Best Shade 3D Alternatives in 2025
Find the top alternatives to Shade 3D currently available. Compare ratings, reviews, pricing, and features of Shade 3D alternatives in 2025. Slashdot lists the best Shade 3D alternatives on the market that offer competing products that are similar to Shade 3D. Sort through Shade 3D alternatives below to make the best choice for your needs
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Rhino offers a comprehensive suite for creating, modifying, analyzing, documenting, rendering, animating, and converting NURBS curves, surfaces, solids, subdivision geometry (SubD), point clouds, and polygon meshes. The only limitations on complexity, degree, or size are dictated by your hardware capabilities. Its free-form 3D modeling tools rival those found in expensive software, enabling you to craft any shape you envision. With precision required for designing, prototyping, engineering, analyzing, and manufacturing a wide range of items—from aircraft to jewelry—Rhino ensures compatibility with all your design, drafting, CAM, engineering, analysis, rendering, animation, and illustration applications. It can read and repair intricate meshes and complex IGES files. The software is user-friendly, allowing you to concentrate on design and visualization without the software becoming a distraction. Remarkably efficient, it operates smoothly even on standard laptops without the need for specialized hardware. Furthermore, it serves as a foundational platform for numerous specialized 3D applications, broadening its utility in various fields. This versatility makes Rhino an indispensable tool for both professionals and enthusiasts alike.
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Enscape
Enscape
$39.90 per monthEnscape™, a virtual reality and real-time rendering plugin for Revit SketchUp, Rhino SketchUp, Rhino Archicad, Vectorworks, and Vectorworks, is available. It plugs directly into your modeling program, giving you integrated visualization and design workflow. It is an intuitive design tool that does not require any prior knowledge. It is possible to design, document, visualize, and visualize all from one model. This is the fastest and easiest way to transform your building models into immersive 3D experiences. Your clients will have a unique experience with your designs. Enscape is used by 85 of the world's top 100 architecture firms. -
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Cheetah3D
Cheetah3D
$99Cheetah3D is a robust and user-friendly software designed for 3D modeling, rendering, and animation, specifically created for Mac users. Dive into the realm of computer-generated imagery and craft stunning 3D visuals for your upcoming iPhone game or design your very first animated character. Equipped with a comprehensive array of polygon, subdivision surface, and spline modeling tools, artists can concentrate on their creative process, knowing that Cheetah3D offers an extensive range of features to support them. This software simplifies 3D modeling, making it accessible for both beginners and seasoned professionals. The character rigging functionality is integrated into Cheetah3D's fluid animation system, allowing nearly every attribute of an object to be animated effortlessly. Bring your characters to life for your next mobile game or create captivating architectural fly-throughs using the powerful animation capabilities embedded in Cheetah3D. Moreover, Cheetah3D seamlessly incorporates the robust Bullet physics engine, enabling realistic simulations of both rigid and soft body dynamics, enhancing the overall visual experience. With its innovative features and user-centric design, Cheetah3D stands out as an essential tool for artists and developers in the field. -
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Art of Illusion
Art of Illusion
Art of Illusion serves as a free, open-source studio for 3D modeling and rendering, boasting features that can compete with those of commercial software. Its notable functionalities encompass subdivision surface modeling, skeleton-based animation, and a visual programming language for crafting procedural textures and materials. The latest iteration, version 3.2.0, was launched on January 13, 2021, and is robust and dependable for high-end animation projects. Additionally, there is a comprehensive documentation section available that includes a user manual along with various tutorials addressing different program features. The user interface is thoughtfully designed to be clean and user-friendly, making it accessible for beginners while still catering to more experienced users. Furthermore, Art of Illusion’s subdivision surface modeling tools enable the creation of smooth surfaces derived from control meshes of any desired shape, and its advanced deformation tools provide a natural and intuitive sculpting experience for users. All these features come together to offer a powerful platform for both novice and professional animators alike. -
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Construct vast universes, intricate characters, and breathtaking visual effects seamlessly. Animate realistic characters using advanced animation tools that captivate audiences. Design 3D models and environments effortlessly with the user-friendly modeling features of Maya® software. Produce lifelike effects, ranging from dramatic explosions to detailed cloth simulations. A cutting-edge visual programming workspace equipped with dynamic solvers allows for swift creation of stunning effects suitable for blockbusters. Utilize the Bifrost Graph Editor to assemble personalized graphs tailored to your project's needs. Generate remarkable effects—such as snow, sand, and swirling dust storms—with pre-made graphs at your disposal. Render intricate projects effortlessly with Arnold, a powerful tool designed to tackle challenges related to complex characters, environments, and lighting. With Arnold’s integration into Maya, you can preview high-quality results instantly and make rapid adjustments. Experience time savings through Arnold’s user-friendly interface and straightforward controls, enabling you to focus on your creative vision more effectively. Ultimately, this powerful combination not only enhances productivity but also elevates the quality of your artistic endeavors.
