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Autodesk Softimage is 3D animation software used for professional use in broadcast television, game development and cinema. It is stand alone animation software package with the unique features and tools. This software is one of the best options for modelers and animators. Autodesk provides online tutorials to help new users with this software. 3D Animation Autodesk 3ds Max. Description: Autodesk 3ds Max, formerly 3D Studio. Description: CINEMA 4D is a 3D modeling, animation. Description: Houdini is a 3D animation application software developed by Side Effects. Description: Poser is a 3D computer. Animoids 3D Movie Maker provides a shortcut into the complex world of 3D character modeling, with a set of starter models, textures, movie sets, and scenes that can be combined to form the. 24 Best 3D Animation Software Tools (Some are Free) 3ds Max Software 3ds Max. Application Motion Capture, Keyframe Animation. Price 2,141.70 € / year. Formats stl, 3ds, ai, abc, ase, asm, catproduct, catpart, dem, dwg, dxf, dwf, flt, iges, ipt, jt, nx, obj, prj, prt, rvt, sat, skp. Start making your own 3d movies and animations with great 3d animation software from Moviestorm now.
The number and variety of 3D software packages on the market is staggering, but many of the top applications in use by commercial film, gaming, and effects studios cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.
It's true that most commercial applications offer time-limited free trials or abbreviated learning editions for students and hobbyists. If you're planning to work in the computer graphics industry one day, these are well worth exploring even if you can't afford a full license, because your skills in the commercial packages are what will ultimately land you a job.
However, plenty of free 3D software suites are out there for hobbyists, independent filmmakers who don't have the budget for expensive software, and budget-conscious freelance professionals who have found all the tools and power they need in cost-free solutions like Blender or SketchUp.
Just because the software is free doesn't necessarily make it any less valuable. This list isn't exhaustive. There are dozens of other free 3D tools available beyond those mentioned here. However, these are the strongest of the bunch.
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Blender
What We Like
- Interface vastly improved over early versions.
- Great for video games and animation.
- Nearly on par with expensive professional 3D modeling programs.
What We Don't Like
- Less useful in designing architecture and objects like furniture.
- Heavy use of shortcuts to execute commands can be daunting for new users learning the software.
Blender is easily the most versatile entry on this list, and in many regards, it compares favorably to top digital content creation tools like Cinema 4D, Maya, and 3Ds Max. To this day, it stands as one of the greatest open-source development projects ever conceived.
Blender is full-featured, offering a complete range of modeling, surfacing, sculpting, painting, animation, and rendering tools.
The software is good enough to have produced numerous impressive short films and is in use by several professional studios.
Blender was criticized early on for having a confusing interface, but don't let outdated complaints steer you away. The software was given a thorough overhaul recently and emerged with a fresh interface and a feature set that aims for parity with the best.
While you don't see Blender in any Hollywood effects pipelines where Autodesk and Houdini are deeply ingrained, Blender has steadily carved out a niche in motion graphics and visualization, similar to where Cinema 4D excels.
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Pixologic Sculptris
What We Like
- Makes quick editing easy.
- Excellent tool for learning the art.
- Users can transition to ZBrush without a difficult learning curve.
What We Don't Like
- Rendering can be slow at times.
- Lacks some useful tools and features found in other software.
Sculptris is a digital sculpting application similar to ZBrush or Mudbox, but with an easier learning curve. Because Sculptris uses dynamic tessellation, it is essentially geometry-independent, meaning it is an ideal learning package for someone with few or no modeling skills who wants to try his hand at sculpting. Sculptris was originally developed independently by Tomas Pettersson, but is now owned and maintained by Pixologic as a free counterpart to ZBrush. Sculptris is aimed at beginners. The website offers video tutorials and an assurance that the skills you learn in Sculptris easily translate to ZBrush.
Sculptris was last updated in 2011. Pixologic still allows downloads but warns that as legacy software, it's no longer maintained or supported.
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SketchUp
What We Like
- Great for architectural modeling.
- Large library of models available.
What We Don't Like
- Interface may be a challenge for new users to get used to.
- Importing 3D models created in other programs can sometimes be a problem.
SketchUp is an intuitive and accessible modeler, originally developed by Google and now owned by Trimble. SketchUp excels at practical and architectural design and probably has more in common with a CAD package than traditional surface modelers like Maya and Max.
Like Blender, SketchUp has been amazingly well received and has gradually carved out a niche with professionals in the visualization field due to its ease of use and speed.
The software has little in the way of organic modeling tools, but if your primary interest is in architectural modeling, SketchUp is an excellent starting point. You begin by drawing lines and shapes and then stretch and copy them to make whatever you like. You don't have to draw everything, though. SketchUp offers an enormous library of free 3D models to get you started — search the 3D Warehouse for what you need.
