3D for Free-D

Filed under: Design, Fun, Games, Video, Windows, Macintosh, Linux

3D for Free-D

by Victor Agreda, Jr. Jun 24th 2005

free 3d apps I've used a lot of 3d software out there, from Ray Dream Studio (R.I.P.) to 3d studio max to Maya and Cinema4D. Problem is, the high-end stuff like Maya will run you thousands of dollars. And even the "cheaper" apps out there, like Bryce and Poser and Hash Animation Master are still pretty pricey at over $300 a pop.

So it's nice to see a pretty thick selection of totally free 3d apps. From modeling to animation, many of these are even open-source and eminently hackable.

Here's a run-down of some I've tinkered with:

Wings 3D: a wonderful and easy-to-use modeler useful for creating objects needed in other 3d apps (like Bryce, where modeling is too painful). You get great results fast with Wings. Compatible with PC, Mac, and Linux running OpenGL.
gmax: really just a greatly reduced version of 3ds max, gmax is free from Autodesk Media & Animation. It's also just for making 3d objects for game mods. Meh. Obviously useless for the fan film crowd... Also PC only like 3ds max.
K-3D: an incredibly powerful and dense but free 3d app that you can actually use with RenderMan-compatible renderers (think film). For Linux and Windows.
Anim8or: easy to use and very popular. I found it somewhat similar to 3ds max. We'll have to excuse that rotating "Enter" button at the bottom. Windows only.
Genesis3d: for those of you waking from that coma and still using Win95, NT, or 3.1. Woohoo!
Blender3d: my personal favorite for an all-around powerhouse of modeling, animation, and even game prototyping. Blender has been making incredible strides since going open-source. You can script it in Python, or tie it with XML and web services. Super nifty. Check 'em out at SIGGRAPH next time. Oh, and it runs on almost anything.

There's more esoteric work out there, like the venerable POV-Ray, but danged if I can use it.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kurt Nordstrom said 5:28PM on 8-18-2005

Don't forget about Art of Illusion. It's a free Java-based modeller/raytracer/animator that's really come a long way. http://www.artofillusion.org/

thomashenwood said 3:43PM on 11-30-2005

Just what I was looking for, a fat list of 3D modelling programs, thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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