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EQUINOX-3D
EQUINOX-3D
EQUINOX-3D is the premier 3D modeling software equipped with the quickest fully integrated ray-tracer available, proving that "rasterization is so 20th century™." This versatile tool offers a broad spectrum of capabilities, including 3D modeling, animation, photorealistic rendering, VR content creation, CAD/CAM functionalities, and even support for 3D printing and laser-cutting. What sets EQUINOX-3D apart? As one of our artists aptly put it: "all engineers should be forced to use the software they write," but personally, I find myself immersed in EQX for hours on end without any compulsion! Its ultra-fast photorealistic renderer is groundbreaking, being the first interactive ray-tracer seamlessly integrated into a modeling application, allowing for complete editing and modeling within ray-traced windows. Moreover, it boasts powerful subdivision surface modeling, comprehensive CAD/CAM features, and robust support for both 3D printing and laser-cutting. The software includes a universal rendering API, enabling full modeling on any renderer, along with a fully integrated Cg renderer that delivers quality comparable to the ray-tracer. Additionally, it supports HDR textures and offers HDR rendering output, alongside incredibly fast importance-sampled HDR environment light capabilities, ensuring that your projects achieve stunning visual fidelity. The combination of these features makes EQUINOX-3D an indispensable tool for professionals in various creative fields. -
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Geomagic Freeform
Oqton
The integration of 3D design software with touch-responsive haptic devices revolutionizes conventional craftsmanship by allowing for the creation of organic, digital designs tailored for personalized production. This technology enables the crafting of sculpted forms that can be specifically designed to conform to the human body, while also incorporating intricate aesthetic and functional elements that traditional CAD systems may struggle to achieve. It guarantees that designs are optimized for various manufacturing processes, including additive, subtractive, or formative methods. With an intuitive haptic interface, users can seamlessly shift from traditional handcrafting to a more advanced digital design approach. Geomagic® Freeform®, recognized as the leading organic hybrid design software in the industry, empowers designers to tackle complex precision challenges in manufacturing, facilitating the management of intricate tasks within existing scan-to-print or CAD-to-manufacturing workflows. Additionally, Geomagic Sculpt™ streamlines the organic design-to-3D printing process, offering efficient tools for quick development. Meanwhile, Geomagic Freeform goes further by equipping users with an extensive range of advanced design features, including a robust set of sculpting tools for detailed design work, making it a versatile choice for professionals seeking to enhance their creative capacity. This combination of technology not only elevates the design process but also opens new avenues for innovation in custom manufacturing. -
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AIR
SiTex Graphics
$375 per licenseAIR represents a cutting-edge 3D graphics rendering solution, characterized by its innovative architecture and a comprehensive suite of features aimed at swiftly generating high-quality visuals. As a hybrid renderer, AIR blends the rapid rendering capabilities of scanline techniques—efficiently handling complex scenes, motion blur, and depth of field—with the adaptive precision of on-demand ray tracing, allowing for realistic reflections, soft shadows, global illumination, and caustics. This advanced renderer accommodates a wide variety of geometric shapes, such as polygon meshes, trimmed NURBs, subdivision surfaces, curves, particles, and implicit surfaces, all supported in their original form—eliminating the need for pre-meshing. Additionally, AIR facilitates true sub-pixel displacement and supports both high-dynamic range (HDR) input and output. A hallmark of AIR is its highly customizable shading and procedural modeling capabilities, enabling users to enhance the shading language by implementing new functions through any programming language of their choice. This adaptability empowers artists to push the boundaries of their creativity and achieve unprecedented levels of detail and realism in their projects. -
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DGArt
nitrio
DGArt is a versatile tool for 3D modeling and rendering, tailored specifically for artists, game designers, and developers to craft 3D assets and content seamlessly from inception to completion. Its affordability, comprehensive features, and user-friendly interface make it easily accessible for anyone looking to dive into digital art. When using DGArt on your iPad, you can quickly create intricate 3D models and stunning digital artwork with minimal effort. The application supports an array of geometric shapes, including fundamental geometry types like spheres, cubes, planes, and text, along with editable polygons accessible via an edit mode that includes options for extrusion, inset, loop cuts, and additional functionalities. Furthermore, DGArt saves projects in a .scn file format, which effectively encapsulates the geometry, nodes, lighting, and camera settings, making it compatible for use in applications or games through the Playgrounds App. For those in creative professions who often find themselves on the go, whether as freelancers or simply preferring the flexibility of a tablet over traditional desktop setups, this mobile 3D application serves as an excellent alternative, enabling creativity without boundaries. Its intuitive design and powerful capabilities make it an invaluable asset for any creative project. -
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Realsoft 3D
Realsoft Graphics
$700The strength of Realsoft 3D lies in its open design and extensive feature set, enabling it to compete effectively with other leading software while maintaining a favorable price/performance ratio. In specific domains like SDS modeling and ray tracing, it stands out as one of the top products available. Additionally, its smart, context-sensitive user interface caters to both beginners and seasoned professionals, allowing the software to evolve alongside the user's proficiency. This flexibility makes it appealing for a variety of users, including artists in advertising, architects, product designers, educational institutions, game developers, and hobbyists alike. With a reasonable price tag of $700, Realsoft 3D attracts a diverse audience, making it an excellent choice for anyone in need of high-quality photorealistic images. The demand for such images is substantial, further solidifying the software's relevance in today's digital landscape. -
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Modo
Foundry
