3D modeling

logo KOMPAS-3D KOMPAS-3D
logo Autodesk 3ds Max Autodesk 3ds Max
logo ArchiCAD ArchiCAD
logo Sweet Home 3D Sweet Home 3D
logo Blender Blender
logo FreeCAD FreeCAD
logo SolidWorks SolidWorks
logo CINEMA 4D CINEMA 4D
logo Houdini Houdini
logo PRO100 PRO100

Nowadays 3D models are used in a wide variety of sectors of life: movies, computer games, design, architecture, and so on. Specialists who know how to work in such programs are in high demand on the labor market and earn good money.

Programs for 3D modeling can help to turn user ideas into functional models that can then be used for a variety of purposes. They allow you to create everything from scratch, without requiring special training, some programs can be mastered even by a novice. It is clear that even the best program for 3D modeling will not make you a cool expert of the highest level in a day. This takes years of practice. But they can help you in learning and implementing ideas. Since these programs are an important professional tool, the choice should be a good insight. They have different interfaces and features, and for beginners, there is most often a light version. This is convenient. Also, having mastered one program, in the future you will be much easier to master the others, because they are all similar.

Choosing the right software is very difficult, because the market has a lot of it with a variety of functionality. The following overview will help you in mastering the design profession and on the way to realize your creative potential.

All 3D modeling in rating

Every engineer, architect or industrial technologist sooner or later faces the need to design apparatuses, assemblies and other similar things. There are a lot of programs for designing such parts nowadays. And today we will talk about such software as KOMPAS-3D.

Pros

    • Powerful set of tools for creating complex designs, drawing different parts and standard products of any kind
    • Export/import of STEP, ACIS, IGES, DWG, DXF files from other CAD software
    • Fast execution of design documentation
    • Rotation and zoom functions
    • Synchronization of data between several computers
    • Construction of associative model views in automatic mode
    • The official site of the ASCON company releases regular updates for KOMPAS-3D
    • Installation of additional modules: mechanical engineering, construction and
    • instrumentation configuration.
    • High speed of operation

Cons

    • The free version of the program has functional limitations

Three-dimensional graphics nowadays take a leading place in the creation of cartoons and special effects in feature films. This is especially true for the sci-fi and fantasy genre. Now on the Internet in the public domain there are many programs that are designed for 3d modeling. But many of them do not give very good results. It can be poor quality of the finished project or too unnatural effects that are superimposed on the video.

Pros

    • Polygonal modeling support
    • Realistic effects with dynamics
    • Customizable Units of Measure
    • Huge material library
    • Water, fire, smoke, wind simulation and more
    • Depth and Sharpness Adjustments
    • Advanced motion physics calculations
    • Broad application in game development
    • Multiple workflows running simultaneously

Cons

    • High system requirements
    • Limited functionality of 3ds Max in free mode
    • The new version of the program is not compatible with WinXP (32 bit)

ArchiCAD demonstrates an innovative approach to architectural design: the architect designs the project, while the app automatically builds the document package. While you build the walls, place the slabs, make the windows and doors, the app generates a common database of 3D models of the building.

Pros

    • Designed for structural design
    • Complete set of tools for creating drawings, specifications and three-dimensional models
    • Built-in graphical editor
    • Access to pre-designed databases
    • Collision detection function
    • Fast save option at any stage
    • Intelligent tools for free modeling of buildings
    • New BIM Server technology for project collaboration
    • Construction of glass frame structures and curvilinear elements

Cons

    • High system requirements
    • OpenGL 2.0 and higher required
    • 30 days Demo mode
    • Requires a minimum of 5GB of free disk space
    • Windows XP and Vista support has been deprecated as of ArchiCAD 18

Are you planning a renovation or remodel, a new bathroom or finally getting new furniture for your living room or bedroom? Whether you decide to contact professionals or do everything yourself, there are a number of easily accessible, convenient and in many cases free professional interior design and building design programs.

Pros

    • High speed formation and subsequent visualization of the interior design program
    • Convenient and time-consuming process of arranging furniture, decorating rooms and creating designs for your home
    • Free program, the functionality of which can be compared with their paid counterparts.
    • With the program, you can save projects in obj format, as well as svg, pdf and others.
    • Ability to view 3D models of furniture, room design, and so on
    • There are versions of Sweet Home 3D for both Windows and Mac OS
    • Offering a visualization of the completed projects in both 2D and 3D.
    • Wide range of furniture and other required elements for interior design.
    • Availability of open source code in a popular programming language Java.

