In addition, the support that Epic offers to this software is gigantic and through its website we can solve any doubt and know, in detail, all the functions and actions that we can do with this complete application that is also completely free. if we do not commercialize the final product. If we use the application to make video games, until the million dollars in sales are exceeded, we will not have to pay 5% to Epic Games for the Unreal Engine license.
All the content that we create with Unreal Engine we can convert it to video using specific applications, which will allow us to use this content in the world of video games, animation or any other field.
Positive points
Unreal Engine is the most complete application of all those on the market if we want to create faces of people or animals, since it allows us to customize even the smallest detail (freckles, skin pores, fuzz on the skin, more or less populated eyebrows). . It is completely free for non-commercial use and makes a large number of resources available to us, all of them completely free of charge.
Bad points
This application really does not have any negative aspect that stands out especially. If it was paid, this would be one, but it is not the case. It has extensive support, so this is not a problem either. The only, but, is that, from the million dollars in billing of the game where we implement our creations, we have to pay 5% as royalties. If we have the opportunity to generate a million dollars in revenue with a game, the 5% to pay is the least.
Blender
For all users who are looking for a free application to enter this world, one of the best options, and which is also completely free, is Blender, a complete open source application that we can use without investing a single euro.
Blender is great for create both 2 and 3D animations as more complex objects such as sculptures and objects. In addition, it includes a movement simulator, allowing us to modify even the smallest detail and that we can also use in creating videos.
Advantage
The main feature of this application is that we can download and use it completely free of charge and does not require any type of purchase. It allows us to design objects in both 2D and 3D, objects that we can animate through other applications.
Drawbacks
Blender includes many functions, but it also lacks some that may be essential for some users, however, to get started in this world it is more than enough.
SculptGL
With SculptGL we can create all kinds of objects, mainly complex objects like animals or people. It is not necessary to start the design completely from scratch since we can rely on the different templates available from its website, templates that we can model until we find the design we are looking for.
This application, like the rest of the applications to create 3D designs, is not a simple application and requires a lot of patience to obtain the results we are looking for, results that will allow us to obtain very realistic images with great detail if We dedicate the necessary time.
We like
SculptGL is a free open source application, with which we can create all kinds of complex objects. In addition, it makes available a large number of templates that we can use to carry out our projects, saving many hours of work.
We do not like it
It lacks some functions that some professional users may consider basic, however, with the tools that it makes available to us, it is enough for beginners. It is not designed or intended to create animations using other applications as we can do with Blender.
FreeCAD
Another open source and completely free tool that we have at our disposal is FreeCAD, an application that allows us to create mechanical objects mainly and it is not ideal for creating other types of more complex objects such as people or animals.
In addition, if we miss some functions, we can use the large number of complements / plugins with which we can expand the creation capabilities of this application. As any good application worth its salt, we can export the designs to the most well-known and used formats in the world of graphic design.
Pros
FeeCAD stands out for being a free application and that also allows you to expand the number of functions through plugins of all kinds available thanks to the wide community of users behind it.
cons
The most negative aspect of this application, depending on our needs, is that it is focused on the design of mechanical parts, so it is not an option to design other types of objects. Unlike Blender, it does not allow you to animate the designs.
Create 3D designs with these paid applications
Autodesk 3DS Max
If we talk about Autodesk, we have to talk about one of the platforms of design and animation more veterans in the industry. As the years have gone by, the application has evolved and currently, it is not only one of the best options for creating all kinds of 3D objects, but also, we can also animate our creations without having to use 3D applications. third parties. Unlike other similar applications, it includes a very simple interface so learning is relatively easy.
With Autodesk 3DS Max we can also simulate even the smallest detail of the environment. It includes a large number of pre-designed objects to incorporate into our creations without having to create them independently. In addition, it also includes a large number of textures and render objects using Ray Tracing. In addition, we can also use it to create architectural designs with great detail without having to resort to AutoCAD.
We like
The user interface makes learning in the world of 3D design and rendering very easy. In addition to allowing you to create any type of object in 2 and 3D, it also allows animals, without the need to use other applications. It includes access to a large number of predesigned objects that we can use at no additional cost.
We do not like it
The only downside that we find in this fantastic application is its price. Autocad 3DS Max works under an annual subscription, a subscription that is priced at 1,700 euros per year, so it escapes most pockets that do not focus their work on the design and rendering of 3D objects.
keyshot
KeyShot is a paid application for create and animate 3D objects which is available for Windows and macOS. It is ideal for creating interactive images and includes a large number of objects that we can use in our designs. All the changes are shown in real time, so we can see the final result of the project if we modify the origin of the light source, the cameras of the scene.
This application is focused on a professional public, mainly engineers and architects who have the need to create landscapes mainly and natural decoration that will later be included in AutoCAD.
Positive points
The user interface is very simple, making it ideal for creating quick presentations without many complications and without the need to invest a lot of time. Another of its strong points is the possibility of seeing the changes applied to the lighting in real time, something that very few applications offer.
negative aspects
The application is priced at $999 per year, so like AutoDesk’s solution it escapes from less affluent hands. It does not use the graphics to process the rendering, so rendering takes longer than normal to complete.
AutoCAD
AutoCAD is the design application par excellence, by permission of Autodesk 3DS Max (although it is developed by the same company). With AutoCAD we can create 3D architecture designsso it is ideal for creating complex projects, linking the design with terrain coordinates, being ideal in the world of construction and architecture mainly.
It is also widely used for the mechanical parts design, being ideal for users who have a 3D printer and want to create objects of all kinds. If our objective is to focus our activity mainly on designing houses, you will not find a better application than AutoCAD on the market, although it is worth its price in gold, since the subscription required to use it reaches 1,800 euros.
Pros
AutoCAD is the best application for the world of construction and architecture, but not for the creation of mechanical parts where we can find different free alternatives. It is available for Windows and macOS.
cons
Using AutoCAD requires a subscription of 1,775 euros per year. At least it includes a 30-day free trial period, which will allow us to get to know all the benefits in depth and check, first-hand, if it meets our needs, although it is not easy to learn without additional material.
mental ray
Mental Ray, as we can well deduce from its name, includes a lighting engine to offer renderings as realistic as possible, relying on both the processor and the graphics. Behind this application is the manufacturer Nvidia, by the way.
This tool is ideal for creating and rendering 3D characters. We can use the application for free to render people in individual frames, however, if we want to render complete sequences, it is necessary to purchase a license that costs $300 per year.
Advantage
Free to use, although limited to individual frames, it is a fantastic tool for users who are new to this world thanks to a very intuitive interface. It is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Drawbacks
The results that we obtain through this application are not the most realistic possible, the export speed is quite slow despite relying on the power of the graphics. If we want to render complete sequences, we must checkout.
Which is the best option?
If we talk about free applications, the best option is the one offered by Blenderan open source and completely free software that allows us to delve into both the creation of 3D designs and the subsequent animation, even if it is necessary to use third-party applications.
Regarding payment applications, the most complete of all is Autodesk 3DS Max, an application that allows us to create 3D designs and animate them from the application itself without having to use other applications. In addition, it also offers very good results in architectural design.