$65 per monthModo is an advanced 3D modeling and rendering platform specifically crafted to assist businesses in producing 3D designs while managing UV mapping and texturing processes. This robust toolset enables artists to animate, model, texture, and render with unparalleled flexibility, allowing for the seamless exploration and realization of creative visions. Modo® serves as your gateway to artistic discovery, equipped with features like rapid direct modeling, adaptable procedural modeling, the innovative MeshFusion Boolean toolset, and integrated sculpting capabilities, all harmonizing to create an unmatched modeling experience. By utilizing Modo’s user-friendly tools, you can escape the restrictions that stifle creativity, letting you concentrate on your artistic process rather than technical details. Whether you're shaping basic forms or crafting intricate designs, Modo empowers you to prioritize creation over construction. Moreover, the versatile tool assembly system allows you to build a customized collection of specialized tools by merging various operations, enhancing your workflow. With Modo, every task becomes simpler, enabling you to continuously uncover and implement new efficiencies in your projects while elevating your artistic capabilities. -
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form•Z
AutoDesSys
$175form•Z pro is an advanced 3D design software that offers a diverse range of modeling tools and styles, all wrapped in an intuitive interface that allows users to fully realize and share their creative visions. Built on sophisticated 3D solid and surface modeling techniques, it ensures that your designs remain true to form throughout the stages of visualization, layout, animation, and fabrication. The Object Symmetry feature generates a symmetry plane for an object, ensuring that any modifications made to one side are automatically reflected on the opposite side, thus preserving balance in the design. This symmetry capability is particularly adept at handling NURBs curves, NURB surfaces, and Sub-D objects, making it versatile for complex modeling tasks. Additionally, Reference Files enable the incorporation of data from one project into another, facilitating the management of intricate static information in external files while promoting teamwork through file sharing as the design evolves. Python serves as an accessible yet powerful scripting language within the application, empowering users to extend functionality and customize their workflows seamlessly. Overall, form•Z pro stands out as a comprehensive tool for both individual creators and collaborative teams in the realm of 3D design. -
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Daz 3D
Daz Productions
Established in 2000, Daz 3D is a company that focuses on 3D modeling software and content, particularly known for its versatile, posable human models, including the globally popular figures Victoria and Michael. Catering to both novices and experienced graphic artists, Daz Studio offers a free and efficient platform for creating and personalizing a wide range of artistic projects. The software finds applications in various industries such as film, television, animation, video gaming, web design, and print illustration. Users can download Daz Studio to access an extensive collection of both complimentary and premium 3D assets, enabling them to design unique scenes and characters in mere moments. With the intuitive smart content library, artists can quickly piece together their imaginative concepts. Daz Studio empowers creators to produce stunning, photo-realistic visuals and animations using advanced studio-class processing techniques. Moreover, the platform allows users to craft their own expansive universes filled with diverse characters, environments, and vehicles, making it a versatile tool for any creative endeavor. Dive into the world of 3D creation with Daz Studio and unlock endless possibilities for your artistic expressions. -
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ZBrush
Pixologic
$39.95 per monthZBrush is a groundbreaking software for digital sculpting and painting that has transformed the 3D modeling landscape with its robust features and user-friendly design. Featuring a sleek interface, ZBrush equips digital artists with the most sophisticated tools available today. It boasts a suite of functionalities developed to enhance usability, resulting in a creative experience that feels remarkably intuitive and fosters artistic expression. Capable of handling up to a billion polygons, ZBrush empowers you to design without limitations, driven solely by your creativity. The software utilizes a circular design philosophy, enabling its menus to operate in a fluid, non-linear manner that enhances the interaction between 3D models, 2D graphics, and 2.5D Pixols in innovative ways. ZBrush provides everything necessary for swiftly conceptualizing a 2D or 3D idea and seeing it through to completion. Furthermore, users can achieve lifelike renders directly within ZBrush, augmented with dynamic lighting and atmospheric effects, thus enhancing the visual quality of their projects. This comprehensive suite makes ZBrush an essential tool for both amateur and professional artists alike. -
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Clara.io
Clara.io
$10 per monthClara.io is an advanced cloud-based tool for 3D modeling, animation, and rendering that operates directly within your web browser. This platform enables users to construct intricate 3D models and produce stunning photorealistic images, all without the need to install any software. It serves as an excellent editor for Three.JS or Babylon.JS, making it ideal for developing and refining web game assets. Users can access a vast library of photorealistic materials, utilize easy advanced material options, and implement flexible lighting configurations. The software boasts impressive speed and supports simultaneous editing by multiple users, ensuring effective collaboration. Furthermore, it features continuous versioning, individual user permissions, and a variety of review tools to enhance productivity. With a user interface that feels familiar and workflows that are responsive, Clara.io supports essential functions like undo/redo, drag-and-drop actions, and context menus throughout. As the latest offering from the reliable and skilled team at Exocortex, Clara.io is built on a legacy of trust, which is reflected in its adoption by numerous creative teams in studios across the globe. The platform continues to evolve, ensuring it meets the dynamic needs of its users. -
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Blender is an open-source 3D creation suite available for free, encompassing the entire 3D production process—covering modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, motion tracking, video editing, and even 2D animation. Its integrated Cycles engine is a powerful unbiased path-tracer that delivers breathtakingly realistic renders. The extensive modeling capabilities of Blender simplify the creation, transformation, and modification of models efficiently. VFX experts proclaim it to be “probably the best tracker in the market.” Additionally, Blender features robust camera and object tracking functionalities that allow users to import raw video, track it, create masks, and visualize camera movements in real time within the 3D environment, thus removing the need for frequent software switching. With its exceptional rigging and animation tools, Blender has gained popularity among filmmakers, leading to its use in various short films, commercials, television series, and feature-length movies. This versatility has made it an essential tool for artists and creators striving to bring their visions to life.
