Showing posts with label Software | Graphics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Software | Graphics. Show all posts

Friday, November 23, 2012

ACDSee 15

Organize your collection by what, when or where. Edit and add jaw-dropping effects with ease. Then share your best with friends, family and the world through the ACDSee Online cloud, Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail. So simple to use. Yet such amazing results. Take your photos further than you ever dreamed possible with ACDSee 15.

Why spend $34.99? how about free? click here to download free
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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Axialis IconWorkshop 6


Make Icons using a Professional Authoring Tool

Make icons for all operating systems: Windows, MacOS, Unix

  
With IconWorkshop make your own icons for Windows, MacOS and Unix. Create Windows icons up to 256x256 for Windows Vista/7 and Macintosh icons up to 1024x1024 for OSX Lion 10.7. Unix/Linux uses PNG icons. IconWorkshop creates PNG images with alpha channel in a few clicks including from existing Windows and Mac icons.
The new generation of icons uses variable transparency (alpha channel). This alpha transparency permits creating beautiful icons with smooth borders and shadows. IconWorkshop, which fully support alpha transparency, is the professional tool that you need to create such icons.
IconWorkshop has been designed with one goal in mind: "Icon Quality". The powerful editor permits creating the various image formats of an icon from an original drawing without quality loss.

Make icons for smart phones: iPhone OS, Android, Windows Phone

Recent smart phones and other media pocket devices defines new standards in application development. Their operating systems have advanced multi-touch interface that brings the user experience to a new level of ergonomics. In this environment, icons have an important role to play to let the user work intuitively.
Android, iPhone OS and Windows Phone operating systems define new standards for icons. IconWorkshop lets you create in minutes icons following the specifications of those operating systems.
Using image objects, create icons for your phone applications in a few drag & drops (see object packs: iPhone Applications and iPhone Tab Bar Icons).

