Comparison of 3D computer graphics software
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3D computer graphics software refers to programs used to create 3D computer-generated imagery.
General information
This is a chart on basic comparative elements that is based on the raw software without the inclusion of additional plugins.
| Application | Latest release date and version |
Developed by | Platforms | Mainly Used For | License | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3ds Max | 2010-04-06 "2011" (v13) |
Autodesk | Microsoft Windows | Animation, Modeling, Lighting, Rendering, Video Game Creation, Visual 3d Effects | Proprietary | $3,495 |
| AC3D | 2010-09-10 v 6.7 |
Inivis | Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | Modeling | Proprietary | $79.95 |
| AOI | 2010-01-04 v 2.8.1 |
Peter Eastman | Java Virtual Machine supported platforms | Animation, Lighting, Modelling, Rendering | GNU General Public Licence | Free |
| Artlantis Render | 2011-06-14 v 3.0.6 |
Abvent | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | Lighting, Rendering | Proprietary | Full $775-$465 |
| Artlantis Studio | 2011-06-14 v 3.0.6 |
Abvent | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | Animation, Lighting, Rendering | Proprietary | Academic Free; Full $1,395-$775 |
| Blender | 2011-04-13 v 2.57 |
Blender Foundation | BSD, IRIX, Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Pocket PC, Solaris, BeOS, SkyOS, AmigaOS, MorphOS | Animation, Lighting, Modeling, Video Game Creation, Visual 3D Effects | GPL 2+ | Free |
| Carrara | 2010-04-21 8.0 |
DAZ 3D | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X | Animation, Modeling | Proprietary | $89.95 - $549.00 |
| Cheetah 3D | 2010-02-23 v 5.3 |
Dr. Martin Wengenmayer | Mac OS X | Animation, Modeling | Proprietary | $150 |
| Cinema 4D | 2009-09-01 R11.5 |
MAXON | Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Amiga OS[1] | Animation, Lighting, Modeling, Visual 3D Effects | Proprietary | $995 - $3,695 |
| CityEngine | 2010-06-23 v 2010 |
Procedural | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux | Procedural Modeling of 3D Cities | Proprietary | $149 - $4950 |
| Cobalt | 2009-12-11 v8 SP2r3 |
Ashlar-Vellum | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | Modeling, Computer Aided Design, Animation | Proprietary | $2995 |
| Electric Image Animation System | 2009-05 v8.0. |
EIAS3D | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | Animation, Lighting, Rendering, Film, Television, Visual 3D Effects | Proprietary | $895 |
| form-Z / form-Z Renderzone Plus | 2010-03-16 6.7 |
autodessys, Inc. | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | Animation, Modeling | Proprietary | form-Z $1,495 Renderzone $495 |
| Houdini | ? v 10.0 |
Side Effects Software | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux | Animation, Lighting, Modeling, Visual 3D Effects | Proprietary | from $1995 to $9995 |
| Hypershot | v 1.9 | Bunkspeed | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | 'Virtual Digital Camera' | ? | No longer for sale |
| HyperMove | v 1.0 | Bunkspeed | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | Animation, Visual 3d Effects/Decals | ? | ? |
| LightWave 3D | 2009-01-19 v 9.6 |
NewTek | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Amiga OS[2] | Modeling, Animation, Lighting, Rendering, Film and Television Previz, Videogame Asset Creation | Proprietary | $895-$995 |
| MASSIVE | ? v 3.5 |
Massive Software | Microsoft Windows, Linux | Artificial Intelligence in Models | Proprietary | $17,999-$1,499 (Depending on the package) |
| Maya | 2010-05 "2011" (v11) |
Autodesk | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux | Modeling, Animation, Lighting, Rendering, Video Game Creation, Visual 3D Effects, Post-Production Video Editing | Proprietary | $3,495 |
| modo | 401 v 401 |
