You begin by drawing lines and shapes and then stretch and copy them to make whatever you like. The software has little in the way of organic modeling tools, but if your primary interest is in architectural modeling, SketchUp is an excellent starting point. Like Blender, SketchUp has been amazingly well received and has gradually carved out a niche with professionals in the visualization field due to its ease of use and speed.

SketchUp excels at practical and architectural design and probably has more in common with a CAD package than traditional surface modelers like Maya and Max. SketchUp is an intuitive and accessible modeler, originally developed by Google and now owned by Trimble. Importing 3D models created in other programs can sometimes be a problem. Interface may be a challenge for new users to get used to. While you don't see Blender in any Hollywood effects pipelines where Autodesk and Houdini are deeply ingrained, Blender has steadily carved out a niche in motion graphics and visualization, similar to where Cinema 4D excels.

The software was given a thorough overhaul recently and emerged with a fresh interface and a feature set that aims for parity with the best. The software is good enough to have produced numerous impressive short films and is in use by several professional studios.īlender was criticized early on for having a confusing interface, but don't let outdated complaints steer you away. To this day, it stands as one of the greatest open-source development projects ever conceived.īlender is full-featured, offering a complete range of modeling, surfacing, sculpting, painting, animation, and rendering tools. Heavy use of shortcuts to execute commands can be daunting for new users learning the software.īlender is easily the most versatile entry on this list, and in many regards, it compares favorably to top digital content creation tools like Cinema 4D, Maya, and 3Ds Max. Less useful in designing architecture and objects like furniture.

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