Create, edit icons in Image Strips for toolbars

Axialis IconWorkshop is the only icon editor to create and edit Image Strips for toolbars. If you're a developer, don't struggle with wide bitmaps anymore! Just open them in IconWorkshop and edit each icon separately.
It can read all kinds of Image Strips in BMP and PNG. Transparency is supported in 32 BPP images through Alpha channels and in 24 BPP or less images through a fixed background color.
Create icons in Image Strips
Icons in image strips can be added, copied, moved and removed. You can also create new image strips from ready-to-use image objects in a few drag & drops. The object pack "Lite Toolbars" permits creating sharp and crisp icons for toolbars.
Create, edit Bitmap Images
Axialis IconWorkshop™ also permits creating or modifying image bitmaps. Transparency is supported in 32 BPP images using Alpha channels and in 24 BPP or less images through a fixed background color.
This feature is useful to create illustration images for applications or web sites. You can also open and convert images to different formats such as GIF and JPEG with web optimization features. Many image file formats are supported:
• Windows Bitmap Image (BMP)
• Portable Network Graphic (PNG)
• Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)
• JPEG 2000 (JP2)
• Graphics Interchange Format (GIF)
• Photoshop Document (PSD)
• Radiance HDR (HDR)
• Portable Float Map Images (PFM)
• Portable Bitmaps (PNM, PBM, PPM, PGM)
• TARGA Images (TGA)
• TIFF Images (TIF, TIFF)
• Wireless Images (WBMP, WAP)
• X11 Pixmap Images (XPM)
Work efficiently with Plug-ins for Visual Studio 2005, 2008, 2010
Axialis IconWorkshop includes a handy feature which permits to work efficiently with Visual Studio®. The principle of this plug-in, as we've made it, is to create a direct bridge between the VS IDE and IconWorkshop.
The plug-in permits to easily edit in IconWorkshop an icon included in a solution. Just open the icon in the Visual Studio® resource editor and launch the associated plug-in command. The icon is automatically opened in IconWorkshop and you can work on it as necessary. When you save it in IconWorkshop, the VS IDE automatically refreshes the icon document.
Full support for Windows Vista/7 PNG-compressed icons
IconWorkshop™ loads, creates, edits, saves icons for Windows Vista & Windows 7. These operating systems includes a PNG-compressed icon format. It permits creating icons up to 256x256 with alpha channel with smaller file size.
Axialis IconWorkshop™ fully supports this new format in all features: edition, automatic format creation, batch creation, batch conversion, format normalization... Don't wait and create today your icons for Windows Vista™.
Create attractive icons using Image Objects
The use of image objects to create icons is an exclusive feature of IconWorkshop. It permits creating professional-looking icons in minutes using a few mouse drag & drops.
The principle is quite simple: A large quantity of basic image objects are provided in a library. By associating them together (on top of each other) you create a custom icon:
The images objects, which have been made by professional designers, are provided in 256x256 high-quality PNG format. This permits you to easily create icons containing various sizes up to 256x256 for Windows® XP, Windows Vista™ and Mac OS®. Read the following articles if you want to learn more:
Convert icons between Mac OS® and Windows®
Mac OS® designers are prolific, especially when it comes to create icons. Use IconWorkshop™ to read MacOS® icons and convert them to Windows®. It reads all kinds of Macintosh® icons up to OSX 10.7 Lion.
If you're a software developer, you'll enjoy the ability to create applications for both Windows® and Macintosh® platforms by converting your icons. If you're a Windows® user you'll be able to use Macintosh® icons on your Windows® XP desktop.
In addition, IconWorkshop™ includes a feature which permits to convert icons between the two systems in batch-processing mode (several icons are converted in one fast operation).
IconWorkshop™ supports the Mac Binary file format which permits to transfer icons between Macintosh® and Windows® in a snap.
Automatically create icons from images
Axialis IconWorkshop™ features a powerful editor. But sometimes it's easier to create an icon from an existing image. You can import various file formats, such as PSD, PNG, BMP, JPEG, GIF, JPEG2000...
An exclusive feature permits creating an icon with its several image formats in just one operation! All is done automatically: Alpha channel is preserved, palettes are calculated for 256 color formats and even 16 color formats with transparency are generated:
Export icons to images to illustrate your web sites
If you're a webmaster or have a blog, you know that illustrations are important to create attractive visitor experience. IconWorkshop™ permits to export images included in icons (Windows® or Macintosh®) to external bitmap files. You'll be able to easily export these images in various Web-optimized formats such as JPEG, GIF, PNG, JPEG2000 and more.
Object packs named "Web 2.0 Icons" and "Web Illustrations" permit creating illustration images for your web sites in a few seconds.
Use a Powerful Editor
IconWorkshop™ features an editor with advanced functions: Easily create images formats using one command, import/export images, resize, adjust with numerous filters, change hue, contrast, lightness, drop shadows and more...
Work in a fully Integrated Workspace
IconWorkshop™ features a fully integrated workspace. This is the way today's professional applications are made.
Some icon applications available on the market are made of several programs resulting in applications which are difficult to use. In IconWorkshop™, all features are immediately available on screen. This interface permits you to work efficiently and be more productive than ever. The multi-documents interface permits you to work with several and different types of document windows (icon projects, libraries, images, file explorers...).
Learn using a Comprehensive Help
We have created a professional and comprehensive help in IconWorkshop to permit you to learn all the features included in the product. Unlike other competitor tools, the help file describes more than the product features. It is amply illustrated and written in easy-to-read English. It includes following topics:
• General information on Windows and Mac OS icons, icon creation and Windows Vista™ new format (4 topics).
• Getting started lessons (14 topics).
• How-to step-by-step tutorials (35 topics).
• Full feature reference (150+ topics).
Compatible with graphic industry standards
You can import PSD images with layers from Photoshop® and easily create a multi-resolution icon from a program or company logo. Use Photoshop and Illustrator plug-ins to transfer images directly in memory and make your icon in a few clicks. No more temporary document files.
With 10 ready-to-use Photoshop templates, create your icons like the professional icon designers. Use the powerful drawing tools of Photoshop to create the different formats of your icons and export the whole artwork in IconWorkshop. The icon is automatically created in seconds with all its embedded formats. You can even create your own templates.
Batch Procedures
Numerous batch procedures have been implemented in IconWorkshop™ to automatically perform operations on a large number of files. For example, you can create icons from a set of PNG files (ICO files are created). You can also automatically convert several icons between Macintosh® and Windows® OS in seconds.
Librarian & Explorer with previews
Use a powerful librarian to easily manage all your media and icon files. This is an integrated window (which can be hidden) where you can store, move, copy and extract all the files you're using in your work (images, icons, libraries).
Also, A built-in file explorer permits to browse your disks and find files including images and all files containing icons. This advanced explorer permits to display files in thumbnail mode. By a simple click you open any file in a viewer or editor window
Top 5 reasons to purchase IconWorkshop
One professional tool for all your needs
IconWorkshop™ is a professional tool designed to Create, Extract, Convert, Manage and Redistribute Icons. You create professional looking icons. You work like a pro, you're seen as a pro.
Create icons for Windows, MacOS, Unix, iPhone, Android, Windows Phone
IconWorkshop is the first icon editor to create icons for all devices and all operating systems: Windows up to 256x256 for Windows Vista/7; Macintosh® OS up to 1024x1024 for Lion; Unix; iPhone OS; Android; Windows Phone...
Be productive instantly
No complicated settings, no more pixel-by-pixel icon making. All has been designed to let you be productive and get professional results in minutes (using image objects for instance).
Access to private images objects
Some image object packs are available to registered customers only. By purchasing you get a lifetime access to these packs.
Compatible with graphic industry standards
You can convert icons between Macintosh and Windows formats in a click, create icons from PNG images with transparency, use Photoshop and Illustrator transfer plug-ins, Photoshop templates...
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Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Free Graphics Software Downloads