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Avoyd
enkisoftware
€15 one-time paymentAvoyd Voxel Editor and Renderer is a 3D art and rendering tool for voxel artists, Minecraft map builders and game developers. With Avoyd you can - Create worlds up to 256k voxels a side. - Create and render Voxel Art with CPU and GPU path tracing. - Export to optimised mesh (glTF, obj) for 3D modelling tools like Blender and game engines like Unreal Engine, Godot or Unity. - Import and export MagicaVoxel .vox files. - Import and render Minecraft worlds and Heightmaps from software like World Machine - Import and create material palettes with up to 65k physically based materials. - Physically based light and atmosphere. - Orthographic projection with Isometric presets. -
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3ds Max
Autodesk
$215 per month3ds Max provides an extensive and adaptable suite of tools that empowers designers with complete artistic freedom to create exceptional works. You can construct expansive game worlds, visualize stunning architectural projects, and design intricately detailed interiors and objects. Additionally, it allows you to animate characters and features, enhancing them with visual effects. The integrated Arnold renderer enriches your experience by effectively managing complex characters, scenes, and effects. With centralized creative tools, you can save time on interactive light mixing, color correction, and lens effects applied to rendered images. The user-friendly interface and intuitive controls enable you to work more efficiently, producing high-quality renders and variations at a quicker pace. 3ds Max supports workflow scalability through automation, which allows you to dedicate more time to your creative endeavors. Furthermore, it can function as a compute engine to optimize content production and offers extendable workflows through easy-to-use APIs, enhancing overall productivity. By leveraging these features, you can elevate your design projects to new heights. -
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Cinema 4D
Maxon
$16.58 per monthCinema 4D Subscription Release 24 (S24) is a comprehensive suite for 3D computer animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering, featuring an intuitive interface that allows users to easily browse and acquire models, materials, and other assets to seamlessly integrate into their scenes. This latest version also introduces notable improvements in workflow efficiency and offers a glimpse into ongoing advancements with the Scene Nodes and Scene Manager components of the new core. Renowned for its powerful, flexible, and stable tools, Cinema 4D enhances productivity for a wide range of professionals in design, motion graphics, visual effects, augmented, mixed, and virtual reality, game development, and various forms of visualization. Whether working independently or collaborating with others, users can achieve remarkable results with Cinema 4D, which is celebrated for its accessibility and user-friendliness. To help beginners navigate the software, Maxon provides an extensive library of tutorials on Cineversity, along with numerous Quick Tips, making the learning experience engaging and efficient. This commitment to user support underscores Cinema 4D's reputation as one of the most approachable 3D software solutions available today. -
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Marmoset Toolbag
Marmoset
$189 per userToolbag equips you with all the essential tools to elevate the appearance, design, and display of your 3D creations. Whether you're previewing materials, preparing texture sets for production, or generating renders for global exposure, Toolbag seamlessly integrates into your workflow. At the heart of Toolbag's exceptional image quality are real-time physically-based rendering and image-based lighting, enabling your artwork to radiate, whether it’s realistic or stylized. With an emphasis on efficiency, you can focus on creativity and minimize clicks. Features like drag-and-drop capabilities and intelligent loaders contribute to a streamlined and intuitive 3D rendering experience within Toolbag. You can capture stunning still images of your latest character designs, environmental art, product visuals, and much more. Additionally, take advantage of Toolbag’s built-in Turntable tool, or craft your own personalized animation and camera sequences to proudly present your latest masterpiece in dynamic motion. This versatility ensures that every aspect of your 3D project can be perfected and showcased to its fullest potential. -
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Bforartists
Bforartists
Bforartists is a comprehensive, free, and open-source 3D software suite designed for creating 3D content. It provides a complete pipeline for generating game graphics, pre-rendered films, and still images, encompassing all stages from modeling and sculpting to texturing, rigging, animation, rendering, and post-processing. The name Bforartists emphasizes a focus on artists, reminding developers to prioritize user experience over programmer convenience. This software is a fork of the widely-used open-source 3D platform Blender, crafted by a group of 3D enthusiasts with the aim of enhancing its functionality. The main objective of the Bforartists project is to offer an improved graphical user interface and enhanced usability, shifting from a hotkey-driven approach to a more intuitive and user-friendly design. Bforartists maintains full compatibility with Blender files and add-ons, ensuring that every feature available in Blender is also accessible in Bforartists. Furthermore, the toolset remains consistent with Blender's, and the software is regularly updated to align with the latest Blender version, providing users with the most contemporary tools available. This commitment to user experience makes Bforartists a valuable option for both novice and experienced artists alike. -
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3DCoat
3DCoat
$49 one-time payment3DCoat stands out as a comprehensive application that equips users with all the necessary tools to transform a simple block of digital clay into a polished, production-ready model, whether organic or hard surface. Currently, over 300 educational institutions worldwide, including universities and colleges, offer courses on 3DCoat, emphasizing its significance in the field. This software is recognized as one of the most sophisticated solutions for crafting intricate 3D models. Unlike other applications in this sector that often focus on a singular function, such as Digital Sculpting or Texture Painting, 3DCoat excels by offering top-tier capabilities across various stages of the asset creation workflow. Its functionalities encompass Sculpting, Retopology, UV Editing, PBR Texture Painting, and Rendering. Because of this versatility, it can be described as a comprehensive suite that combines 3D texturing software, 3D texture painting software, a 3D sculpting program, Retopology software, UV mapping software, and 3D rendering software into one platform. Ultimately, 3DCoat eliminates the necessity of acquiring and mastering multiple specialized software packages, streamlining the creative process for artists and designers alike. This all-in-one approach not only saves time but also enhances productivity by allowing users to focus on their creative vision without the distraction of switching between different tools. -
