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. 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 Blender was criticized early on for having a confusing interface, but don’t let outdated complaints steer you away.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. Download For: Download For: 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. 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. Download For: 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. 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. Download For:
