3ds Max it is one of the best 3D modeling software solutions out there – if you are willing to spend a considerable amount of time with it. Best 3D modeling software (3D Design/3D CAD software) for: Professional 3D designers and 3D modelers in many fields. (239) 4.2 out of 5. Entry Level Price: $1470. Remove from Favorites. 3ds Max Design software is a comprehensive 3D design, modeling, animation, and rendering solution for architects, designers, civil engineers, and visualization specialists.
Top 10 3D Sculpting Programs – The Best Software for Creating Digital Sculptures for 3D Printing
3D sculpting is a fascinating way to bring characters, monsters, and all kinds of organic shapes to life. While many 3D modeling programs focus on precision, 3D sculpting apps are all about turning a piece of visual clay into a stunning 3D print. This article will show you the 10 best 3D sculpting programs to get the job done!
In the first part of this blog post, we will focus on sculpting programs. Here, sculpting is the sole purpose of the software and not just a bonus feature. Later on, we will also mention traditional 3D modeling programs that offer basic sculpting modules.
![]() Sculpting Programs1. ZBrush
Without any doubt, ZBrush is the most popular and most powerful digital sculpting program out there. It offers the world’s most advanced tools for everyone from art enthusiasts to major film and games studios.
Launched in 1999 as 2.5D modeling software, it is now the go-to solution for 3D sculptors and painters. Jody Garrett, who printed the goat skull that you can see below with ZBrush, calls the software a “hands-down tour-de-force of digital tools.”
Heads up though: ZBrush comes with a rather steep learning curve and a price of 795 USD. To get a feel for the software without taking any risks you can start ZBrush’s 45-day-trial version here. You should also check out our tutorial about how to prepare your ZBrush models for 3D printing here.
Jody Garrett’s goat skull was designed with ZBrush
2. Mudbox
ZBrush’s biggest competitor is Mudbox, which was developed in 2007 and acquired by Autodesk. Mudbox digital painting and sculpting software provides 3D artists with an intuitive and tactile toolset for creating and modifying 3D geometry and textures.
It’s hard to say which of these two programs (ZBrush or Mudbox) is really better, but here are some points to consider:
Since both ZBrush and Mudbox come as free trial versions, you might want to check them both out first and then choose the program you like most.
3. Meshmixer
If you don’t want to jump into the cold water right away, you might want to get started with some free sculpting apps first. Meshmixer is one of the free 3D-sculpting-based CAD programs created by Autodesk – and it is also one of their simpler, more beginner-friendly programs. Meshmixer can be used to intuitively sculpt designs, hollow them out, cut them apart, and combine parts together without wrecking your mesh’s internal or external geometry. It’s a very cool tool to prepare your design for 3D printing as well.
You can mash, mix, sculpt, stamp or paint your own 3D designs from scratch, or start from over 10,000 models in the 123D Gallery. Our very own mascot (the Piguin; see below), was created in this great program. If you also want to give it a try, be sure to take a look at our extensive Meshmixer beginner’s guide.
These 3D printed Piguins by Bert de Niel were created in Meshmixer
4. 3D Coat
3D Coat is another interesting digital sculpting program. Its main advantages are its super powerful texturing, UV mapping, and painting tools.
The general 3D modeling part of working with this software is pretty unconventional and differs from the other programs listed here. However, if your number one concern is ‘coating’ your sculpt with a great texture, then 3D Coat is your best friend.
This software comes at a price that ranges between 99 and 379 USD depending on which license suits your needs. The 3D printing community of this software is rather small, and so finding good 3D printing tutorials for it is a little more difficult than for the other programs mentioned in this list. To try it, you can simply start with their free 30 days trial version.
The Forrest Critter SC by Lazyad was created with 3D Coat. 5. Sculptris
Sculptris is a free digital sculpting tool, created by Pixologic, the company behind ZBrush. If you’re new to the world of digital sculpting, Sculptris is the ideal ground on which to get started. It shows you the very basics of what ZBrush is able to do.
Sculptris provides an excellent gateway into the world of 3D sculpting. Its features are easy to learn, even for people with little or no experience in digital art, yet robust enough for creating detailed base models. Sculptris also lets you import 3D meshes (.obj) for further detailing and modifying.
The only downside of Sculptris is its limited functionality. When you’re ready to take your Sculptris creations to the next level for detailing, having a look at ZBrush definitely makes sense.
The 3D printed Serpents Buckle by Michael Mueller was created in Sculptris
Further 3D Modeling Programs with Sculpting Capabilities
The programs that we looked at so far are nearly exclusively about sculpting an object. However, several traditional 3D modeling programs also offer sculpting features. So if you already have experience with one of the following programs, you might want to check out their sculpting modules first. Keep in mind that the sculpting functionality of these programs are inferior to those of Mudbox and ZBrush, but it’s enough to get a basic job done.
6. Blender
Blender is a very powerful 3D modeling program and a popular choice within the 3D printing community. It has been equipped with a sculpting tool set since 2007, and its workflow is pretty similar to that of ZBrush and Mudbox. Additional bonuses are the sheer number of tutorials and plugins out there as well as the fact that Blender is completely free! However, users continuously complain about the interface and the very steep learning curve!
This monster was sculpted in Blender by BlenderMania
7. Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D received a sculpting module back in 2012. It features multi-resolution sculpting, advanced symmetry options and a big range of brushes, stencils and stamps. However, if you are not already an owner of this software, it comes with a price of roughly 3,500 USD (42 days free trial here).