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MeshLab
MeshLab
The open-source platform designed for the processing and editing of 3D triangular meshes offers an array of tools for various tasks, such as editing, cleaning, healing, inspecting, rendering, texturing, and converting these meshes. It includes capabilities for handling raw data generated by 3D digitization devices and for preparing models suitable for 3D printing applications. In the latest update, support has been added for multiple file formats (.gltf, .glb, .nxs, .nxz, .e57), along with the introduction of a new plugin dedicated to precise mesh boolean operations. A critical phase in the workflow for handling 3D scanned data is the 3D data alignment process, often referred to as registration. MeshLab equips users with robust tools to align various meshes within a unified reference framework, effectively managing extensive sets of range maps. Additionally, it features a finely-tuned Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm for one-to-one alignment, which is complemented by a global bundle adjustment step to optimize error distribution. Users can perform this alignment on both meshes and point clouds obtained from a variety of sources, including active scanners, whether they operate over short or long ranges. This versatility enhances the overall functionality and effectiveness of the tool in 3D data processing. -
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LightWave 3D
NewTek
$995NewTek LightWave 3D® is tailored for independent creators who want to maintain oversight of their artistic journey from inception to completion. Affordable and user-friendly, LightWave is recognized as one of the foremost 3D modeling systems available today. It offers capabilities for modeling, animating, and rendering breathtakingly realistic visuals, empowering users to forge new realms, enhance their brand identity, and exceed expectations. LightWave 2020 has undergone significant refinements and improvements. Rather than just taking our word for it, experience LightWave 2020 without limitations. By downloading and registering, you can access a full-feature trial version of LightWave 2020 on both Windows and Mac operating systems. This latest iteration equips you with the essential tools to ensure that any project is completed punctually and within financial constraints. Integrate the potency and effectiveness of LightWave 2020 into your workflow today, and embark on a journey of creativity with an efficient, streamlined process that is both reliable and rapid. This combination promises to make your 3D projects an enjoyable experience. -
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Sumo3D
Sumo Apps
$9 per monthIntroducing an online 3D editor that empowers you to construct and print unique 3D models effortlessly. This platform seamlessly integrates with the Sumo Library, allowing you to enrich your creations with models, images, sounds, and textures sourced from various applications. Dive into a captivating 3D environment and shape your own reality by crafting elements that resonate with your surroundings. Embrace your creativity and let your aspirations take form with Sumo3D, where the only limit is your imagination! Utilize the built-in tools to create stunning three-dimensional multimedia artworks that you can share with your community. With the capability to design animations, Sumo3D offers you the freedom to curate your personal virtual playground. Access an extensive assortment of basic and advanced shapes from Sumo3D to kickstart your world-building journey. Personalize your designs with vibrant colors and textures to transform them into your signature masterpieces. Construct an entire universe for exploration and play, as the inability to venture outdoors should never hinder your imaginative escapades. Expand upon your previous creations by enhancing the digital landscape of your own unique realm, fostering growth and innovation in your artistic endeavors. The possibilities are endless when you engage with Sumo3D, making every project an exciting new adventure! -
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Shade/Shape
RE:Vision Effects
Shade/Shape effortlessly transforms your two-dimensional art into stunning three-dimensional rendered visuals! It automatically adds 3D shading to your 2D designs, including texts, logos, and images, by utilizing the outlines and characteristics of the artwork to create a sense of volume and depth. When you apply Shade/Shape to animated 2D characters, they truly pop and become more visually engaging! You can create exciting effects and abstract transitions with ease. Enhance your existing image sequences by incorporating a natural 3D shading effect. Utilizing advanced shading-from-shape technology, Shade/Shape seamlessly generates three-dimensional shading for all your 2D graphic elements. You can enrich your titles and logos with depth, shading, and a metallic sheen! Craft glass-like objects by reflecting the background imagery through your creations. Additionally, Shade/Shape includes a plugin that employs its innovative shading techniques to enhance the normals generated by any 3D system or even itself. For added intricacy, you can apply reflection and bump maps, ensuring stable and smooth shading for dynamic visuals over time. The possibilities for elevating your artwork are endless with Shade/Shape! -
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3D Slash
3D Slash
$2 per monthAn ideal tool for both children and those without design experience to create in 3D, featuring a one-of-a-kind interface that resembles a cube and offers an engaging array of tools akin to a building game. The application includes a VR view, allows for projecting images or text onto models, and even engraving them! It provides essential features that enable users to dive in immediately without any prior training needed. The intuitive design makes it easy to learn, allowing users to utilize basic tools for hammering or reconstructing. With a broad color palette available, users can paint their models freely, and creating a 3D logo or text takes just a click. Users can start by importing .stl or .obj files, ensuring high precision in modeling. Sculpting shapes from images or photographs is also an option, and actions like copy-pasting, moving, resizing, flipping, and combining can all be executed effortlessly. Additionally, rounded shapes and imported files can be incorporated into models, while specific parts of the object can be selected and edited by color. Users can project images or text onto their models to use as decals, and educators can easily create student accounts through the teacher dashboard, which does not require email addresses for students. Real-time monitoring of the files that students create adds an extra layer of oversight and engagement for teachers. -
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metropoly
AXYZ design
