I'm looking for a reasonable priced (could be a freeware) 3d modeling software.

I've already checked out Caligari's freespace and gamespace, but their UI really got on my nerves, and i did try... i'm accostumed to 3ds UI, but since its price is really unreasonable, i had to give that option up.

any 3d modeling suites you can recommend me? price limit is about 300usd.

10x

Blender is free, and has a large community supporting it. I understand the latest version has a vastly improved UI. It's relatively full-featured... probably not up there with the latest versions of Lightwave or MAX, but quite sufficient for game development.

Milkshape is a popular modeler for games. *I* am fond of this one because I'm not a modeler, and Milkshape is simple enough for even a programmer to understand. In spite of its simplicity, you can do some pretty great stuff with it. A license is US $25.

Milkshape is simple enough for even a programmer to understand

hehe... no wonder why i got replies like "programmers art!" while posting my works in art forums... lol


I'm dling blender, i'll try milkshape too.

Hi Gil,

Are you wanting to create realtime models or renderings/movies? For pre-rendered shots and movies you could look at Carrara Studio: http://www.eovia.com
Version 3 is $399, but you can sometimes find it cheaper on eBay, and you can sometimes find version 2 on eBay for $100, which lets you just use version 2 or upgrade it for $169. It isn't very good for making realtime models but it works very well for rendering. An older version is what is being used for the Rustboy (http://www.rustboy.com) animated short and book.

For realtime models, I also like Milkshape 3D. You can get the following set of excellent tools for well under your budget:

$25.00 - Milkshape 3D (http://www.milkshape3d.com) for modeling
$39.95 - Ultimate Unwrap (http://www.unwrap3d.com) for advanced texture mapping
$15.00 - CharacterFX (http://www.insanesoftware.de) for advanced animation

This set of three tools is fairly powerful even before you consider their low cost.

-Tom

Thanks Tom!

I wanted to check a variety of tools before setteling to work with one for a long time :)

any other recommendations?

www.wings3d.com is great for low-poly modelling.

I purchased a copy of 3D Canvas Pro (http://www.amabilis.com) and have enjoyed it's flexibility and ease of use. It runs for $70 a pop.

Originally posted by simonh
www.wings3d.com is great for low-poly modelling.

I second that. I can't make anything but a box in most programs. But with wings, I can pretty much make whatever I want! It's a fantastic program. Easy to learn and low poly. Best Friends was mostly modeled in wings. I like to use blender for rendering stuff.

I bought truespace 5.2 a couple years ago, but it just wasn't the right program for me.

You should definitely try Metasequoia .
here : http://www21.ocn.ne.jp/~mizno/main_e.html

Although I have never used it, I agree about Wings 3D. I have heard many people say how much they like it. Milkshape 3D has quite a few more export formats available, but my impression is that Wings 3D is easier to use and possibly a better choice if its export formats fit into your production pipeline.

-Tom

K3D (http://k3d.sourceforge.net/new/) (Windows and Linux) is also coming along nicely, though I would probably wait until their next full release before I would do anything significant with it. It has a long list of features, uses any RenderMan compliant renderer as a backend (AQSIS (http://www.aqsis.com/) is a good one), and is scriptable with Javascript or other scripting languages via an open scripting API.

Blender (http://www.blender.org) really is quite good and incredibly full featured, though I still don't like its interface all that much. The Blender development team is constantly working on this aspect, though, so it will probably continue to get better.

I've downloaded Blender, Wings3d and Milkshape3d and gave all a test drive.

Blender's UI was kinda awkward and hard to get a grip on. Didn't get along with the UI design concept from the start, probably because its developed for mac. After a while I did managed to do some nice stuff, but it wasnt for me.

Both Wings3d and Milkshape were nice to work with. managed to quick start and integrate with both interfaces and complete nice models on the very first test run. Milkshape seems to have the most simplistic and understandable UI, It also has a great Import/Export variety, especially for X files which i use.

so in the meantime Milkshape definatly leads.

ill try tomorrow Metasequoia, 3d canvas & k3d before ill make up my mind.

Thanks for the help!

Oh! Don't forget Anim8or (http://www.anim8or.com/main/index.html) . It's really a nice (and free) application for creating low poly models.

Whichever modeling tool you decide on, be sure to look at Ultimate Unwrap (http://www.unwrap3d.com) for mapping textures to your model. It has the most robust set of texture mapping features for low-polygon models of anything I've seen. Plus it supports a lot of 3D formats (http://www.unwrap3d.com/formats.html). Some people use it as a format translation tool as much as a texture mapper.

-Tom

You may also have a look at Realsoft3D (http://www.realsoft.com). It is $700, but there is also a Linux version for just $300.
A very powerful software, definitely worth checking.

Wings is a great modeler. I'm with Mike in that it's one of the few apps I can really work well with and I've used 3DS Max, Blender, Truespace, Metasequoia, Maya and a few others. Maya seemed pretty good for polygon modeling but I've only played with PLE a little bit.

One of the problems with using something like 3DS Max or Maya is they are very complex and have a lot of functionality, so the initial learning curve can be difficult. With Wings3D you have a poly modeler and that's pretty much it. You can get a feel for the interface and the tools very quickly.

Does anyone know any good freeware 3D animation software? I haven't really tried Anim8or, but are there any other options besides that, blender and milkshape?

OpenFX (http://www.openfx.org/news/index.php) is designed for 3D animation and effects, but it is likely not to be maintained or updated again unless someone picks it up from the author. Might be worth a look, though.

I shelled out for Maya after comparing Milkshape, AC3D, (Wings?)Blender, Max and looking at UI screenshots from some others. It took me maybe 1 month to get the interface down pat, but now I'm much, much more productive using it. The things I really miss in most others is the power to manipulate point and surface normals and textures. This is invaluable in lo-poly textured modelling, if you try to get the most of a DirectX 7-8 level fixed pipeline. I think it will really pay off when starting to work for a second year with the tool.

Hard choices Gilzu .. :)

Originally posted by Kai-Peter
I shelled out for Maya after comparing Milkshape, AC3D, (Wings?)Blender, Max and looking at UI screenshots from some others. It took me maybe 1 month to get the interface down pat, but now I'm much, much more productive using it. The things I really miss in most others is the power to manipulate point and surface normals and textures. This is invaluable in lo-poly textured modelling, if you try to get the most of a DirectX 7-8 level fixed pipeline. I think it will really pay off when starting to work for a second year with the tool.

Hard choices Gilzu .. :)

I think that the bottom line is how productive you are with the tool. There is no such thing as "right tool", but there such a thing as "the tool for you". I tried most of the packages that mentioned here to have a quick taste of how will they fit me where their minus is how much i will have to change to be productive with them.

There's not graphic suite mentioned here that cant produce the same results. its how you use them, how you enjoy / knock your head on the wall to make them work is what matters.

yes, i'll need a couple of weeks to make up my mind and maybe re-try suites. but after all, thats what shareware is all about, try-before-you-buy, isn't it? why not try them as you were saying "convince me this is the right tool for me"? so in a way, i'm enjoying this part of the search. :)

what about gmax? its 3dstudio without the renderer and AFAIK its free as well.

Originally posted by Nick Bischoff
what about gmax? its 3dstudio without the renderer and AFAIK its free as well.

That was the first thing i checked. according to the EULA, gmax is intended for moding existing games. Game devs who want to use it to create what is called as "packs" (or the ability for you as a dev and people as mods to use gmax), need to register with "Sparks" for an NFS (not for sale) licence. Sale licence, from what i understood, costs ouside of my budget.