, animating) all 3d apps are similar to what they can create, the differences are the step to achieve a similar result.

[SIZE=2][COLOR=Blue][part updated list = 15th August 2006][/COLOR][/SIZE]

[SIZE=4][SIZE=3]Max:[COLOR=Red][SIZE=2]
[/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=Red][latest release = v8]
[/COLOR][/SIZE][/SIZE]Been around for a while, HUGE community following, many 3rd party plugins, always find help on topic on the net and in 3d specific forums. Tools are polygon dominent, based on it being the tool for game development and modeling. Can do more with each new release of max…
Rending here is with mental ray and a “ink” renderer for line art renderings.

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][home page][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=5659302

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][trial - need to fill out form][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=5972446]

[SIZE=3]Softimage Xsi::[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=Red][latest release = v5.1][/COLOR][/SIZE]
well i dont know what happen to this app, it was all hyped up and is used by many professionals out there but for a home user it seems to have droped off the max / maya / cinema 4d train… not entirely sure why , might be the price or i might be wrong. The tool can handle both sub d’s and polygons very well and mental ray 3.2(rendering system) was in it’s core so rendering was super fast.

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][home page][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://www.softimage.com/products/xsi/
[SIZE=1]
[/SIZE] [SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][free trial - XSI FOUNDATION 5.1][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[http://www.softimage.com/downloads/default.aspx?downloadid=1]

**[SIZE=3]Maya[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=Red] [latest release = v7][/COLOR][/SIZE]
** Since this tool is the one i use i tend to enjoy using it… hehe… like many have said it what is most comfortable with you…

Maya has always been around with max and both pretty much at the start tried to direct their work to a specific angle, max being games, maya being motion graphic/ movies.

Maya particles are very powerful and it can handle nurbs and sub d’s very well, with each new version they are increasing the tools with the polygons , but are not really on par with 3d max yet :bad:…
Rendering also included a vector renderer(export to swf,same renderer as swift3d), and mental ray 3.2 (in maya 6)

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[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][home page][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?id=6871843&siteID=123112

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][free - personal learning edition][/COLOR][/SIZE]
Personal Learning edition

**[SIZE=3]Lightwave[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=Red] [latest release = v8.5][/COLOR][/SIZE]
**

@DDD

My personal favorite

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[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][home page][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://www.newtek.com/lightwave/index.php

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][free trial][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[?]
[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange]
[Lightwave v9 news][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://www.newtek.com/lightwave/lw9_letter.php

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**[SIZE=3]Cinema4d[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=Red] [latest release = R9.6][/COLOR][/SIZE]
**Great tool for beginners and even pros, cheaper than previous ones mentioned and a little easier as them as well, although it is limited it what it can do in comparison to max, maya.

Personally i have always been a fan of that bridge tool…

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[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][home page][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://www.maxon.net/

[SIZE=2][COLOR=DarkOrange][SIZE=1][trial][/SIZE]
[COLOR=black][on the above page][/COLOR]

[/COLOR][/SIZE] ------------------------------------

**[SIZE=3]Modo([COLOR=Red]model/render/paint[/COLOR])[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=Red] [latest release = v202][/COLOR][/SIZE]
**DDD’s Pick. Very cool application, many innovative features/tools here (developers come from the lightwave family) One to look out for in the future, now includes not only the fastest modeller but a great rendering system and painting system in version 202!

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[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][home page][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://www.luxology.com/whatismodo/

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][trial][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://www.luxology.com/trymodo/

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**[SIZE=3]Silo(only a modeler)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=Red] [latest release =v1.4][/COLOR][/SIZE]
**This is only a modelling tool in which you need a external render to render out the models you create in this app. Although its a really great tool, i ve used it just a little when it was mentioned to me again by DDD. Tools and workflow are very innovative.

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[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][home page][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://www.nevercenter.com/silo/

[SIZE=2][COLOR=DarkOrange][SIZE=1][trial/learning edition][/SIZE]
http://www.nevercenter.com/downloads/
[/COLOR][/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=DarkOrange][SIZE=1]
[Announcing Silo v2.0][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=DarkOrange]http://www.nevercenter.com/silo/silo_20/
[/COLOR][/SIZE]

**[SIZE=3]Houdini[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=Red] [latest release = v8][/COLOR][/SIZE]
** Houdini- very pro like, hard to use but extremely powerful

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][home page][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://www.sidefx.com/
[SIZE=1]
[/SIZE] [SIZE=2][COLOR=DarkOrange][SIZE=1][free education version][/SIZE]
Apprentice

[/COLOR][/SIZE] ---------------------------------------
[SIZE=3]
[/SIZE] **[SIZE=3]Swift3d[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=Red] [latest release = v4.5][/COLOR][/SIZE]
**“Advanced” model features and rendering out to swf format are a few features of swift3d that make a great addition to flash users, it can render to bitmap and render pretty well. Limited with its modelling tools but very capable as seen by some excellent work for our very own member “Rainman” and his recent work “Mercedes SLR”.