€19.90 one-time paymentIntroducing exquisite 3D human models that have been meticulously photo-scanned to enhance your architectural visualization endeavors—these metropoly® 3D People Characters bring a vibrant touch to your renders. They are fully compatible with industry-leading software such as 3ds Max®, Maya®, Cinema 4D®, Blender®, Unreal Engine®, Lightwave®, SketchUp®, Rhino®, and anima®, ensuring you have the tools you need for exceptional results. Driven by a passion for merging technology with artistry, we strive for the highest quality in realistic representations of human figures. Utilizing state-of-the-art photogrammetric scanning methods alongside the skilled craftsmanship of our dedicated team, we aim to achieve near-perfection in every model. Our 3D human figures are meticulously crafted and optimized to ensure outstanding performance during rendering, with a focus on adding intricate details where they truly matter. For static models, we typically create meshes consisting of approximately 40,000 polygons, while our animated characters undergo retopology to ensure optimal flexibility and deformation during movement, allowing for effortless editing and modification to suit your specific needs. In every project, we prioritize both quality and versatility, empowering your creative vision with our advanced 3D solutions. -
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Element 3D
Video Copilot
$199.95 one-time paymentIntroducing a high-performance plug-in for After Effects™ designed for crafting stunning motion graphics and visual effects! This tool enables the casting of shadows through a specialized matte shadow material, supports ambient occlusion shading, and offers options for shadow color tint and opacity. Users can choose from multiple distortion noise modes and access advanced fractal settings, which can be combined with various transfer modes for enhanced creativity. To achieve optimal performance, it is recommended to utilize dynamic reflections on key objects, thereby conserving GPU memory. Additionally, wireframe settings can be controlled per material, making it an excellent choice for UI design or HUD graphics. Note that a hardware license is necessary to generate the Element, and we've streamlined this process within the plugin for speedier results! Video Copilot serves as a valuable resource for training, design tools, and artistic collaboration, with the mission of showcasing the possibilities of effects creation so that you can implement these methods into your own creative projects. Our commitment lies in developing unique and innovative tools that not only enhance the quality and efficiency of your productions but also provide you with the freedom and flexibility to explore your artistic vision. With these resources at your fingertips, the potential for creativity is limitless. -
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uMake
uMake
$7.99 per monthWith the uMake app for iPhone and iPad, you can effortlessly create stunning designs, photos, presentations, or intricate 3D models using a comprehensive library of content and user-friendly tools. The process of designing in three dimensions has never been more accessible. You can simply drag and drop from the extensive content library or use the precision tool for meticulous drawing. Everything you require is conveniently available at your fingertips. In mere seconds, you can generate 3D text or effortlessly incorporate shapes and objects from our rich content collection. If you already have designs, importing file formats such as SketchUp or OBJ is straightforward. Prefer to create your own? The freestyle tool allows you to sketch and doodle quickly in a three-dimensional space. Let your creativity flow freely! When accuracy is essential, uMake gives you complete control to draw flawless lines, arcs, and angles, along with the ability to define precise dimensions. You can easily manipulate extrusions or cutouts, round off corners with chamfers and fillets, and create intricate 3D surfaces by lofting or revolving curves. With user-friendly inputs and robust capabilities, transforming your imaginative concepts into tangible shapes is both simple and enjoyable. Discover the endless possibilities that the uMake app offers for all your design needs! -
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JSCAD
JSCAD
FreeJSCAD is a versatile open-source collection of modular tools available for both browsers and command lines, enabling users to create parametric 2D and 3D designs using JavaScript code. It offers a fast, accurate, and repeatable approach to generating 3D models, making it particularly advantageous for applications in 3D printing. Users can choose from various 'flavors' of JSCAD tailored to their specific requirements. As a solids modeling system, JSCAD operates fundamentally without units; however, when exporting files, a measurement of 1 unit within JSCAD generally equates to 1 millimeter in the resulting model. The process of modeling in JSCAD typically involves constructing the desired shape using primitive forms, although numerous methods can yield the same final design. To explore the diverse functionalities of JSCAD, one can refer to the examples available in the app's information menu. Among the most crucial tools in solid modeling are Booleans, which allow users to create many necessary shapes by combining, subtracting, or intersecting basic forms. This flexibility in design makes JSCAD a powerful tool for both beginners and advanced users alike. -
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CentiLeo
CentiLeo
CentiLeo is a highly efficient GPU path tracer designed for seamless integration with both 3ds Max and Cinema 4D, allowing users to easily manage complex lighting in their scenes. This advanced GPU renderer excels in delivering rapid unbiased path tracing, particularly for intricate lighting scenarios. Featuring out-of-core technology, CentiLeo can efficiently handle enormous scene assets, enabling the rendering of polygon counts, particles, and textures that exceed the limitations of GPU memory. The innovative technology extends the memory capacity for geometry and particles by four times and dramatically increases texture memory limits by a factor of 100. In addition, CentiLeo offers capabilities such as Interactive Preview Render, node-based material and shader editing, displacement mapping, motion blur, subsurface scattering, and rapid noise reduction tailored for multi-materials, glass objects, and mesh lights. Moreover, the software has received support from the Skolkovo Foundation, which has backed some of its research and development initiatives through grants, underscoring the commitment to advancing rendering technology. This combination of features makes CentiLeo an ideal choice for artists and designers looking to enhance their rendering workflows. -
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CAESES
FRIENDSHIP SYSTEMS AG
CAESES® serves as a versatile and robust parametric 3D modeling tool designed to streamline variable geometry with a minimized set of parameters. Its primary aim is to facilitate the creation of clean, durable parametric geometries that lend themselves well to automated meshing and thorough analysis. Users can seamlessly integrate, initiate, and oversee their simulation processes, making it an excellent graphical user interface for process automation, complete with 3D post-processing features. The software provides built-in techniques for automated design exploration and shape optimization, allowing for the enhancement of imported geometries through CAESES' advanced shape deformation and morphing capabilities. As a fully command-driven platform, CAESES® can be extensively scripted and tailored to meet specific project requirements, and it also supports batch mode operations. You can significantly expedite your shape optimization workflow by applying the outcomes of adjoint flow analyses directly to geometry parameters. In just a few days, you can have your adaptable CAESES model ready, tailored to your specifications and designed for ease of use, requiring no prior expertise in CAESES. The platform’s intuitive nature ensures that even newcomers can effectively harness its powerful capabilities. -
