Any recommendations/suggestions for just plain and simple software for 3D modelling (with UV)?
I know Blender is free, but I hate it. I myself own Max, but i’m looking for (much cheaper) software for just modelling. I’m taking couple of mine students to work for me for few month, and i’m going to put them to make models.
One good candidate is Milkshape3D, but I havent heard any comments about it.
And mac has this Cheetah3D. But it is on mac and i got lots of extra PC hardware here …
I’m not very familiar with other smaller softwares, so any suggestions are welcome. Maya, XSI, C4D, etc. are little too big for this purpose (and my budget).
The XSI mod tools sounded good until i founded this on Autodesk’s site: “Autodesk Softimage Mod Tool , the free* 3D modeling and animation package for creating noncommercial games and “modding” (modifying games).”
We’re all entitled to our own preferences, of course, and I know a lot of people find Blender frustrating for whatever reason, but if you’re contemplating inflicting milkshape or something on students, please reconsider Blender - for somebody starting from scratch, getting up to speed in Blender is the most useful thing you can do, IMO. Shiny icons and popup windows, if that’s what you’re looking for, are coming with the imminent 2.5 release. If you’re looking for feature complete, powerful modelling, animating, texturing and UV mapping with rock-solid Unity comptibility, it’s already there.
Wings3D is a great choice for simple modeling!
Also Blender isn’t that hard
At walkercreations.org you can find some great videotutorials for Blender! After you learn the shortcuts you won’t hate Blender anymore.
Pacemaker ----http://www.goddysey.com/
very very easy to use animation tool, i’d animate in it then use either blender or milkshape to export .Now free.
Might want to just browse around the blitzbasic community for a bit…not to use blitzbasic…but to see what other software these guys come up with.I know there’s a tree maker, a lightmapper, a csg( constructive solid geometry) modeler all free there.
another option might be truespace - which was bought by Microsoft but got discontinued - but the best thing is - the made it absolutely FREE!! http://www.caligari.com/
I’m not sure how good the modelling/lowpoly options are in it today (last time i used it was some 10 yrs ago …) but i bet it has a obj/3ds export option and surely worth a look
If you’re really serious about your modeling, use Modo. Made by the original developers of Lightwave. I think DClarson uses it, check out his site geartechgames. There’s some great examples of what you can do really quickly and efficiently with Modo and ZBrush.
Guys, you are missing the point here. I’m taking few artists to make me models for FEW MONTHS. It is not very wise to invest thousands of euros for top-of-the-line 3D-software, if one can get very good modelling software for hundred euros.
Although the Modo seems also very good, it is also much more expensive.
Those artists hate Blender then? (I thought you did)
Personally I would never leave Max for Blender but if I ever have to, I would go for Blender even if it requires hours of learning just to get used to the… interface shakes fist.
Just imagine how many users Blender will gain if they gave a Max like interface/shortcut combo itself instead of wasting resources on the game engine which is as useless as the default interface (thanks to the license :roll: ).
As a TD who’s done freelance and been employed, I’ve never got around to learning Blender (except to look at it), simply because nobody has ever asked me to use Blender.
What you can take away from that is that experienced 3D guys are probably less likely to know their way around Blender than something else (max/maya/xsi).
If you’re going to go solo, use whatever you’re comfortable with, but if you have ambitions of expanding and utilizing other peoples talents, you’re going to make everyone’s life harder by using Blender.