Free graphics software add-ons, programs, and other utilities you can download.

Grab some free goodies for your graphics software projects. Masks, Objects, Image Sprays, Tubes, Layer Styles, Actions, Shapes, Brushes... it's all here! Need Free Clip Art? Visit About.com's Web Clip Art Site.

Heartfelt Curlicues - Transparent PNG Files

Download a free set of curlicue heart design PNG files for your graphics projects by Shelby Kate Schmitz. These are transparent files which you can convert to brushes or shapes to be used in graphics software other than Photoshop.




Swirly Designs - Transparent PNG Files

A set of seven transparent PNG files to decorate your graphics projects with swirly decorations and curving foliage designs.

Friendship and Family Frames in Photoshop PSD and PNG Formats

These frames were created using custom shapes and layer styles with Photoshop. You can download the PSD files which will allow you to see how the shapes and styles were combined, or to further customize the frame. A transparent PNG file is also included for a quick way to use the frame in digital scrapbook layouts or other projects.

Assorted Layered Frames in Photoshop PSD and PNG Formats

These frames were created using custom shapes and layer styles with Photoshop. You can download the PSD files which will allow you to see how the shapes and styles were combined, or to further customize the frame. A transparent PNG file is also included for a quick way to use the frame in digital scrapbook layouts or other projects.

Assorted Layered Frames in Photoshop PSD and PNG Formats

These frames were created using custom shapes and layer styles with Photoshop. You can download the PSD files which will allow you to see how the shapes and styles were combined, or to further customize the frame. A transparent PNG file is also included for a quick way to use the frame in digital scrapbook layouts or other projects.

18 256x256 Seamless Pattern Textures by Shelby Kate Schmitz

Download 18 256x256 seamless pattern texture files to use as backgrounds or fills in your projects. Available in PAT and PNG formats.

Layered Frames in Photoshop PSD Format for Your Christmas Projects

Download free Christmas frames in layered PSD format for Photoshop or other software supporting PSD files. These are high resolution frames with layers so you can customize the size, colors, patterns, and so on.

Metallic Frames in Photoshop PSD and PNG Formats

Download 6 metallic frames in both Photoshop PSD and PNG format. These frames were created using custom shapes and layer styles with Photoshop. You can download the PSD files which will allow you to see how the shapes and styles were combined, or to further customize the frame. A transparent PNG file is also included for those who don't have Photoshop, or want a quick way to use the frame in digital scrapbook layouts or other projects.

Free Presets from DonnaK

This layer style collection from DonnaK includes 10 layer style effects of checkered textile patterns with gold trim. Download the free ASL file.

Gliftex Gallery

Browse and download this collection of 122 seamless patterns created with Gliftex, a random image generator for Windows.

Free Transparent PNG files and Paint Shop Pro Tubes

Download free graphics in the form of transparent PNG files or Paint Shop Pro picture tubes. This collection includes 40 seasonal and all-occasion images as a sampler from PSPTubez.com.

How Can I Submit Presets to About Graphics Software?

