3D Modeling Software is like a magic wand to any modeler or designer with which they can bring their ideas and designs to life. You can create incredible animation and artwork; all you need is little skill and the good 3D Modeling Software that suits you expertise level, style, and budget.
All 3D Modeling Software are not the same, some are perfect for beginners and 2D artists who are trying to jazz-up their work, and some are more fitted for seasoned 3D modeling professionals.
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Top 10 Best 3D Modeling Software for Beginners and Pro
Are you looking for new 3D software but can’t decide which one is best suited for your work, you skills, or your pocket? Well, look no further; here is a list of top 10 3D modeling software both free and paid.
1 – Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Maya is the top pick for most of the professional 3D modelers working in the industry. Many leading animation studios such as Pixar, Framestore, and Blue sky studios use Maya for their work. And it is the most preferred 3D modeling software for all the good reasons. It offers a wide array of potent tools and outstanding features that can give you jaw-dropping results.
Autodesk Maya offers a 30-day trial period for interested users to check out all the cool tools and amazing features it has to offer. Getting a subscription to this software may put a big hole in your pocket. But if you are a professional modeler looking for the best, you rest assured that Autodesk Maya is worth every bit of the money you spend on it.
Best Features and Price of Autodesk Maya
1. Bifrost for procedural effects.
2. Built-in Graphs.
3. Bifrost Fluid, to render and simulate realistic-looking fluids.
4. Bifrost Ocean stimulation stimulates the perfect ripple and waves.
5. Maya nCloth.
6. General animation toolset.
Type: subscription
Price: $245/month
2 – Autodesk Mudbox
Autodesk offers separate software for the less professional 3d modelers who are yet to get a grip on their skills, the Autodesk Mudbox. It a very easy to use 3D modeling software for sculpting and editing 3D models with its simple, tactile toolset.
You can set up layers, raise polygon count, and take your own time to shape up your 3D model. You can also create wonders with the built-in features for textures, correcting meshes, paint colors, etc.
Mudbox allows you to produce designs from scratch and sculpt whatever you want. The animation, rigging, and texturing features on Mudbox are not as unique as offered by Autodesk Maya. If you want to create a simple yet professional and eye-catching design portfolio, Mudbox is you best option. But again, Autodesk Mudbox is as much expensive as Maya, which may be a problem for people with a limited budget.
Best Features and Price of Autodesk Mudbox
1. Paint directly on 3D models.
2. Digital Sculpting tools.
3. Dynamic tessellations.
4. Texture baking.
5. Smooth brush workflows.
6. Advanced retopology tools.
Type: Subscription
Price: $245/month
3 – Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D can give serious competition to any 3D Modeling Software in the market and is many times considered as the best 3D modeling software by the users. It is the perfect tool for any creation in motion graphics and can produce results almost as good as Autodesk Maya or Mudbox.
The most significant fact about Cinema 4D that makes it better than most of its competitors is that it is much easier to learn. It is ideal for beginners who want to make an impression with their work.
The only downside of Cinema 4D software is that it is costly and requires you to commit to a license, so make sure before choosing. But on the upside to help you make your decision. Cinema 4D offers a free 1 month trial period and gives license to students at a discounted cost.
Best Features and Price of Cinema 4D
1. Lens distortion support.
2. Graph View for Motion Tracker.
3. Effortless and easy-to-use tools.
4. Outstanding Animation Workflow Enhancements.
5. Volume builder.
6. Nodes based shaders.
Type: License
Price: $480-$2850/year
5 – Autodesk 3Ds Max
Autodesk 3Ds Max is one of the oldest yet more stable than the most 3D modeling software out there. During its long run through the years, it had the opportunity to fix all its cracks, and that is what makes it exceptional. Autodesk 3Ds Max offers a vast library that gives you access to many functions modeling much easier for beginners.
Subscribing to 3Ds Max is expensive, but if you are a student, you can expect to get a license for free. It also gives you a trial period during which you can explore all the tools and features for 30 days free of any cost.
Best Features and Price of Autodesk 3Ds Max
1. 3D animation and dynamics.
2. Max creation graph controllers.
3. Heatmap Skinning and Geodesic Voxel.
4. Great easy-to-use general animation tools.
5. Arnold for 3D Max.
6. 3D rendering.
