When you want to start 3d animation, you need to make up your mind on which 3d animation software you should use. But hold on… There are thousands of 3d animation software available, and they’re all the same and they also do the same thing. As a matter of fact, did you know that even the people who download these 3d animation software don’t actually know how to use them? So how can we find out what software we should be using if we’re not even sure how to use it?
Here are the best softwares that will give you a good start!
Cinema 4D
- SoftwareCinema 4D
- ApplicationMotion Capture, Keyframe Animation
- OSWindows, macOS
- Price$737/year
- Formats3ds, dae, dem, dxf, dwg, x, fbx, iges, lwf, rib, skp, stl, wrl, obj
If you are looking for ease of use, Cinema 4D is famously intuitive to pick up. Powered by OpenGL, real-time viewport of this 3D animation software baffles with a depth of field and screen space reflections making it easier to control these effects efficiently. Because this view looks so good, Cinema 4D lets you export preview renders so you can submit them to clients for approval. The Bodypaint tool is now also supported by the real-time viewport, meaning that you get to see the results of your changes to the textures as you make them. To increase the overall rendering speed, Cinema 4D features a LOD tool that simplifies objects based on their distance to the camera and other factors.
There are multiple ways to tackle animation in this 3D animation software. It comes with a vast array of intuitive tools for character animation. For instance, record your mouse movement as position data. You can choose between forward and inverse kinematics. You can also set up cyclical movements, such as walking, with a parametric tool. Last but not least, add a muscle system to create naturally flowing movements.
Updates to this this 3D animation software already improved the weight painting workflow significantly by making it possible to mirror the work from one side of a character to the other. In addition, it has become easier to integrate live footage seamlessly with 3D animated objects. A feature called Scene Reconstruction creates colored point clouds and geometry based on tracked features enabling you to marry both components precisely. In the latest release though, yet more features have been added including special presets for rendering cars, new placement tools, an improved asset browser and a scene manager that should improve workflow and, well, management of scenes you are working on.
Website: maxon.net
Blender
This is an Open source free program that anyone can use without paying anything in return. The program is helpful in modeling, rigging, animation, composition, video editing, creating video games, and simulation. Since it is an Open and free program, Blender can be used by beginners, individual animators and students, studio artists, professionals, Game developers, and even hobbyists.
Blender supports a powerful toolset and a good platform to perform complex functions that helps in getting the process of animation and modeling easier. Blender also supports a default path tracer engine that is commonly called Cycles. The Cycles helps in getting realistic rendering outputs, VR rendering support, and HDR lighting support. All in all, Blender is a dynamic animation program that supports a user-friendly interface as well. The software is well equipped with 3d Painting tools, sculpting tools, and a scripting language as well. The scripting language is Python can be used to create custom libraries and effects on your own terms.
Autodesk Maya
A lot has been said about Autodesk Maya. Using this software, users can contribute and create 3d projects, games, presentations, movies, and video effects as well. The program is loaded with interactive tools and features that help the user to create projects and presentations easily. The program is perfect for modeling, animating, texturing, lighting, and Rendering as well. The program has a video-based editor that is on-destructive and non-linear in nature that helps the user to create realistic and high-quality animations. We can also perform perfect cloth simulation with accurate results and outputs with Autodesk Maya. The program updates periodically and is loaded with new and fun tools to work with. The latest up gradation in the program has improved the workflow of the software. One of the best features of Autodesk Maya is that it can easily export and import SVG files. Although Maya is a paid software, it is worth buying and trying your hand at the program.
3ds Max
- Software3ds Max
- ApplicationMotion Capture, Keyframe Animation
- OSWindows
- Price$1,700/year
- Formatsstl, 3ds, ai, abc, ase, asm, catproduct, catpart, dem, dwg, dxf, dwf, flt, iges, ipt, jt, nx, obj, prj, prt, rvt, sat, skp, sldprt, sldasm, stp, vrml, w3d xml
3ds Max is one of the major commercial 3D animation software suites on the market. Its comprehensive feature set makes it a popular choice for game development, visual effects production, and architectural visualization.
