Open source and free software are changing the software landscape. For doing 3D work, there are in fact free and low cost alternatives to expensive applications.
Here are some of the free or low cost equivalent
3DS Max, Maya alternative. There is only one that we can think of. And that is Blender 3D
Zbrush, Mudbox alternative. Sculptris is a very nice free alternative. Blender also have sculpting option
Texturing software alternative. GIMP can be a viable 2D texture creating software.
Landscape and terrain generator. Vue is the best of such software in the market. But we will recommend Carrara as a low cost but excellent alternative.
June 14th, 2010 | Posted in 3D Graphics | No Comments
3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) software for mechanical design and engineering are usually very expensive. The high end ones include very capable but complex software systems such as Pro-engineer, Solid Edge and Catia. One of the most popular of this type of 3D engineering software is Solidworks.
In the realm of 3D Solid parametric CAD system, there is a capable system that is surprising lowcost. This 3D app is known as Alibre. Alibre comes in various versions with varying degree of complexity and power.
All this parametric 3D CAD systems can also create 2D Technical Drawing that are dynamically associated with their 3D model versions. That means to say, if you make changes to the 3D model, the 2D drawings associated with it will be updated accurately and automatically. That is so intelligent.
June 4th, 2010 | Posted in 3D Graphics | No Comments