Luxology | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | Modeling, Animation, Rendering | Proprietary | from $995 to $1195 |
| Mudbox | 2011-04 v 2012 |
Autodesk | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux | Lighting, Sculpting (the deformation of the model) | Proprietary | $745 |
| plugin3D | June 2010 v 2.5 |
Cubicspace | Microsoft Windows | Modeling, Animation, Real-Time Rendering, Video Game Previz, Virtual Reality | Proprietary | from $99 to $49 per Publishing License |
| POV-Ray | 2004-10-03 v 3.6 |
The POV-Team | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux | Lighting, Visual 3D effects | POV-Ray license | Free |
| Pro/Engineer | Template:September 2009 2009 Wildfire 5.0 |
Parametric Technology Corporation | Microsoft Windows, HP-UX, Unix | Modeling | Proprietary | ? |
| Quest3D Creative | ? v 4.0 |
Act-3D | Microsoft Windows | Video Game/ Software Creation | ? | 1249 € |
| Quest3D Power | ? v 4.0 |
Act-3D | Microsoft Windows | Video Game/ Software Creation | ? | 2499 € |
| Quest3D VR | ? v 4.0 |
Act-3D | Microsoft Windows | Video Game/ Software Creation | ? | 9999 €[3] |
| Relux Professional | ? v "2011.2.1" |
Relux Informatik AG | Microsoft Windows | Lighting | ? | Free |
| Rhinoceros 3D | v 4.0 | McNeel | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X in beta | Modeling, Computer Aided Design | Proprietary | US$995 |
| Shot | v 2011.3 | Bunkspeed | Microsoft Windows | Lighting, Rendering, Texturing | ? | $995 – $3495 (regular and pro, respectively) |
| Shade | 2011-03-08 v 12.02 |
Mirye Software | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | Modeling, Rendering, Animation | Proprietary | $99 Basic, $349 Standard, $749 Professional |
| Silo | 2008-08-13 v 2.1 |
Nevercenter | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | Modeling | Proprietary | $99 Core, $159 Professional |
| SketchUp / SketchUp Pro | 2010-09 v 8.0 |
Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | Computer Aided Design | Proprietary | Free / $495 | |
| Softimage | 2010-05 "2011" v9 |
Autodesk | Microsoft Windows, Linux | Modeling, Animation, Video Game Creation | Proprietary | $2,995 |
| Solid Edge | 2009-06 ST2 |
Siemens PLM Software | Microsoft Windows | Modeling | Proprietary | ? |
| solidThinking | 2009-09 8.0 |
solidThinking | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | Modeling | Proprietary | ? |
| SolidWorks | ? 2009 SP3.0 |
SolidWorks Corporation | Microsoft Windows | Computer Aided Design | Proprietary | ? |
| Swift 3D | 2009-06-03 v6.0 |
Electric Rain | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | Modeling, Animation | Proprietary | $249 |
| trueSpace | 2009-05-25 v 7.61 |
Caligari Corporation | Microsoft Windows | Animation, Modeling | Proprietary | Free |
| ViewBuildUSA | ? ? |
VEC3D | Microsoft Windows | ? | ? | ? |
| VR4MAX Generator | 2010-01-14 6.02 |
Tree C Technology B.V. | Microsoft Windows | Virtual reality, Animation, Simulation | ? | 1100 € |
| VR4MAX Extreme | 2010-01-14 6.02 |
Tree C Technology B.V. | Microsoft Windows | Virtual reality, Animation, Simulation, Multi projection | ? | 9900 € |
| Vue (Easel / Infinite / Xstream) | 2010-05 v 8.5 |
E-on Software | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | Animation, Landscape Modeling, Lighting | Proprietary | $99 - $1.495 |
| ZBrush | 2010-08-09 v 4.0 |
Pixologic | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | Lighting, Sculpting (the deformation of the model) | Proprietary | $595 |
| Wings3d | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, BSD, Linux | Modeling, Sculpting (the deformation of the model), UV mapping | Berkeyley Software Distribution license (BSD) | Free |
Operating system support
The operating systems on which the editors can run natively (without emulation or compatibility layers), meaning which operating systems have which editors specifically coded for them (not, for example, Wings 3D for Windows running on Linux with Wine).