8. MODO
MODO has an integrated sculpting mode since 2007. The so called “Painting and Sculpting” function is designed to be simple to use while providing users with a powerful and intuitive toolset that empowers artists to realize their vision with the least amount of strain. MODO comes at around 1,799 USD (30 days free trial here)
Best 3d Modeling Software Programs
9. Maya
Maya also extended its 3D sculpting capabilities and added a new set of brushes in 2016. While it does a decent job, many users complain that the workflow is still too buggy and sluggish. Also, Maya comes at 185 USD/month – so unless you already own a Maya license you might want to consider other programs first or try their 30 days free trial.
Online 3D Sculpting App10. SculptGL
Last but not least we have an honorable mention that certainly deserves a spot on this list: SculptGL. This app is free, doesn’t need a download/installation and doesn’t require you to sign up. It runs directly in your browser and allows you to start sculpting your first model in seconds. It’s a great app to start messing around and find out if this way of modeling is right for you. Of course it won’t lead to the most stunning designs, but it is a nice sandbox! You might want to check out our tutorial to get a better understanding of this free app.
Japanese artist Motogashi designed this using Sculpt GL
Are you ready to get going? 3D sculptors love printing their designs in multicolor! Take a look at 10 stunning (sculpted) multicolor 3D prints here to see what other 3D artist have created. If your design is ready to be printed, upload it here and see the price of your HD 3D print instantly.
A collection of best free 3d modeling software for you. 3D modeling software is used for animation, sculpting, visualization, simulate and ender graphic designs. 3D modeling programs are mostly in a variety of industries such as architecture, construction, film, television, video games, product development, science and medical industries.
If you are looking free 3d model creator software, here we are presenting some useful 3D modeling software that you can use for free. These are the best free software to create 3d models for beginners and students.
The best free 3d modeling software will allow you to turn individual ideas into beautiful models and prototypes. Let’s take a look at the list of best free 3d modeling tools free download.
Best Free 3D Modeling SoftwareWings 3D Modelling Software
Wings 3D is a free open-source subdivision modeling software with a wide variety of selection and 3d modeling tools. DOWNLOAD and wings 3d review Available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Learn 3D modeling video tutorials for free
Sculptris
Sculptris is a virtual sculpting software program. If you enjoy sculpture and want to make organic models, then try using a digital sculpting tool like Sculptris. DOWNLOAD&Sculptris features
Open SCAD
OpenSCAD is the best free software for creating solid 3D CAD objects. This simple 3d program is available for Linux/UNIX, MS Windows and Mac OS X. Download 3d object creator Open SCAD
Daz Studio
POWERFUL and FREE 3D creation software tool that is not only easy to use yet but feature and functionality rich. Whether you are a novice or proficient 3D artist or 3D animator – Daz Studio enables you to create AMAZING 3D Art. Download
Daz Studio has built in file export capabilities. This means that all of your Daz 3D content can easily be imported into other popular 3D software tools such as 3DS Max, Mudbox and Maya.Export formats include: Autodesk FBX, COLLADA, OBJ, BVH and Universal 3D.
AutoDesk 123D
AutoDesk 123D is a suite of CAD and 3D-modeling tools. It supports 3D printing technology. It consists of various tools to create, design, and render 3D models. The websites also offer more than 10,000 free 3D models to get inspiration from, fun experiments, or for use in personal projects. AutoDesk 123D is available for Windows, macOS, iOS | Android (soon) DOWNLOAD
3D Crafter
3D Crafter is a free real-time 3D modelling and animation tool that incorporates an intuitive drag-and-drop approach to 3D modelling. You can easily import 3D file formats for popular software like 3D Studio, AutoCAD, Maya, trueSpace, DirectX and more. Download free
DesignSpark
Free, easy to use professional CAD software, for mechanical, electrical and electronic designs.Whether you are a professional engineer, hobbyist or a maker, our range of CAD tools are the perfect addition to your design arsenal. DOWNLOAD
DesignSpark Mechanical is a free 3D CAD (computer-aided design) solid modeling software with a huge library of CAD models, and the interactive BOM interface saves you time and money when designing and costing your project.
DesignSpark Electrical is free electrical CAD software. This is a bespoke electrical CAD solution for engineering professionals looking to save time and create error-free designs.
LeoCAD free 3d modeling tool
LeoCAD is a CAD program for creating virtual LEGO models. It has an easy to use interface and currently includes over 6000 different pieces. Download
MeshMagic 3D free 3d design software
MeshMagic 3D is a free 3d design software for viewing and editing STL files, 3D renderings and 3D files. Import STL files created with CAD and drafting software, use our 3D modelling software to rotate and rescale existing meshes. easily expand simple 2D outlines into 3D renderings. Download
Open Cascade 3D Applications
Open Cascade Technology is developing open source software for 3D CAD, CAM, CAE, etc. DOWNLOAD
VUE Pioneer – easy 3d modeling
Create vast expanses of terrains, add trees, select the best point of view and render hyper-realistic images of your landscapes in moody atmospheres. VUE Pioneer 2016 is a great way to learn 3D. It’s so easy to use that you’ll be composing amazing 3D landscapes in no time. Download
Best 3d Modeling Software For Ipad3DReshaperFree 3d Modeling Software Windows
3DReshaper is an easy-to-use and affordable software dedicated to point cloud processing for various applications. It is a complete toolbox to meet many 3D modeling or inspection needs. Thanks to its Topography module, this is an essential software for all surveyors working with point clouds. Download
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