Is There a "Best" (Free) 3D Software To Use?
mwokee
Posts: 1,275
I've been going down the path of learning how to create my own 3D objects. Since I started in the Daz world I naturally started looking at Hexagon.
The various tutorials I am finding, it seems everyone is using different software other than Hexagon.
So I'm wondering if there is a "default" software program (and is free) that is pretty much the standard. Kind of like cameras where most people use Canon though there are a lot of Nikon users.
Just seems to me if you use the most preferred 3D software application you will find more help and tutorials. In the past I've invested time and money into applications that became obsolete and would rather run with the herd when it comes to 3D software.
Thanks
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Comments
Nope, users use what works best for them. It usually comes down to the UI since most modeling apps are pretty much equal. There are PAs here that use Hexagon. If you are looking for free and one with the most tutorials, you will probably be wanting Blender.
Yup.
Seems like a lot of folks love Hexagon, and I believe it's good for basic modelling. I don't think it's been updated in forever, though. Blender is a different universe, and had a ton more functionality and is continually updated, but that's kind of irrelevant if you don't need all that.
I think it's more about asking "here's what functionality I need, so what's the best software out there to meet that particular need?".
I had to check to be sure, but there was an updated version of Hexagon released about 8 months ago.
Yep, the best one is the one that works best for you. Try a few and see what you think ;) What one person likes probably isn't going to be the best fit for you.
Laurie
+1
Well it depends on how long you are going to be in it ? if it's only for a quick fix I'd go with Hex, but if you want to keep moving forward you need software that has a future and will be updated continuously. I would go with blender 2.8 not 2.7. Hexagon was good in it's day but it's too far behind now and it's not going anywhere.
Try different ones; the best is what both suits you and provides the tools you need.
Hexagon3D is a versatile 3d modelling software and plenty of DAZ PAs use it to make content even now. Can it generate professional quality content? yes. Does it have tutorials available? Yes. Is it comparable to high end modellers? No. Is there a limitation on UV mapping functions? It unwraps but it is finnicky. Is it dated? yes
https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/6884/hex-gallery#latest
Blender. If you are committed to learn one, it is the best free choice. Widely supported, full of tutorials and rivals the big ones. Plus the interface doesn’t suck anymore. But still can be very complicated at first with so many options (something good on the long run).
I love Hexagon, more clean and simpler... but more limited too. And it seems every time I need to do something specific and search a tutorial, it’s for Blender. But definitely easier.
Blender is the standard of free 3D software. Hexagon is in the race in part because it’s distributed by DAZ.
What is your intent for the software? Is it for your personal joy or to help people with freebies, or to start becoming a PA by creating new content? There are "free" software but is like free cup of rootbeer as in just for your own enjoyment and use only. My version of Maya is "Free" as in Free cup of rootbeer. I can use it but it is for my use only. No freebie making is allowed or anything like that. I can learn it to see if it is worth trying to find a hundred fifty a month to get the full version.
If for freebie making or commercial I would suggest freebies such as Hexagon or Blender. Blender is also free as in Free Speech and Open source.
I'm going to start with making stuff for myself but when you're able to do that, it'd be foolish to not become a PA.
Starting with "free" would be the first step. You don't just buy a formula one race car and start entering races expecting to win.
The only truly free modeling softwares I can think of right now are Blender, Hexagon and Wings 3D. Perhaps some others can come in and add some more ;).
Me, I still fight with Wings almost daily (it's what I learned with), but I do use Hex quite a bit too, among other pieces of software (also have Silo, Rocket3F and Blender installed) ;). Once you learn one, it's not that difficult to transition to another...commands are usually the same between them, with certain ones having more advanced tools than others.
The most advanced free one is Blender. It has the largest assortment of 3D tools. The simplest is probably Wings 3D. It only does box modeling (which probably is the first thing most people learn). Hex is in between, but still easy.
Laurie
I have tried multiple modeling programs and found the one I like most. It is not free, but Silo is very intuative and user friendly. All the models in my store were built and UV'd in Silo.
good: Blender is absolutely amazing. It has water simulation, sculpting, cloth dynamics, fire and smoke simulation, tree generators, a grease pencil that allows you to draw lines as though you were drawing them with a pen, and then convert those lines to mesh data, painting directly onto the model etc. I was using lightwave, a really expensive 3d program and swapped from that to blender for all the extra features, and never looked back. There are literally thousands of tutorials online, and a very active community.
Bad: bad UI and not at all intuitive although 2.8 is so much better, and if you want you can always look at bforartists which is a more user-friendly fork of blender. And the inerface has gone through so many changes you can't always follow along with older tutorials, although there are so many new ones, you probably wont need it.
If you go with Blender, just keep in mind 2.8 is still in beta and missing some important things (like obj export). Plus, most of the tutorials will be for 2.7
2.8 looks prettier and might be a good idea to get familiarized with it since it will be the new UI, but things are in different places and might make following steps in a tutorial harder. Happened to me. Had to go to the current version.
Is there a 2.79 UI mode for Blender 2.8?
The 2.80 beta has had working OBJ export for a while. There was a bug which I ran into, but it was fixed within a couple of days of reporting it. Is the latest build still failing for you? Worth reporting if it is, the devs seem to be in full bug-squashing mode right now.
I looooooove the Hexagon for vertex modelling. Even when I'm sculpting I'll use Hexagon to knock together a rough form first. And Hexagon is a neccessary last step for finishing up all my models.