Animal Builder

March 10, 2006 11:28 AM

beginner 3d modelling program?

here's my goal:

1. model simple animal shapes (a hammerhead shark, for instance)
2. be able to rotate and view the model from different angles
3. add some simple articulation (swimming motion)

ideally for mac, but i can do it at work if there is a great program for windows... animation would be nice, but not necessary.

thanks for your help!
-cgs

posted by cgs to Computers & Internet (7 answers total)

Wings 3D is relatively simple to learn and free to use. It would require some proficiency to model biological shapes, but this is true of most modelling software.

Z-brush employs a very different building process, letting you 'paint' objects. It is likely going to be the most intuitive starting point for a beginner, but it carries a $500 price tag.

Both of these programs are available for Mac and Windows.
posted by FissionChips at 11:41 AM on March 10, 2006

Blender or the free version of Maya? You might find some other suggestions on this site.
posted by jerryg99 at 11:44 AM on March 10, 2006

Cheetah3D is an excellent, inexpensive Mac modeler with some rather sophisticated modeling tools, a very responsive developer and it even does animation. $99, you can't go wrong.
posted by dbiedny at 11:55 AM on March 10, 2006

Animation Master is very full featured for the cost.
posted by stuartmm at 12:09 PM on March 10, 2006

Blender. There's also great video and text tutorials on the website. The basic tutorial had me modeling a basic human figure in about 2 hours without any previous experience. And it does all of your three requirements as well as animation.
posted by joegester at 1:29 PM on March 10, 2006

Blender is very powerful, but I didn't want to invest the time in learning its interface conventions myself. Get Cheetah3D. It is fantastic.
posted by ulotrichous at 3:24 PM on March 10, 2006

I'd highly recommend that you take a look at Silo (thirty day demo). It's an excellent and very customisable organic modeler (no animation though), and a bargain at only $109. Also, be sure to check out the displacement painting movie. It's one of the more eagerly awaited features of v.2, due out sometime this Spring.

Oh, and as an added bonus, when you buy for either platform you get licenses for both.
posted by crumbly at 10:12 PM on March 10, 2006