Cons

    • When viewing projects in 3D, it is possible that slowdowns associated with the load of RAM of the computer may occur

Blender is a free computer program for working with 3D graphics. It is small in size, easy to use, and has many built-in hints, making it easy to use at an amateur level.

Pros

    • Ability to create 3D animation and rendering
    • Real-time simulation of collision of objects and physical phenomena
    • Supports vector fonts and graphical primitives
    • Ability to simulate sculptures in 3D
    • Adjustment of lip movements in conversation
    • Non-linear editing and video combination option
    • Wide range of tools for skeletal animation and soft/solid dynamics
    • Exports .BLEND files in common 3-D file formats
    • Task automation feature

Graphic editor Free CAD is designed to create high-quality and parametric 3D - models. Accuracy and maximum detail of created objects is actively used by professional designers in the architectural industry, industrial engineering, the development of individual and non-standard parts for machinery and automotive industry. Despite the professional tools of the program the main user interface is understandable even to novice designers. At the same time, the developers have left open source code, so you can develop and add additional tools to the main menu.

Pros

    • Distributed free of charge
    • Built-in Python console
    • Create high-quality 3D models with the ability to print on a 3d printer
    • Built-in robotics module
    • Features a wide range of tools
    • Has open source code (Open Source Code)
    • Russian-speaking community of Free CAD Software is present
    • Export/import of data from other programs Cinema 4D, 3Ds Max, Solid Edge and so on
    • Work in interactive mode

Cons

    • To develop professional projects, knowledge of the Python language is required

SolidWorks professional software was specially created to run on the Windows operating system. The software is designed to solve the tasks of designers who develop 3D models of parts of varying complexity. An extensive set of basic functions allows not only to design elements, but also to conduct virtual strength tests of created parts. Users prefer this software because of its versatility. SolidWorks can be successfully used for industrial production environments as well as for small custom orders.

Pros

    • Solve complex engineering problems
    • Serial Number Verification Function
    • Easily manage data during design verification
    • Helps extend product life cycle
    • Official SolidWorks website releases regular software updates
    • Lots of tools to create 3D model of any printed circuit board or product
    • Opening of Excel and Word documents
    • Tuning of physical properties of solid state

Cons

    • High system requirements
    • More features in the full paid version

Today's virtual world is already difficult to imagine without the accompaniment of original three-dimensional content. CINEMA 4D software gives you all the tools you need to translate various design ideas into 3D projects. The software is designed for both novice users and advanced professionals. The application provides an interface in Russian, with some options have pop-up prompts, which contributes to a quick understanding of the control process.

Pros

    • Fast animation creation process and excellent built-in toolset
    • Easy formation of sculpture modeling
    • Ability to create scripts in multiple programming languages
    • In each update, new tools from developers are added
    • Excellent optimization rates with Intel, Amd processors
    • Powerful animation techniques, including well-drawn hair, physical wind contact and more
    • Dynamic 3D design functionality
    • Implemented network rendering for acceleration
    • All current operating systems from Microsoft are supported

Cons

    • Pretty impressive system requirements, at least 1024 RAM, takes up a lot of disk space

    • Extensive features of licensed CINEMA 4D Prime Studio, Broadcast and Visualize packages (as of 4D R14), somewhat reduced in demo version, which is valid for only 42 days

Houdini is an advanced software for creating high-quality 3D animations. For those who want to get acquainted with the software, there is a free version that has a compressed set of features. Houdini's extensive library gives the artist the freedom to create the most realistic objects possible. Houdini allows you to edit keyframes and animate the characters you create.

Pros

    • Wide range of tools
    • Modeling a variety of objects and objects
    • Powerful procedural 3D software application
    • Use for destruction effects, smoke, explosions, organic effects, disintegration and energy effects
    • A great choice for filmmaking
    • Allows merging, blending and transferring

Cons

    • Requires a lot of processing power
    • Free version saves only in Houdini format
    • The free version saves it with a watermark
    • Complicated interface

The special PRO100 program is designed for creating 3D modeling of architectural, interior, and furniture projects. It can be installed on 32 and 64-bit processors based on various configurations of Windows, from XP to version 10. With its help, you can independently create unique interiors and furniture. The program has a simple and understandable functionality in Russian, so even those who do not have architectural and design education can quickly master it.

Pros

    • ease of mastering;
    • a large number of ready-made templates and libraries with furniture products, materials, fronts, etc;
    • the ability to add your own libraries to the existing ready-made templates for developing unique projects;
    • small size of the project files created, which will not take up much space on the computer.

Cons

    • Lack of free access to advanced features;
    • Purchasing the full version of the program;
    • Limitation of functionality in the demo version.