Anyone know of a good but free 3D modeling software?

I tried that google thing and it was pretty coo. I think it is easy to learn too...I think it is called Sketch-Up.
 
Maya is pretty hardcore, especially for a beginner. Sketch Up is excellent and fairly simple, but it doesn't allow photorealistic rendering.

A good compromise is something cheap like Ulead's 3D package or some of the many free packages like J-patch/S-patch, and many others I can't rremember right now.

It all depends on your desired final output quality and whether or not you just want to do logos or something more spectacular.
 
Maya is pretty hardcore, especially for a beginner. Sketch Up is excellent and fairly simple, but it doesn't allow photorealistic rendering.

A good compromise is something cheap like Ulead's 3D package or some of the many free packages like J-patch/S-patch, and many others I can't rremember right now.

It all depends on your desired final output quality and whether or not you just want to do logos or something more spectacular.

I guess it depends on what you're doing... personally, I would sit down and learn the most powerful tool I could. But I'm more technically inclined so it's up to you whether to follow my advice or not.
 
I guess it depends on what you're doing... personally, I would sit down and learn the most powerful tool I could. But I'm more technically inclined so it's up to you whether to follow my advice or not.


You're right, but most people don't realize what they're in for when it comes to "making something in 3d." It's a whole mindset thing to make something 3d on a 2d screen and get used to all of the crazy tools that make Photoshop look like Kid Pix.

I have been using Animation Master for years, but it's not for everyone since it models differently than most packages by using no polygons. It's all spline patch models and it takes some getting used to, but it is incredibly powerful and fun to use, and it costs less than 90% of the 3d packages out there.
 
Blender is totally free, open-source program. However, it's weird as well.


Well it is european, so everything is backwards from what we do in america. But it is a free download and you can do some pretty cool basic things in it.
 
You're right, but most people don't realize what they're in for when it comes to "making something in 3d." It's a whole mindset thing to make something 3d on a 2d screen and get used to all of the crazy tools that make Photoshop look like Kid Pix.

I have been using Animation Master for years, but it's not for everyone since it models differently than most packages by using no polygons. It's all spline patch models and it takes some getting used to, but it is incredibly powerful and fun to use, and it costs less than 90% of the 3d packages out there.

That's true. I've played with a few 3d apps in the past, from Bryce to Solidworks... but not doing any serious stuff. I'll have to look into Animation Master. Polygon-less modeling sounds interesting...
 
There are some great pieces made with Animation Master.

Most notably: The Killer Bean 2, The Animator's Apprentice, Alien Song (top web video a few years ago), and the game rendering and ads for "Tak and the Power of Juju" which is very well made.

My stuff isn't quite worth showing here. I'm always tinkering and not finishing things.
 
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