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Univah Film Engine
The Stephanie Michaels Software Company
Univah Pro is a powerful Real-Time 3D rendering software for professional 3D Animation studios. Univah Pro was designed to create very large virtual worlds. Real-time rendering of entire planets including trees, oceans and rivers, roads, cars, and people. Real-time visual effects like rain, snow and explosions can be added. Add advanced physics such as destruction physics, hard and soft body hair physics in real time. -
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AutoCAD
Autodesk
$1,268 per user per year 11 RatingsAutoCAD® is a versatile computer-aided design (CAD) software utilized by architects, engineers, and construction specialists to produce meticulous 2D and 3D drawings, featuring time-saving toolsets along with web and mobile applications. With capabilities to draft, annotate, and design both 2D geometries and 3D models—including solids, surfaces, and mesh objects—AutoCAD streamlines workflow by automating tasks like drawing comparisons, block additions, and schedule creations. Users can enhance their experience through customizable add-on applications and APIs, and the software is equipped with industry-specific functionalities and intelligent objects tailored for fields such as architecture, mechanical engineering, and electrical design. The platform simplifies the creation of floor plans, sections, and elevations while allowing for quick drawing of piping, ducting, and circuiting through comprehensive parts libraries. Additionally, it auto-generates annotations, layers, schedules, lists, and tables, thereby fostering efficiency. To ensure compliance with industry standards, AutoCAD employs a rules-driven workflow, making it an invaluable tool for professionals. Ultimately, its extensive features enable users to tackle complex design projects with greater ease and precision. -
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3D-DOCTOR
Able Software
$480 per year3D-DOCTOR is a sophisticated software solution designed for 3D modeling, image processing, and measurement across various imaging modalities, including MRI, CT, PET, and microscopy, as well as scientific and industrial applications. It accommodates both grayscale and color images in multiple formats such as DICOM, TIFF, Interfile, GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, PGM, MRC, RAW, and more. This powerful software generates 3D surface models and performs volume rendering from 2D cross-sectional images in real-time on your computer. Users can export polygonal mesh models in various formats, including STL, DXF, IGES, 3DS, OBJ, VRML, PLY, and XYZ, making it suitable for applications like surgical planning, simulation, quantitative analysis, finite element analysis, and rapid prototyping. In addition, it allows for 3D volume calculations and other measurements crucial for quantitative insights. The vector-based tools enhance the ease of handling image data, facilitating measurement and analysis efficiently. Moreover, 3D CT and MRI images can be re-sliced along any chosen axis, and it is capable of registering multi-modality images to produce comprehensive image fusions, ensuring a versatile approach to imaging challenges. -
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SelfCAD is a powerful 3D modeling software that is easy to use. Users can be able to model, sculpt, render, and even slice all under one program. The program targets beginners, hobbyists, professionals, students, small and large business owners and freelancers who would like to design their 3D models quickly without having to spend a lot of time learning how to use the software. SelfCAD has a simplified interface in which the tools are well arranged in the interface making it an easy to use software. There are a lot many interactive tutorials available that makes learning fun. If you would like to introduce your students to 3D modeling, prepare professionals prototypes or designs, this is the best tool you need.
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Plasticity
Plasticity
$149 per month 1 RatingOptimized for creative workflows, Plasticity boasts unmatched filleting capabilities, advanced surface modeling, and the most sophisticated direct editing tools available, making it the ideal software for those who seek excellence. Additionally, with a one-time purchase and no subscription fees, you retain full ownership of your software. Experience it risk-free for 30 days and witness the transformative difference it can make. Plasticity stands out as the premier choice for creative professionals across various fields, including video game design, product development, automotive design, and much more. It marks a departure from traditional, cumbersome CAD processes that prioritize manufacturability over creativity. By seamlessly merging the power of NURBS modeling with cutting-edge innovations from modern polygonal software, Plasticity provides the flexibility and artistic freedom necessary to turn your concepts into reality. Its advanced geometry and fillet engine utilize Parasolid's exceptional algorithms, resulting in unparalleled performance. With Plasticity, you have the ability to create top-tier fillets, booleans, and offsets, while enjoying the freedom to modify them at any time, ensuring your designs can evolve as your creative vision does. Ultimately, this makes Plasticity an indispensable tool for any design professional looking to elevate their work. -
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PlantFactory
e-on software
$99 per monthPlantFactory stands out as the leading choice for crafting 3D vegetation, offering an artist-friendly toolbox that provides unmatched control over intricate details. You can design anything from small mushrooms to towering trees with ease. Whether your project demands hyper-realistic, high-polygon plants for visual effects and architectural visualization, stylized flora for advertisements, or lightweight models for real-time applications, PlantFactory meets all these requirements and integrates flawlessly into your workflow. The software features three versatile modeling techniques that can be creatively combined, allowing you to draw plants using basic shapes or custom brushes, utilize modular components, or build everything from the ground up with a node-based approach. Furthermore, PlantFactory’s flexible architecture allows for the straightforward generation of non-organic objects that exhibit repeating patterns. Additionally, it automates UV unwrapping while ensuring optimal edge flow and topology through intelligent algorithms, allowing you to concentrate more on the creative process rather than getting bogged down by technical complexities. This holistic approach makes PlantFactory not just a tool, but a pivotal asset for any artist in the field. -
