Comparison of 3D computer graphics software

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3D computer graphics software refers to programs used to create 3D computer-generated imagery.

Contents

[edit] 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
"2012"
Autodesk Microsoft Windows Modeling, Animation, Lighting, Rendering, Video Game Creation, Visual 3D Effects, Post-Production Video Editing Proprietary $3,495
NaroCAD 2011-09-20
1.6.2.Alpha
NaroCAD Microsoft Windows Modeling GPL Free
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 GPL 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 2011-10-19
v 2.60
Blender Foundation Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, BSD, Solaris Animation, Lighting, Modeling, Rendering, Video Game Creation, Visual 3D Effects, Sculpting, Basic Post-Production Video Editing 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 $1495 (form-Z) - $495 (renderzone)
Houdini ?
v 10.0
Side Effects Software Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux Animation, Lighting, Modeling, Visual 3D Effects Proprietary $1995 - $9945
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
Metasequoia 2011-05
2.4.13 (Metasequoia), R2.4a (MetasequoiaLE)
O. Mizno Microsoft Windows Modeling Proprietary MetasequoiaLE free, Metasequoia $45
modo 2010-12-15
v 501
Luxology Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Modeling, Animation, Rendering Proprietary $995 - $1,195
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 $99 - $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 Free(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 Proprietary 1249 €
Quest3D Power  ?
v 4.0
Act-3D Microsoft Windows Video Game/ Software Creation Proprietary 2499 €
Quest3D VR  ?
v 4.0
Act-3D Microsoft Windows Video Game/ Software Creation Proprietary 9999 €[3]
Relux Professional ?
v "2011.2.1"
Relux Informatik AG Microsoft Windows Lighting Free Free
Remo 3D v 2.1 Remograph Microsoft Windows, Linux Modeling, Virtual Reality, Real-time modeling, Video Game Creation, Computer Aided Design Proprietary US$1900
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 Proprietary $995 (regular) - $3495 (pro)
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 (pro)
SketchUp / SketchUp Pro 2010-09
v 8.0
Google Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Computer Aided Design Proprietary Free / $495
Softimage 2011-09
"2012 SAP" v10.5
Autodesk Microsoft Windows, Linux Modeling, Animation, Video Game Creation, Lighting, Rendering, Visual 3d Effects 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 ?
2012 SP0
SolidWorks Corporation Microsoft Windows Computer Aided Design Proprietary ?
SpaceClaim ?
2011+
SpaceClaim 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 Proprietary 1100
VR4MAX Extreme 2010-01-14
6.02
Tree C Technology B.V. Microsoft Windows Virtual reality, Animation, Simulation, Multi projection Proprietary 9900
E-on Vue 2011-11-24
v 10.0
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 2011-02-07
1.4.1
Dan Gudmundsson (maintainer) Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, BSD, Linux Modeling, Sculpting (the deformation of the model), UV mapping Free(BSD) Free

[edit] 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 Yes Yes Yes Yes Solaris
Carrara Yes Yes No No No No
Cheetah 3D No 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
Metasequoia Yes No No 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
Remo 3D Yes No Yes No No No
Shade Yes Yes 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
SpaceClaim 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

[edit] 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[5] Yes No[6] Yes[6] Raster file formats: BMP, JPG, PICT, PNG, PSD, TGA, TIFF.
Movie file formats: Cubic VR MOV.
3D file formats:[7] 3DS, AOF, ATL, ATL reference files (synchronizes new and old versions of ATL project), DWF, DWG, DXF, FBX, OBJ, SKP.
3D file formats via ATL export plug-in:[8] ArchiCAD, Revit, SketchUp Pro, Vectorworks.
Raster file formats: BMP, JPG, PICT, PNG, Multi-layer PSD, TGA, TIFF.
3D file formats: 3DS, AOF, ATL, ATL archive (includes all media files used in the project), DWF, FBX, OBJ, EPX, SKP, U3D.
Artlantis Studio[5] Yes Yes[6] Yes[6] Raster file formats: BMP, JPG, PICT, PNG, PSD, TGA, TIFF.
Movie file formats: AVI, Cubic VR MOV, MOV, MPG.
3D file formats:[7] 3DS, AOF, ATL, ATL reference files (synchronizes new and old versions of ATL project), DWF, DWG, DXF, FBX, OBJ, SKP.
3D file formats via ATL export plug-in:[8] ArchiCAD, Revit, SketchUp Pro, Vectorworks.
Raster file formats: BMP, JPG, PICT, PNG, Multi-layer PSD, TGA, TIFF.
Movie file formats: Panoramic and Cubic VR MOV, MOV, Sequential JPG, Sequential TGA.
3D file formats: 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, 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.
Metasequoia Yes No Yes 3DS, COB (Caligari Object), DXF, LWO, OBJ, ROK (Rokkaku Daiō), RSD (PlayStation), SUF (DoGA CGA System) 3DS, COB (Caligari Object), DirectX, DXF, LWO, OBJ, POV-Ray, RDS (Ray Dream Studio), RIB, ROK (Rokkaku Daiō), RSD (PlayStation), SCE (SoftF/X Model), SUF (DoGA CGA System), VRML 1.0
Modo Yes Yes Yes LXO, sldprt, sldasm*, LWO2, LWOB, DXF, FBX, 3ds, GEO, EPS, AI, PSD, OBJ, DAE, MDD, FLX, TGA, BMP, GIF, HDR, HDR, JP2, JPG, JPEG, PNG, SGI, openEXR LXO, LWO, X3D, DXF, FBX, PLT, PSD, GEO, OBJ, DAE, FLX, TGA, BMP, GIF, HDR, JP2, JPG, JPEG, PNG, TIF, openEXR, MOV, MWV
plugin3D Yes Yes Yes  ?  ?
Remo 3D Yes Yes Yes 3DC, 3DS, AC, DAE, DW, DXF, GEO, LWO, LWS, MD2, OBJ, OSG, IVE, OSGA, PFB, PLY, STL, STA, SHP, X 3DS, DAE, DOT, OBJ, OSG, IVE, STL
Shade Yes Yes Yes DXF, OBJ, SketchUp, XML; (Pro) 3DS, BVH, COLLADA, LWO COLLADA, DXF, OBJ, RIB, SWF, QuickTime VR, Second Life Sculpted Prim, XML; (Pro) 3DS, Blue Mars, DirectX, EPix, LWO, VRML 2.0
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[9] Yes[9] Yes[9] JPG, PNG, TIF, TGA, BMP, SKP, SKP+KMZ, 3DS, DWG, DXF, DEM, DDF[10] JPG, PNG, TIF, TGA, BMP, SKP, SKP+KMZ[11]
SketchUp Pro Yes[9] Yes[9] Yes[9] JPG, PNG, TIF, TGA, BMP, SKP, SKP+KMZ, 3DS, DWG, DXF, DEM, DDF[10] JPG, PNG, TIF, TGA, BMP, SKP, SKP+KMZ, PDF, EPS, EPX, DWG, DXF, 3DS, DAE, FBX, OBJ, XSI, VRML[11]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

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