If you've enjoyed the free presets offered on this site, why not pay back the community by submitting some of your own presets to share with others? Anyone may submit presets for possible inclusion on this site.

Can I use Photoshop Brushes in Other Software?

There are thousands of free Photoshop brushes available for download on the Web. If you donn't have Photoshop, you may have though you couldn't use these Photoshop Brushes. But not any more. Learn how you convert ABR files to PNG files so you can use them in your preferred photo editor.

How can I download your files using Safari for Mac?

What to do if you can't download the files on this site using the Safari browser on a Mac.

84 Free Plaid Seamless Patterns

Browse and download 84 plaid seamless pattern textures in PNG format. This collection of plaid patterns by Shelby Kate Schmitz can be used in your projects for backgrounds, pattern fills, textures, and more.

Circle Design Seamless Patterns by Shelby Kate Schmitz

circle design patterns pat files Photoshop elements png seamless tiles pattern sets textile patterns dots polka-dot design

Square Design Seamless Patterns by Shelby Kate Schmitz

square design patterns pat files Photoshop elements png seamless tiles pattern sets textile patterns

Lil Bits of Bold - 198 Free Seamless Patterns

Browse and download 198 seamless pattern textures in PNG format. This "Lil Bits of Bold" collection of seamless patterns by Shelby Kate Schmitz can be used in your projects for backgrounds, pattern fills, textures, and more.

Free Photo Frames in PNG Format

Download ten free transparent photo frame images in PNG format. Use these images to add a decorate touch to your photo. Just drop them into a new layer in front of your photo image.

125 Free Seamless Patterns

Browse and download 125 seamless pattern textures in PNG format. Feel free to use them in your projects for backgrounds, pattern fills, textures, and more.

Free Valentine's Day Graphics

Download free Valentine's Day graphics in the form of transparent PNG files or Paint Shop Pro picture tubes. This collection includes hearts, frames, and a doll.

Free Christmas Graphics

Download free Christmas graphics in the form of transparent PNG files or Paint Shop Pro picture tubes. This collection includes bows, frames, holly, garland, a Christmas tree, and more.

No Haunting Allowed Halloween Digital Scrapbooking Kit

"No Haunting Allowed" is a free Halloween-themed kit of coordinating elements and papers for digital scrapbooking. These elements and papers can be used with any graphics software that supports JPEG and PNG files. The kit includes 5 papers, 4 tags, 2 ribbons, 1 slider, 5 brads, and 1 border.

Free Transparent PNG Objects - Hearts and Valentine's Day

Free transparent PNG objects for you to download. Includes hearts in colored, metallic, foil, cookie, and neon glow styles and Valentine's Day themes with candy, chocolate, and conversation hearts.

White Christmas Digital Scrapbooking Kit

Download this free White Christmas Kit of coordinating elements and papers for digital scrapbooking. These elements and papers can be used with any graphics software that supports JPEG and PNG files.

Fall Leaves Digital Scrapbooking Kit

Download a free fall leaves theme of coordinated elements for digital scrapbooking. The Fall Leaves digital scrapbooking kit includes 4 papers, 2 overlays, 1 quick page, 2 tags, 1 word art, 1 frame, and other decorative elements. The elements are provided in JPEG and PNG format and can be used in any graphics software that supports these file types.

Frame a Photo Like a Polaroid - Polaroid Frame Template Download and Instructions

Download a ready-to-use Polaroid frame template for quickly adding a Polaroid frame to any photo without having to create the Polaroid frame from scratch. You should be able to use the Polaroid frame template in any photo-editing software with layers capability and support for PSD or PNG file types.

Free Flower Photos

Rose, hydrangeas, hibiscus, azaleas, wildflowers, and more. Free for personal use.

Free Grayscale Masks for Decorative Edge Effects

Over 100 free masks for adding decorative edges to photos in most image editing software. Created by your Guide to graphics software, Sue Chastain.

Seamless Tile Patterns

Use as backgrounds, pattern fills, desktop wallpaper, and textures.

Border Backgrounds

70 unique border-style background images for enhancing your designs.

Painted Floral Images

30 medium resolution flower images, free for the picking!

PhotoArtMaster Gold 1.5 Gallery

Thirty photo art mages created with PhotoArtMaster Gold 1.5.

PhotoArtMaster 1.0 Gallery

Twenty photo art mages created with PhotoArtMaster 1.0.

Fall Leaves Wallpaper

Four variations to choose from, conveniently sized for your desktop in 800x600, 1024x768, or 1280x1024 sizes.

Transparent Photo-Objects in PNG Format

These images have had the backgrounds removed and are ready to be be used in any software that supports the PNG format: Assorted Objects, Creature Objects, Floral Objects, Heart Objects, Snowflake Objects, Star Objects, Valentine's Day Objects

Barry Meyer, Creator of PSPTubez.com

Bio of Barry Meyer, Creator of PSPTubez.com
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Friday, November 9, 2012

Jack Of All Trades Vs. Master Of One: A Designer’s Perspective


Jack Of All Trades Vs. Master Of One: A Designer’s Perspective

By . Filed in Web Design


Every year, large batches of design students graduate and launch their careers in the market. Some of them land at proper places, which groom them professionally and set a solid career path for a successful future. Then there are designers who are not so lucky, who do not find the kind of professional approach they were looking for.
To help these designers cope with their career decisions, there has been much literal support through books, websites and blogs, and even debates on issues like to be a freelancer or not, to start with a smaller organization or a bigger enterprise and where and how to start professional networking etc.


(Image source: Fotolia)
However, one aspect of professional indecisiveness, which has been observed in many fresh designers, has not been discussed upon very frequently, i.e. to be a jack of all trades and be a generalist designer with multiple skillsets, or to be a master of one specific field of design career.
We will spin our article around this very topic and will discuss its different aspects in detail.

The Root of Argument

Designing, nowadays, is an extremely voluminous concept with hundreds of branches and sub-branches springing up from its core. When asking about your profession, even the most irrelevant of minds would ask “what kind of designer are you?” rather than be content with "I’m a designer".


(Image source: Fotolia)
There are two kinds of trends seen in a designer’s professional life cycle. Some designers learn a specific skill and once their learning reaches a saturated level, they develop a curiosity to learn its associated skills too.
On the other hand, some designers learn a number of design skills at the start of their career and as they move up the professional ladder, they tend to layer off the extra skills and focus themselves onto one specific skill for the rest of their professional life.
But what about newbie designers? There is bound to be a bout of confusion as to which professional approach to opt for. Here is some food for thought.


The Benefits of Being a Generalist

When you are a "Jack of All Trades", you are:

I. Highly Sellable

The biggest advantage of having a multiple skillsets is that it makes your profile highly sellable in the market. When you storm into the market with a diverse set of skills, there are chances that your different skills attract clients both individually as well as collectively, and will land a good bunch of projects on your desk.
Moreover, there are a number of clients who prefer to have a ‘one-window solution’. Therefore, it may happen that rather than getting only a part of it, you get the entire project on the basis of your diversified skills which will probably bring in bigger profit margins.

II. A Professional Chameleon

A chameleon has a natural mechanism of changing the color of its skin to blend in with its surroundings in order to deal with a situation. ‘Jack of all’ designers have the ability of being a professional chameleon and modify their profile to suit the needs of the project being offered. Having multiple skills enables them to play any card from their deck of skills and win a project.

III. More Productive

Being highly productive is the biggest concern of a designer from any field or sub-field. For designers, productivity not only means financial gains but is a matter of mental and morale satisfaction. In case of a design generalist, productivity almost never ends. Their multiple skills keep a steady flow of projects coming inwards, and they stay busy for most of their career.

What Could Go Wrong?

Being multi-skilled has its downsides, which includes:

I. Too Much to Handle

As I have mentioned before, although professionals get projects in bulks, everyone has a maximum workload that they can handle. These designers will reach their full work capacity at a very early stage. This situation sometimes results in a serious work burnout leading to chain of non-productive days.


(Image source: Fotolia)

II. No Exclusive Projects

Exclusive projects are every designer’s dream. Exclusive projects relate to a specific field of design, require much focus, are generally paid higher than usual projects and are a gem for a successful design portfolio. However, it happens that the clients usually do not opt for a generalist designer mainly due to the fact they already have multiple projects and might not be able to focus and work exclusively for their project.