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Wings 3D
What We Like
- Good tool for learning 3D modeling basics.
- Supports many other 3D file formats.
What We Don't Like
- Doesn't offer features beyond the basics.
- No animations.
Wings is a straightforward open-source subdivision surface modeler, which means it has similar modeling capabilities to Maya and Max but none of their other functions.
Because Wings uses traditional (standard) polygon modeling techniques, everything you learn here is applicable in other content-creation packages, making this an ideal starting point for anyone looking to learn how to model for animation, film, and games.
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Tinkercad
What We Like
- Easy-to-learn interface.
- Design tools are online, no software to download.
What We Don't Like
- Doesn't fare well with very complex designs.
- Requires an internet connection.
Tinkercad is an impressive suite of free, lightweight 3D tools offered by Autodesk as an easy entry point into the world of 3D. Autodesk develops five different applications under the Tinkercad banner, including modeling and sculpting apps, an iPad based creature designer, and a tool to assist with fabrication and 3D printing.
In a way, Tinkercad is AutoDesk's answer to Sculptris and Sketchup and is meant to interest beginners in 3D without the tremendous learning curve of their Autodesk's flagship applications: CAD, Maya, Max, and Mudbox.
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Daz Studio
What We Like
- Includes lots of props and models to use.
- Strong in animation, image, and film creation tasks.
What We Don't Like
- Limited sculpting, modeling, and surfacing tools.
- Easier to create new models in other 3D software and import for use.
Daz Studio is an image creation tool that comes with a wealth of characters, props, creatures, and buildings that you can arrange and animate to create still images or short films. The software is primarily meant for users who want to create 3D images or films without the overhead of creating all their models and textures by hand.
The software's animation and rendering toolset is fairly robust, and in the right hands, users can create impressive shots. However, without a full range of modeling, surfacing, or sculpting tools built in, your content can become limited unless you're willing to buy 3D assets in the Daz marketplace or create them yourself with a third-party modeling package.
Still, it's a great piece of software for people who just want to jump in and create a 3D image or film without a whole lot of overhead.
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Mandelbulb 3D
What We Like
- Create impressive fractal objects and scenes.
- Can play around with formulas to see what you get.
- The website offers downloadable examples to experiment with.
What We Don't Like
- Takes some time to acclimate to this software.
- Interface is overwhelming at first and not as intuitive as other 3D software.
If you're interested in fractals, Mandelbulb 3D should be right up your alley. The application certainly takes some getting used to, but the result is stellar once you know what you're doing. The 3D fractal environment includes color, lighting, specularity, depth-of-field, and shadow and flow effects used to generate amazing fractal objects. If the concept of fractals is Greek to you, visit the featured artists' section of the Mandelbulb website to see the types of things you can do with this software.
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Autodesk Software (Free but Limited)
What We Like
- Free top-tier 3D design software if used only non-commercially.
- Powerful and feature-rich software tools that are industry standards.
What We Don't Like
- Steep learning curve when starting to use these complex software packages.
- Software can have hefty system requirements and be resource intensive.
Autodesk offers virtually its entire software line free for non-commercial use to 'students and community members.' However, you don't have to be enrolled in a school to download them. If you want to work in the industry eventually, knowing Autodesk software is a valuable skill, so this is a highly recommended path. The only limitation is that you can't use any of the software in commercial projects. Among the educational downloads are 3DS Max, Maya, Inventor Professional, and AutoCAD.
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Are you in search of some of the best 3D animation software? There are several uses of the 3D animation software creator like creating movies, creating characters, adding voiceovers to the characters, etc.
The 3D animation maker has a great deal to explore, which is fun indeed. If you are into animation or someone who loves animation just for fun, you can try out the free 3D animation software.
Although you can find a great number of animation software in the market, only a few can be trusted completely. In this article, you can explore both free and the paid best 3D animation software that are trending the popularity charts.
Recommended 3D animation software - FilmoraPro
If you want to have more controls on 3D animation video, here we recommend using FilmoraPro. You can use it to make 3D animation by adding keyframes, so the animation will be smooth and natural. You just need to build a white plane to easily start making animation. Besides, color correction and audio mixer will raise up your 3D animation video to a new level. Download it to have a try (Free)!
Below is a comparison table that you can find the best free 3D animation makers. Some 3D animation makers are easy to use. Take a look!