Swift3d is also great for quick and easy 3d work (eg… 3d logo spining)

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[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][home page][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://www.erain.com/products/Swift3D/

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][free trial][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://www.erain.com/downloads/trials/

**[SIZE=3]Blender[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=Red] [latest release = v2.41][/COLOR][/SIZE]
** blender is free, a pretty cool tool from what ive seen but i havent used it.

http://www.blender3d.com/

[SIZE=3]Carrara [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=Red][[SIZE=1]posted by PincMX regarding version 3[/SIZE]][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=Red][latest release = v5][/COLOR][/SIZE]
It’s easy it’s powerful and extremely fast, just what I need. I guess the main thing for creating realistic things are textures and a good engine for rendering like raytrace that Carrara uses.

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][home page][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://www.eovia.com/products/carrara5/carrara.asp

[SIZE=2][COLOR=DarkOrange][SIZE=1][free trial][/SIZE]
http://www.eovia.com/resources/download.asp
[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]
Hexagon [/SIZE][SIZE=2][COLOR=Red][[SIZE=1]NEW][/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE]

New development from Eovia. It’s described as a 3d Polygonal modeler for 3d artist and Illustrators // yet to check it out / if anyone has tried it pm the details or post.

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][home page][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://www.eovia.com/products/hexagon/hexagon.asp

[SIZE=2][COLOR=DarkOrange][SIZE=1][free trial][/SIZE]
http://www.eovia.com/resources/download.asp

[/COLOR][/SIZE] ----------------------------------------------
**
[SIZE=3] Zbrush[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=Red] [latest release = v2][/COLOR][/SIZE]
** Great organic 3d modeler.

[home page]
http://209.132.69.82/zbrush/zbrush2/Z2Home.html

[SIZE=3]Wings 3d
[/SIZE]****[SIZE=2][COLOR=Red] [latest release = v0.98…][/COLOR][/SIZE]

@johnlouis

“it’s one of the best modelers out there! and it’s FREE!”

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http://www.wings3d.com

[SIZE=3]Rhinoceros 3d[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][COLOR=Red] [latest release = v3.0 release 5]
[/COLOR][/SIZE]

@mikken

I find it quite easy to use, and there is also a very good and helpful forum on their website. Quick response!
Combined with the Flamingo render-plugin you can create professional renders. Not too expensive, but not in the cheap list either. Student license: 200$

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][home page][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://www.rhino3d.com/

[SIZE=2][COLOR=DarkOrange][SIZE=1][free trial][/SIZE]
http://download.mcneel.com/rhino/3.0/eval/

[/COLOR][/SIZE] ------------------------------------------------------

[SIZE=3]Bryce[/SIZE]
**[SIZE=2][COLOR=Red] [latest release = 5.5]

[/COLOR][/SIZE]**

@chrisleger

i find it pretty easy and fun to use, perfect for scenery i can tell you that

@horrel

Personally, I own Bryce 5. It’s a nice little graphics program and I can use it well and I am no computer genius. The manual is long and boring, I only used it for a few minutes to learn the basics and online tutorials etc. get you where you want to go so that, if you can master it, you can create some wonderful renders.

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][home page][/COLOR][/SIZE]
http://bryce.daz3d.com/55index.php

[SIZE=2][COLOR=DarkOrange][SIZE=1][free trial][/SIZE]
[/COLOR][/SIZE][not available at this time]

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[soulty]

Alrighty I have finally got around to updated the list. I have added some suggestion and a new app from evoia which i havent used yet called Hexagon.
If any one has tried Hexagon pm some info / comments on it or post them here.

Since i have added bryce now i may as well add the other environment 3d apps, there is one similar to bryce which i can’t think the name of, if someone knows post it here.

Now if you see any errors or comments/descriptions you don’t agree with pm me the details;)

cheers,
soultorous!

[Loyx]

When I studied the associate degree in Design Engineering I learnt a lot of 3DPrograms… but mainly focused in the Industrial Design… In the list is Rhinoceros which is a Nurbs program (focused to the industry as well). So I think that maybe anyone would take a look at these 3D programs which are used to design [COLOR=Green]all the tangible things[/COLOR] (cars, planes, motors, furniture, electronic and mechanical pieces, etc…)

[COLOR=Black]Autodesk AutoCAD
Autodek Inventor
Catia
[/COLOR]ProEngineer
ANSYS

etc…

Fun fun … xD

[soulty]

^ thanks… i will update the list when i can get around to it

[tkmk]

Um,
isn’t Maya’s latest realease v8.0?

[soulty]

^ it’s actually maya 2008 and there is a ‘Extension 2’ release, which from what i see in the PLE it’s up to v8.5 lol… yes yes, update update…:sigh:

[anon1712571]

yuppers^^ It’s awesome

[prg9]

[COLOR=“Red”]Blender[/COLOR]
[COLOR=“Red”][ latest release = v[/COLOR]2.46[COLOR=“red”] ][/COLOR]

Review the NEW features in the: 2.46 Release Log
http://www.blender.org/development/release-logs/blender-246/

Also be sure to check out the Peach Movie Project and [URL=“http://apricot.blender.org/”]Apricot Game Project. Each made with Blender 2.46.