III. Weak Project Management

Project management is one of the few add-ons that are required for a smooth flow of design business. Although project management is itself a skill (good to learn for both types of designer being discussed in this article), nevertheless, a ‘jack of all trades’ type of designer, mostly due to the pile of tasks in his plate, cuts a sorry figure in this respect.
Such designers amass design projects (those too with a variance in scope of work), usually end up messing everything up and ultimately eat into their own profit by spending money on outsourcing.

The Benefits of Being a Specialist

Now, let’s take a look at what good there is to being a specialist designer.

I. Depth of Experience

In any field of work, experience is the biggest feather in the cap of a professional. As a matter of fact, professional life is one of the few places where ‘being old’ is a compliment. In the professional life of a specialist designer, working in the same field for years and years, experience becomes his greatest asset. And so when a client is leafing through profiles and portfolios of designers for some project, the ones with more experience readily catch their eye.
Moreover, when a designer works in the same field for a long time, he becomes fluent in it and so, working on a new task becomes less challenging for him.

II. Streamlined Approach

Being a specialized designer helps you in developing a streamlined approach in work flow. As a specialist designer works on projects with same or similar scope of work, new tasks easily get adjusted in his work flow enabling him to stay focused without losing his productivity.

III. Charge Higher

Whenever you add the title ‘specialist’ in your professional profile, this immediately puts a positive impact on the other person’s mind and adds a lot to your value. This is the same case with a ‘master of one’ designer.
When you offer your services to a client by saying that you are a ‘specialist’ in this certain field, it automatically gives you a reason to charge higher than a generalist designer. Also, most clients do not argue on this as well and consider it justified to pay you handsomely for your expertise.

Master of One – Cons

Now don’t get too carried away on being a ‘master of one’ because there are some disadvantages associated with it as well.

I. Lack of Alternatives

The most basic disadvantage of being a specialist is that you do not have a lot to offer your client. For instance, a client works with a web designer and both develop a very good professional chemistry with each other, however as the web designing task ends, the client asks you if you can provide him further services like web development or CMS so that he may not have to deal with people he is not comfortable with, you end up disappointing him as you do not have any such skill.
Therefore, being a specialist designer may result into a relatively shorter business relationship with your clients.

II. Much Outsourcing

The designers who work in a single field of design sometimes get projects that require skills more than their own. In such a situation (and somewhat the kind of situation mentioned above), these designers have to outsource part of their projects.
Although outsourcing facilitates them and fill in the aspects they lack, however, the profits gets divided, sometimes quite unevenly. Also, with outsourcing, you lose control of the overall quality of the project which affects your market reputation.

III. Lower Chances of Business Expansion

In design business, like all other fields, business expansion is the ultimate goal. Particularly from the perspective of a freelancer, there is always a stage when he wants to increase the circumference of his business to keep up with the competitors.


(Image source: Fotolia)
However, with a specialized approach towards design career, this may seem difficult. For instance, if a person with multiple skills would consider business expansion, he will most probably rely on his own skills to offer a variety of services to the client. On the contrary, when a specialist designer would plan for business expansion, they would not be able to do it without external help.

Conclusion

I have tried my best to give a balanced picture of the choice between being a specialist or generalist from the perspective of a designer. This may give you some points to convince yourself to adopt whichever approach suits you. Nevertheless, I also understand the fact that every person has his own situation and circumstances that will mould his career approach preference.
So do share your personal experiences in this regard and let me know if this piece of writing has helped you in any way.

You might like:

  1. How To Become A High-Demand Designer (And Get the Good Clients)
  2. Should Designers Start from Design School?
  3. Real-Life Comic Strips for Designers
  4. 5 Effective Communication Tactics/Tips for Designers
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3D computer graphics software


3D computer graphics software

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
3D computer graphics software refers to programs used to create 3D computer-generated imagery. This article covers only some of the software used.
3D modelers allow users to create and alter models via their 3D mesh. Users can add, subtract, stretch and otherwise change the mesh to their desire. Models can be viewed from a variety of angles, usually simultaneously. Models can be rotated and the view can be zoomed in and out.
3D modelers can export their models to files, which can then be imported into other applications as long as the metadata is compatible. Many modelers allow importers and exporters to be plugged-in, so they can read and write data in the native formats of other applications.
Most 3D modelers contain a number of related features, such as ray tracers and other rendering alternatives and texture mapping facilities. Some also contain features that support or allow animation of models. Some may be able to generate full-motion video of a series of rendered scenes (i.e. animation).

