Sculpting life-like models without getting covered in clay is an appealing thought. Paying three and a half thousand dollars for the latest version of 3D Studio Max however, isn\u2019t. While there will come a time when money will have to be invested, those new to the game of modeling would be better off starting with one of the many free programs available.<\/p>\n
Blender.org<\/strong><\/p>\n A popular 3D computer grahics software program,\u00a0Blender 3D<\/a> can be used to create anything from animated films and video games to visual effects and interactive 3D applications. Blender’s many features include 3D modeling, texturing, UV unwrapping, rigging and skinning, particle simulation, animation, fluid and smoke simulation, compositing, rendering and video editing. Blender is free, open source and, apart from a few full-time employees, is developed entirely by the community.<\/p>\n Povray.org<\/strong><\/p>\n The Persistence of Vision Raytracer \u2013 better known as POV-Ray \u2013 is a freeware ray tracing program available for a number of computer platforms. The software was the first ray tracer to render an image in orbit. Features of the software include a Turing-complete scene description language (SDL), a library of ready-made objects, textures and scenes, several types of light sources and atmospheric effects, surface patterns and radiosity. One of the min attractions of POV-Ray lies in its vast network of third party support.<\/p>\n Amabilis.com<\/strong><\/p>\n The Amabilis stable is full of well-bred things, and 3DCrafter is one of them. The program is free and allows users to create real-time 3D models and animation through an intuitive drag-and-drop approach. Eager sculptors can create complex\u00a0models from simple 3D primitives to moving boxes<\/a> or by using 3DCrafter’s shape-building tools. The interface is customizable so that only those items most frequently used are visible. Users who outgrow the program can upgrade \u2013 though at a cost.<\/p>\n K-3D.org<\/strong><\/p>\n As a no-frills, free animation and 3D modeling program, K-3D is a great addition to the scene. The software features a plug-in-oriented procedural engine for content and supports polygonal modeling, as well as featuring all the basic modeling and animation tools needed for patches, animation, curves and NURBS. Other fine features include RenderMan support, unlimited undo\/redo and scripting. K-3D’s most notale feature is that it allows modelers to work on one side of their piece, view the mirrored other side, and then see the two wedded together as a real-time subdivision surface.<\/p>\n Artofillusion.org<\/strong><\/p>\n Good for newbies to the modeling scene, Art of Illusion is a free rendering and 3D modeling program. It makes use of a relatively simple interface while providing features, such as the use of online repositories, which are not found in similar proprietary software. Features include built-in \u2018live help\u2019 chat client for connecting to the free-node Art of Illusion support area; grid view and real-time display modes including wireframe, smooth and textured; Boolean modeling operations; skeletal animation with weighting, constraints and inverse kinematics; per-face, per-vertex, and per-face-per-vertex texture assignment; and adjustable index of refraction, scattering and eccentricity.<\/p>\n