7. Scene Converter.
8. Asset library.
Type: Subscription
Price: $216/month – $1740/year
6 – Modo
Modo gives you the best chance to become a 3D modeler without much training. It is different from your regular 3D modeling software programs. It helps you design 3D art and not only animation, which is why it offers a rather significantly interesting set to tools and features. The interface is user-friendly and can be learnt in no time.
The tools offered by this software may not be as high-end as Autodesk Maya’s, but they help you create wonderful and high quality renders without much effort. It is a very flexible yet powerful 3D Modeling Software that helps you develop you ideas without going through many technical details. Modo is neither too expensive nor too inexpensive, which gives it the proper sophistication it needs.
Best Features and Price of Modo
1. Lens distortion support.
2. Graph View for Motion Tracker.
3. Straightforward and easy-to-use tools.
4. Outstanding Animation Workflow Enhancements.
5. Volume builder.
6. Nodes based shaders.
Type: Subscription/License
Price: $399-$1799/year
7 – SketchupFree
SketchupFree is a free and very easy to use 3D modeling software that is compatible with almost every operating system – you can even run it on Chromebook. This software has a more sketch-based approach. By using its set orbit, drawing, and combing tools, you can create good quality 3D art and designs.
SketchupFree can be used for drafting home layouts, design tools, and furniture and create isometric art, putting much effort or time. This is more suitable for home decorators and interior designers. With this software, you can also get rid of the insufferable torture of rigging and UV maps. If you are a man of arts looking to give your creations a whirl of detailed flare, this software can come in handy.
Best Features and Price of Sketchup Free
1. Built-in 2D models.
2. Built-in 3D Models.
3. Texture.
4. Layer Manager.
5. Lighting effects.
6. Animations.
Price: Open-Source (free)
8 – Blender
Blender is the best free 3D modeling software you will find (without any doubt). It was released in 2002 and since then has been updated several times to polish its mistakes. Now it strong running software and can be used on all the major OS.
You can find almost all the tools that you’ll commonly find in any high-end modeling software, including simulating, modeling, motion tracking, sculpting, rigging, texturing, animation, UV tools, VFX tools, and many more. This software can also be used for simple video editing. The tools offered on the software are as powerful as most of the software on the market.
Best Features and Price of Blender
1. Raster graphic editing.
2. Skinning.
3. Fluid and Smoke Simulation.
4. Soft body Simulation.
5. Motion graphics.
6. Particle simulation.
7. Composting.
8. Match moving.
Price: Open-Source (free)
9 – Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros is an affordable 3D modeling software providing all the tools that you can find in the best software. You don’t need any prior training to use rhinoceros. The easy to use toolset and features makes it very well suited for beginners.
The interface is comfortable to work with and can be understood with ease. It is so compatible with all the OS that you can render upon complex animations without slowing down the computer or device.
Rhinoceros gives you a Free 3-month trial period that helps you get acquainted with the tools and use them to your advantage.
Best Features and Price of Rhinoceros
1. Developer tools.
2. Mesh tools.
3. 3-D Capture.
4. Spotlights with hotspots.
5. Customizable Resolution.
6. Point lights.
Type: License
Price: $995
10 – Houdini
Houdini has heavily used the software in the VFX industry. Its procedural nature helps to work differently on 3D Projects than the traditional ones such as Maya, 3Ds Max, or Cinema 4D, and Houdini gives a large amount of control. It is a complex software that can only be mastered with time.
It lets you give attention to the intricate details, so if you are expecting to create masterpieces in seconds, then this is not the software for you. Houdini is a little expensive and offers a yearly license; thus, it is used in more industrial projects than personal ones. But you can use another version of the software, Houdini Apprentice free of any cost.
Best Features and Price of Houdini
1. Complex Node-based workflow.
2. Incredible VFX simulations.
3. In-built Renderer- Mantra.
4. No Plug-ins.
Type: License
Price: $1995/$4495/$499 per year
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Summing Up
In today’s world, graphics technology has progressed so much to the point that people are no more satisfied with simple graphical edits and creations. Different graphics design and modeling software are being released all the time to make everything more interesting for the audience.
So while choosing 3D Modeling Software, you must keep some points in mind. Firstly you should look for the tools needed for your project, compare them among different software. Secondly, look for the software that is suitable for your skills, learning new software can be much time consuming.
Lastly, find out which software serves you purpose as well as your budget. So, choose your 3D modeling software wisely and create cool and amazing portfolios to lure in employers and clients.