Contents

Proprietary software

  • 3ds Max (Autodesk), originally called 3D Studio MAX, is a comprehensive and versatile 3D application used in film, television, video games and architecture for Windows and Apple Macintosh (but only running via Parallels or other VM software). It can be extended and customized through its SDK or scripting using a Maxscript. It can use third party rendering options such as Brazil R/S, finalRender and V-Ray.
  • AC3D (Inivis) is a 3D modeling application that began in the 90's on the Amiga platform. Used in a number of industries, MathWorks actively recommends it in many of their aerospace-related articles[1] due to price and compatibility. AC3D does not feature its own renderer, but can generate output files for both RenderMan and POV-Ray among others.
  • Animation:Master from HASH, Inc is a modeling and animation package that focuses on ease of use. It is a spline-based modeler. Its strength lies in character animation.
  • Bryce (DAZ Productions) is most famous for landscapes and creating 'painterly' renderings, as well as its unique user interface. Daz3d has stopped its development and it is not compatible with MAC OS 10.7x or higher. It is currently being given away for free via the daz3d website.
  • Carrara (DAZ Productions) is a fully featured 3D toolset for modeling, texturing, scene rendering and animation.
  • Cheetah3D is a proprietary program for Apple Macintosh computers primarily aimed at amateur 3D artists with some medium- and high-end features
  • Cinema 4D (MAXON) is a light (Prime) to full featured (Studio) 3d package dependant on version used. Although used in film usually for 2.5d work, Cinema's largest user base is in the television motion graphics and design/visualisation arenas. Originally developed for the Amiga, it is also available for Mac OS X and Windows.
  • form•Z (AutoDesSys, Inc.) is a general purpose solid/surface 3D modeler. Its primary use is for modeling, but it also features photo realistic rendering and object-centric animation support. form•Z is used in architecture, interior design, illustration, product design, and set design. It supports plug-ins and scripts, has import/export capabilities and was first released in 1991. It is currently available for both Mac OS X and Windows.
  • GPure is a software to prepare scene/meshes from digital mockup to multiple uses
  • Grome is a professional outdoor scene modeler (terrain, water, vegetation) for games and other 3D real-time applications.
  • Houdini (Side Effects Software) is used for visual effects and character animation. It was used in Disney's feature film The Wild.[4] Houdini uses a non-standard interface that it refers to as a "NODE system". It has a hybrid micropolygon-raytracer renderer, Mantra, but it also has built-in support for commercial renderers like Pixar's RenderMan and mental ray.
  • Inventor (Autodesk) The Autodesk Inventor is for 3D mechanical design, product simulation, tooling creation, and design communication.
  • LightWave 3D (NewTek), first developed for the Amiga, was originally bundled as part of the Video Toaster package and entered the market as a low cost way for TV production companies to create quality CGI for their programming. It first gained public attention with its use in the TV series Babylon 5[5] and is used in several contemporary TV series.[6][7][8] Lightwave is also used in a variety of modern film productions.[9][10] It is available for both Windows and Mac OS X.
  • MASSIVE is a 3D animation system for generating crowd-related visual effects, targeted for use in film and television. Originally developed for controlling the large-scale CGI battles in The Lord of the Rings,[11] Massive has become an industry standard for digital crowd control in high-end animation[citation needed] and has been used on several other big-budget films. It is available for various Unix and Linux platforms as well as Windows.
  • Maya (Autodesk) is currently used in the film, television, and gaming industry. Maya has developed over the years into an application platform in and of itself through extendability via its MEL programming language. It is available for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.
  • Modo (Luxology) is a subdivision modeling, texturing and rendering tool with support for camera motion and morphs/blendshapes.and is now used in the Television Industry It is available for both Windows and Mac OS X.
  • Mudbox is a high resolution brush-based 3D sculpting program, that claims to be the first of its type. The software was acquired by Autodesk in 2007, and has a current rival in its field known as ZBrush (see below).
  • NX (Siemens PLM Software) is an integrated suite of software for computer-aided mechanical design (mechanical CAM), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and computer-aided engineering (CAE) formed by combining the former Unigraphics and SDRC I-deas software product lines.[12] NX is currently available for the following operating systems: Windows XP and Vista, Apple Mac OS X,[13] and Novell SUSE Linux.[14]
  • Poser (Smith Micro) Poser is a 3D rendering and animation computer program optimized for models that depict the human figure in three-dimensional form and is specialized for adjusting features of preexisting character models via varying parameters. It is also for posing and rendering of models and characters. It includes some specialized tools for walk cycle creation, cloth and hair.
  • RealFlow simulates and renders particle systems of rigid bodies and fluids.
  • Realsoft3D Real3D Full featured 3D modeling, animation, simulation and rendering software available for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Irix.
  • Remo 3D is a commercial 3D modeling tool specialized in creating 3D models for realtime visualization, available for Windows and Linux.
  • Rhinoceros 3D is a commercial modeling tool which has excellent support for freeform NURBS editing.
  • Shade 3D is a commercial modeling/rendering/animation tool from Japan with import/export format support for Adobe, Social Worlds, and QuickTime among others.
  • SketchUp Pro (Trimble) is a 3D modeling package that features a sketch-based modeling approach which supports 2D and 3D model export functions among other features. A free version is also available that integrates with Google Earth and limits export to Google's "3D Warehouse", where users can share their content.
  • Softimage (Autodesk) (formerly Softimage|XSI) is a 3D modeling and animation package that integrates with mental ray rendering. It is feature-similar to Maya and 3ds Max and is used in the production of professional films, commercials, video games, and other media.
  • Solid Edge ( Siemens PLM Software) is a commercial application for design, drafting, analysis, and simulation of products, systems, machines and tools. All versions include feature-based parametric modeling, assembly modeling, drafting, sheetmetal, weldment, freeform surface design, and data management.[15] Application-programming interfaces enable scripting in Visual Basic and C programming.
  • solidThinking (solidThinking) is a 3D solid/surface modeling and rendering suite which features a construction tree method of development. The tree is the "history" of the model construction process and allows real-time updates when modifications are made to points, curves, parameters or entire objects.
  • SolidWorks (SolidWorks Corporation) is an application used for the design, detailing and validation of products, systems, machines and toolings. All versions include modeling, assemblies, drawing, sheetmetal, weldment, and freeform surfacing functionality. It also has support for scripting in Visual Basic and C.
  • Spore (Maxis) is a game that revolutionized the gaming industry by allowing users to design their own fully functioning creatures with a very rudimentary, easy-to-use interface. The game includes a COLLADA exporter, so models can be downloaded and imported into any other 3D software listed here that supports the COLLADA format. Models can also be directly imported into game development software such as Unity (game engine).
  • TeoWin (Simsa) is a Spanish application developed for the cabinet industry by the SIMSA company. It's designed for modeling and rendering. Modules are available for production management (cutting list, machining, connection to machine and ERP).
  • ZBrush (Pixologic) is a digital sculpting and animation tool that combines 3D/2.5D modeling, texturing and painting. It is available for Mac OS X and Windows. It is used to create normal maps for low resolution models to make them look more detailed.