| Name | Windows | Mac OS X | Linux | Unix | BSD | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3ds Max | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| AC3D | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Art of Illusion | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Artlantis Render | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Artlantis Studio | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Blender | Yes & Pocket PC |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Solaris, BeOS, SkyOS, AmigaOS, MorphOS, IRIX |
| Carrara | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Cinema 4D | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Amiga OS |
| Cobalt | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Electric Image Animation System | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| form-Z | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Houdini | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Hypershot | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| HyperMove | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| LightWave 3D | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | AmigaOS |
| Massive | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Maya | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Modo | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| plugin3D | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| POV-Ray | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Amiga OS |
| Relux Professional | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Shot | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Silo | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| SketchUp | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| SketchUp Pro | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Softimage | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Solid Edge | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| solidThinking | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| solidWorks | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Swift 3D | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| trueSpace | Yes | No | No | No | No | Amiga OS (former version known as Caligari) |
| ViewBuildUSA | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Vue | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Wings 3D | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| ZBrush | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Features
| Wireframe | Animation | Rendering | Imports | Exports | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3ds Max | Yes | Yes | Yes | FBX, 3DS, PRJ, AI, DAE, DEM, XML, DDF, DWG, DXF, FLT, HTR, IGE, IGS, IGES, IPT, WIRE, IAM, LS, VW, LP, OBJ, SAT, SHP, SKP, STL, TRC | FBX, 3DS, AI, ASE, ATR, BLK, DAE, DF, DWG, DXF, FLT, HTR, IGS, LAY, LP, M3G, OBJ, SAT, STL, VW, WRL |
| AC3D | Yes | ? | No | GIF, JPG ,PNG, BMP, DDS, PPM, Targa, TIFF, 3D Studio, AC3D, DXF,COLLADA, LDraw (Lego), Lightwave, Massive, Milkshape Ascii, Obj (Wavefront), OFF, Pointfield, Points, Quake BSP, Quake MD2, Renderware, SMF, SOF Airfoil, STL (ascii), Terragen, Triangle, Vector, VRML 1.0[4] | GIF, JPG ,PNG, BMP, DDS, PPM, Targa, TIFF, 3D Studio, 3D Studio ASE, AC3D, DirectX, Dive, DVS, DXF, COLLADA, Inventor, LDraw (Lego), Lightwave, Massive, Milkshape Ascii, Obj (Wavefront), Ogre, PovRay, Quake MD2, Quake Map, Renderman, SMF, STL (ascii), Triangle, Unreal Tournament, VRML 1.0, VRML 2.0, X3D[4] |
| Artlantis Render | Yes | No | Yes | BMP, JPG, PICT, PNG, PSD, TGA, TIFF, 3DS, AOF, ATL, ATL reference files (synchronizes new and old versions of ATL project), DWF, DWG, DXF, FBX, OBJ, SKP, ArchiCAD (via ATL export plug-in), Revit (via ATL export plug-in), SketchUp Pro (via ATL export plug-in), Vectorworks (via ATL export plug-in) | BMP, JPG, PICT, PNG, PSD, TGA, TIFF, 3DS, AOF, ATL, ATL archive (includes all media files used in the project), DWF, FBX, OBJ, EPX, SKP, U3D |