Price | OS | Pros | Features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blender | Free | Windows, Linux, OSX and Steam | Best 3d animation software; Active community globally | Powerful rendering support |
Wings 3D | Free | Windows, Linux and Mac | Easy 3d animation software; Open source and completely fre | Its interface is customizable |
K3-D | Free | GNU/Linux, MacOS X, FreeBSD, Windows | Intuitive 3d animation maker; Node-based visualization pipeline | Endless redo feature |
Source Filmmaker | Free | Windows | Any games can be used in this animaiton maker | Game lovers will like it |
Maya | $1,050/year | Windows, Mac | Time Editor to edit animaiton faster; You can collect motion capture data | Easy to use Motion graphics |
Cinema 4D | $1,647 | Windows, Mac | Intuitive interface to make 3d animation | Fluid workflow to start editing for beginners |
Mixamo | $1,500/year | Windows, Mac | Vivid and high-quality animated 3D characters | Belong to adobe family |
Houdini | $1,995/year | Windows, Mac | Powerful VEX to make excellent 3D animations | Quick guide for learners |
Part 1: Best Free 3D Animation Software
1.Blender
3d Animation Movie Making software, free download
An open-source professional free 3D animation software, Blender is used in hosting a range of applications like visual effects, animated feature films, video games and more. The Blender supports the entire 3D tree which includes features like, rigging, modeling, animating, simulating, compositing, rendering, and tracking motion. The features of Blender are-
- CPU, GPU, VR rendering support
- Masking and textured brushes for 3D painting
- Add-ons and customized tools with Python scripting
- Bridge fill, edge slide, grid, inset
- Both manual and auto tracking
- Camera restoration is powerful
- Curve editor and dope sheets
- Customize layout and interface
2.Wings 3D
An easy to use, unconventional sector modeler, Wings 3D is a powerful 3D animation software. Whether you are a commercial 3D animation creator or a personal one, the Wings 3D is a free and an open source 3D animation software. The features of Winds 3D include-
- Customized interface
- Support for materials and lights
- Built-in AutoUV mapping facility
3.K3-D
One of the best 3D animation software, K-3D features a procedural engine plugin for its content. It is a free 3D animation software that supports polygonal modeling. A visual pipeline architecture is combined with the flexible plugins that make the K3-D software a powerful and versatile tool. The features include-
- Consistent and intuitive
- Consist of basic tools for animation, patches, curves and NURVS
- Parametric work flow
- Can be run on Windows, OS X, Linux and FreeBSD
4.Source Filmmaker
This 3D animation software lets you make a movie inside the game engine Source. Wondering how? It is because whatever assets are present in the game, the Source Filmmaker uses it. So, the assets of the game are used by SFM in the film and vice versa. The features of this movie-making tool includes-
- Renders power of a modern gaming PC
- Whatever you see in the game is what you get in the movie
- Completely free to download
- Manages entire workflow needed to make a movie into one single system
- Virtual movie set with lights, actors, props and cameras
- Create your own movies and add features as per your requirement
Part 2: Best Paid 3D Animation Software
5.Maya
If you wish to create or develop games, 3D scenes, movies, or people, Maya is definitely one of the best 3D animation software tool available. Although a paid software, Maya 3D animation creator does complete justice to its various features of coloring, animating, and modeling. The features are-
- 30 days free trial
- Uncomplicated software
- Create complex technical effects
- High-level animation edits
- Perfect accuracy and control
- Create flying logos, titles sequences, branding, etc.
- Higher performance in high fidelity environment
6.Cinema 4D
A faster 3D animation software tool than Maya, Cinema 4D offers a gentle curve for learning but, does not cover all like Maya. The high speed feature makes the Cinema 4D software desirable in the television, advertisements, and various motion graphics. The features are-
- Extensive library of preset scenes, material, and objects
- Develop concepts without time modeling
- Dissect complete scenes
- Customized with a huge range of assets
7.Mixamo
With a straightforward and faster workflow, the Mixamo 3D software’s newest user experience and interface makes it too easy to find, create, organize and share assets and animation instantly. The features of this 3D animation software include-
- User experience is streamlined
- Fully customizable animation packs
- Faster and accurate search function
- Download multiple animations at one go
- Fast character and animation browsing
8.Houdini
Developed by the Toronto based Side Effects Software, Houdini covers every major part that a 3D animation software should do. This 3D animation maker was adapted by PRISMS group of procedural generation software tools. The keen focus on the procedural generation by Houdini differentiates it from other 3D animation creator. The features of this 3D animation software are-
- Powerful and accessible 3D animation experience
- Rigging animate characters
- Add Character FX like fur, hair, etc.
- Time-space motion path handles
- Import export to a range of formats
- Robust built-in rendering solution
Conclusion
This is the list of the free and paid best 3D animation software. So, whenever you are confused and need any assistance regarding 3D animation software, go through this content and you will find the right solution. Undoubtedly, FilmoraPro is one of the best tools for 3D animation. With a range of features like ease of interface access, preset animation effects, multiple tracks to add various videos, and more makes a complete package to ensure a great 3D animation software usage tool. Just a little trial and error can make you perfect.
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