This 3D animation software features particle and light simulation, a cloth-simulation engine, and even brings its scripting language to the table (MAXScript). In terms of 3D modeling, it is capable of creating parametric and organic objects with polygon, subdivision surface, and spline-based modeling features. Among the other techniques is the ability to create models from point cloud data.
The 3D animation capabilities of 3ds Max are comprehensive. It features two character animation tools. “character studio” that is designed to work best for bipedal characters. “CAT” can rig and animate non-humanoid characters. This 3D animation software also comes with a tool that allows setting up and controlling scenes with large crowds of people, dubbed “Populate.”
Take full control over your 3D animation with “Motion Mixer,” a tool that takes its cue from audio editing. It displays separate tracks for motion data from each body part that can be edited for speed, transitioned, looped, and more. Among the other tools in this 3D animation software are motion paths that let you modify animations directly in the trajectory as splines, giving you instant feedback in the viewport.
Recently, Autodesk has added two new features to 3ds Max – baking to texture and a weighted normals modifier. The former approximate surface effects and allows for objects to be rendered in real-time without the need to recalculate other elements such as the lighting and shadows. As for the latter, that improves shading on objects.
Website: autodesk.com
Cinema 4D
This program is popular for having the best animation tools and effects. The program is a simple program with almost all animation and 3d tools within it. The software is used by most of the 3D artists and animators. The program gives fast and speedy outputs and results. The program has an easy and simple look and interfaces that prove to be advantageous to beginners and freshers. Cinema 4D also has a huge community that provides tutorials and illustrations to beginners so that they can master the program easily. The program supports an advanced Renderer that helps in acquiring realistic images. The program also features MoGraph, which is required for motion graphics, procedural modeling, and animation purposes. The program also lets the user create Hair simulations with great accuracy and efficiency.
Daz Studio
It is a complex program used to create animations and projects. The program is available in the market for free of cost, and the program can produce renders as well. The program requires registration before starting to use the software. This product comes with its own models and scenes, and we just can add details and manipulate the models to create our required models. Daz Studios is created for experienced designers and artists who have sound knowledge about 3d animation programs and their features.
ZBrush
It is a more focused program towards modeling and texturing but can also perform animation projects. ZBrush also helps the user to create models in 2.5D, and it has been loaded with some brushes to fulfill that need. With this program in hand, we can either create amazing sculptures or import them to other animation software as well. ZBrush comes with a Renderer that supports ad provides a full 360 scene map using HDRI images. The program also has Fibermesh and ZRemesher that helps create polygon fibers in the models or create plants and trees. One of the best functions of ZBrush is that it includes the Polypaint function. This Polypaint function lets the user paint the object without assigning the texture map to the object first. This is an important and useful feature of ZBrush.
Motionbuilder
- SoftwareMotionbuilder
- ApplicationMotion Capture, Keyframe Animation
- OSWindows
- Price$1,950/year
- Formatsasf, amc, bvh, c3d, fbx, htr, tr3
Motionbuilder is the professional-grade 3D animation software by Autodesk. It combines keyframe animation with motion capture and virtual production. With this 3D animation software, you can animate 3D characters in real-time that are especially suitable for game development and animated movies. Motion capture data can be retargeted with a vast array of tools that allow for fine-tuning the minutest of details in the character’s movements quickly and consistently.
Similar to movie editing software, Motionbuilder will enable you to cut and stitch together different movements – the key difference is though that instead of hard cuts, the 3D animation software assists in creating smooth and natural transitions between the files. The whole process is non-destructively, so the original files are not affected in any way.
Motion capture and keyframe animations can be supplemented with animation layers to achieve distinctive effects and clean animations. Motionbuilder comes with an assortment of physics engines to dynamically animate interactions, such as falls using ragdoll solvers. Published by Autodesk, this 3D animation software integrates well with other Autodesk products like 3ds Max, Mudbox, and Maya to speed up the overall workflow.
Website: autodesk.comMOTIONBUILDER
COMMISSIONS EARNEDCheck price atAutodesk
Conclusion
There are various software for 3D animation that can be used by anyone who is willing to learn 3D animation. These programs are of great benefit to designers, filmmakers, game developers and students of various design colleges. With their help even amateurs can start working on 3D animation projects.
Try out these first!