| Artlantis Studio | Yes | Yes | Yes | BMP, JPG, PICT, PNG, PSD, TGA, TIFF, 3DS, AOF, ATL, ATL reference files (synchronizes new and old versions of ATL project), DWF, DWG, DXF, FBX, OBJ, SKP, ArchiCAD (via ATL export plug-in), Revit (via ATL export plug-in), SketchUp Pro (via ATL export plug-in), Vectorworks (via ATL export plug-in) | BMP, JPG, PICT, PNG, PSD, TGA, TIFF, Panoramic and Cubic VR MOV, MOV, Sequential JPG, Sequential TGA, 3DS, AOF, ATL, ATL archive (includes all media files used in the project), DWF, FBX, OBJ, EPX, SKP, U3D |
| Blender | Yes | Yes | Yes | TGA, JPG, PNG, OpenEXR, DPX, Cineon, Radiance HDR, Iris, SGI Movie, IFF, AVI and Quicktime GIF, TIFF, PSD, MOV (Windows and Mac OS X),3D Studio, AC3D, COLLADA, FBX Export, DXF, Wavefront OBJ, DEC Object File Format, DirectX, Lightwave LWO, MD2, Motion Capture, Nendo, OpenFlight, PLY, Pro Engineer, Radiosity, Raw Triangle, Softimage, STL, TrueSpace, VideoScape, VRML, VRML97, X3D Extensible 3D | TGA, JPG, PNG, OpenEXR, DPX, Cineon, Radiance HDR, Iris, SGI Movie, IFF, AVI and Quicktime GIF, TIFF, PSD, MOV (Windows and Mac OS X),3D Studio, AC3D, COLLADA, FBX Export, DXF, Wavefront OBJ, DEC Object File Format, DirectX, Lightwave LWO, MD2, Motion Capture, Nendo, OpenFlight, PLY, Pro Engineer, Radiosity, Raw Triangle, Softimage, STL, TrueSpace, VideoScape, VRML, VRML97, X3D Extensible 3D, xfig export |
| Electric Image Animation System | Yes | Yes | Yes | TGA, JPG, PNG, BMP, Radiance HDR, AVI and Quicktime, TIFF, PSD, MOV, 3D Studio, FBX, DXF, Wavefront OBJ, LWO, MDD | PNG, BMP, AVI and Quicktime GIF, TIFF, MOV,3D Studio, DXF, Wavefront OBJ, LWO |
| Cinema 4D | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? |
| Cobalt | Yes | Yes | Yes | 3DS, ACIS SAT, AI, ASCII Text, BMP, CATIA v4, CGM, CCAD, CO (native), Drawing board, DWG/DXF, Facet, GIF, Grid Surface, IGS (IGES), JPEG, Parasolid XT, PICT, PNG, PPM, Pro/E, Rhino 3DM, Spline, STP (STEP), VRML, XBM, XPM | ACIS SAT, AI, ASCII Text, BMP, CATIA v4, CGM, CO (native), Drawing board, DWG/DXF, Facet, GIF, Grid Surface, IGS (IGES), JPEG, Parasolid XT, PDF, PICT, PNG, PPM, Pro/E, RAW Triangle, Shockwave 3D, STP (STEP), VRML, XBM, XPM |
| Lightwave 3D | Yes | Yes | Yes | TGA, JPG, PNG, AI, EPS, BMP, IFF, Radiance HDR, AVI and Quicktime GIF, TIFF, PSD, MOV, 3D Studio, COLLADA, FBX, DXF, Wavefront OBJ, LWO, MD2, VideoScape, VRML, VRML97 | TGA, JPG, PNG, BMP, Radiance HDR, IFF, AVI and Quicktime GIF, TIFF, PSD, MOV,3D Studio, COLLADA, FBX, DXF, Wavefront OBJ, LWO, MD2, VRML, VRML97 |
| Maya | Yes | Yes | Yes | Ai, Pix, AVI, Cineon, EPS, Gif, Jpeg, Swf, Maya IFF, Maya16 IFF, MacPaint, PSD, PNG, Quantel, Quickdraw, MOV, RLA, SVG, SGI, SGI16, SGI Movie, TGA, TIF, BMP, HDR, Maya Ascii, Maya Binary, MEL, FBX, DXF, OBJ, IGES, StudioTools Wire, Aiff, VRML2, Openflight, STL | Maya Ascii, Maya Binary, Mel, FBX, DXF, OBJ, IGES, StudioTools Wire, VRML2, GE2, RTG, Mental Ray, RIB, Open Inventor2, OpenFlight, Maya IFF, AVI, QT, GIF, Softimage, RLA, BMP, TIF, SGI RGB, Alias PIX, Jpeg, EPS, Cineon, Quantel, TGA, Macpaint, PSD, PNG, Quickdraw, DDS. |
| plugin3D | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? |
| Softimage | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? |
| Solid Edge | Yes | Yes | Yes | IGES, STEP, DXF, JT, ACIS (SAT), ProE, SolidWorks, NX, SDRC, Microstation, Inventor, CATIA (V4/V5), Parasolid, Autocad, STL, XML, MDS | IGES, STEP, STL, PDF, EMS, JT, XGL, XML, DXF, Parasolid, CATIA (V4/V5), ACIS (SAT), Microstation, Autocad |
| SketchUp | Yes[5] | Yes[5] | Yes[5] | JPG, PNG, TIF, TGA, BMP, SKP, SKP+KMZ, 3DS, DWG, DXF, DEM, DDF[6] | JPG, PNG, TIF, TGA, BMP, SKP, SKP+KMZ[7] |
| SketchUp Pro | Yes[5] | Yes[5] | Yes[5] | JPG, PNG, TIF, TGA, BMP, SKP, SKP+KMZ, 3DS, DWG, DXF, DEM, DDF[6] | JPG, PNG, TIF, TGA, BMP, SKP, SKP+KMZ, PDF, EPS, EPX, DWG, DXF, 3DS, DAE, FBX, OBJ, XSI, VRML[7] |
See also
- Comparison of raster graphics editors
- Comparison of vector graphics editors
- List of computer-aided design editors for architecture, engineering and construction
- Comparison of CAD editors for CAM
- Comparison of CAD, CAM and CAE file viewers
References
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_4D
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LightWave_3D
- ^ Quest 3D prices
- ^ a b AC3D Features Summary
- ^ a b c d e f Google SketchUp
- ^ a b What kinds of files can I import into SketchUp? - SketchUp Help
- ^ a b Can I export my SketchUp models to other programs or formats? - SketchUp Help