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Medium by Adobe
Adobe
Unleash your creativity with a groundbreaking virtual reality experience in 3D asset creation. The next era of 3D modeling is at your fingertips, allowing you to craft intricate organic forms, detailed characters, and innovative abstract pieces using Medium. Available exclusively in virtual reality on Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest + Link, it offers an expansive VR canvas where ideas can manifest in any direction you choose. As you create, you’ll have access to comprehensive tutorials and user-friendly tools that enhance your learning journey. You can manipulate your artwork by stretching, inflating, shrinking, and rotating elements while meticulously sculpting fine details to breathe life into your creations. Share your imagination with the world by capturing 2D images or bringing your designs into reality through 3D printing. Medium empowers professionals to design sophisticated 3D models without constraints, facilitating the exploration of new ideas and real-time iteration. Enjoy the flexibility to reshape models seamlessly, duplicate elements effortlessly, switch tools with ease, and quickly revert actions, all thanks to an intuitive user interface that streamlines your creative process. With Medium, your artistic potential knows no bounds, offering an immersive workshop where you can continuously evolve your skills and experiments. -
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Layout3D
Rockwell Automation
Layout3D enables the creation of precise and visually appealing 3D layouts for a variety of automation systems, such as production lines, warehouses, distribution centers, and baggage handling operations. These models serve as an effective means to communicate, illustrate, and refine project concepts for all involved parties, making the modeling process both quick and intuitive. Users can seamlessly navigate their virtual environments with a standard game controller, allowing for the easy generation and sharing of impressive videos and multi-view dimensioned prints for team members. The software comes equipped with catalogs of standard material handling equipment that can be easily dragged and dropped into your layout for convenience. To further enhance productivity, parameter-driven objects like storage racks and gantry cranes can be effortlessly resized and adapted. Additionally, Layout3D offers features that can create arrays or clusters of equipment, significantly streamlining the overall building process. This tool not only saves time but also enhances collaboration by providing a clear visualization of complex projects. -
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ReCap Pro
Autodesk
$26 per monthReality capture tools bridge the gap between the physical realm and the digital landscape. With ReCap™ Pro, users can transform imported images and laser scans into detailed 3D models. This software outputs point clouds and meshes, facilitating Building Information Modeling (BIM) processes and enabling seamless collaboration among design teams grounded in actual data. ReCap Photo, an integrated feature of ReCap Pro, leverages drone-captured images to generate 3D visualizations of existing site conditions and various objects, while also producing point clouds, meshes, and ortho photos. The Software Development Kit (SDK) associated with ReCap Pro allows for rapid integration of real-world data into Autodesk’s design and construction applications. Users can conveniently view RealView scans alongside overhead map visuals for easy comparison. Additionally, the compass widget helps establish the XY axis for the user coordinate system in the overhead display, while advanced GPS technology ensures that ground control points are set with precision, allowing photo reconstruction to achieve survey-grade accuracy. This combination of features not only streamlines workflows but also enhances the overall accuracy of design projects. -
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Autodesk Arnold
Autodesk
$27 per monthGlobal illumination rendering software enhances the speed at which high-quality 3D images are produced using Arnold, enabling artists to concentrate on their creative work. This sophisticated Monte Carlo ray tracing renderer not only boosts efficiency but also allows for interactive results that facilitate rapid iterations. With a user-friendly interface and straightforward controls, switching between CPU and GPU rendering is effortless to meet various production requirements. Arnold excels in handling large datasets and intricate scene files, ensuring that production-ready tools effectively tackle challenges related to characters, environments, and lighting. It optimizes compute performance for elements like hair, fur, and skin, making it a versatile choice. Additionally, the software seamlessly integrates with leading 3D digital content creation tools, providing a scalable and open architecture. Users benefit from Arnold GPU's ability to fluidly transition between rendering modes, while its advanced ray-traced subsurface scattering technology removes the hassle of adjusting point clouds, ultimately streamlining the rendering process even further. This makes Arnold a robust option for artists striving for excellence in their 3D visual projects. -
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Whether you're interested in building immersive three-dimensional environments or focusing on a two-dimensional project, Hash Animation:Master is the ideal 3D software for crafting stunning visuals and animations right from your home! Recognized for its user-friendliness, affordability, and robust capabilities, this program stands out among other 3D applications. A:M combines advanced features with an accessible learning curve, ensuring that you can master it quickly. With our comprehensive text and video tutorials, you'll not only learn to navigate A:M like a pro but also set the foundation for a successful career in the 3D animation industry. Our global network of A:M experts is readily available to assist newcomers through tutorials and support on the A:M Forums. The community surrounding A:M is among the most supportive, knowledgeable, and responsive in the field, making it easy to find help whenever you need it. If you're ever in doubt, rest assured that our dedicated team is always here to assist you as well!
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Houdini
SideFX
Houdini was designed from the ground up to empower artists to work freely, create multiple iterations, and quickly share workflows with their colleagues. Houdini stores every action in a node. These nodes are "wired" into networks that define a "recipe", which can be tweaked to improve the outcome, then repeated to create unique results. Houdini's procedural nature is due to the ability of nodes to be saved or to pass information (in the form of attributes) down the chain. Houdini's unique nodes are what make it powerful. However, there are many viewport and shelf tools which allow for artist-friendly interaction. Behind the scenes, Houdini creates the networks and nodes for you. Houdini allows artists to explore new creative paths, as it is easy for them to branch off to explore other solutions.