Free software packages

  • Art of Illusion is a free software package developed under the GPL.
  • AutoQ3D Community is not a professional CAD program and it is focused to beginners who want to make rapid 3D designs. It is a free software package developed under the GPL.
  • Blender (Blender Foundation) is a free, open source, 3D studio for animation, modelling, rendering, and texturing offering a feature set comparable to commercial 3D animation suites. It is developed under the GPL and is available on all major platforms including Windows, OS X, Linux, BSD, and Solaris.
  • FreeCAD is a full-featured CAD/CAE open source software. Python scripting and various plugin modules are supported, e.g. CAM, Robotics, Meshing and FEM.
  • K-3D is a GNU modelling, animation, and rendering system available on Linux and Win32. It makes use of RenderMan-compliant render engines. It features scene graph procedural modelling similar to that found in Houdini.
  • KernelCAD is a large component aimed to present CAD as a GUI element for programming engineers. Includes interface to Open CASCADE
  • MakeHuman is a GPL program that generates 3D parametric humanoids.
  • MeshLab is a free Windows, Linux and Mac OS X application for visualizing, simplifying, processing and converting large three dimensional meshes to or from a variety of 3D file formats.
  • CloudCompare is an open source 3D point cloud editing and processing software.
  • OpenFX is a modelling and animation studio, distributed under the GPL.
  • Seamless3d is a NURBS based modelling and animation software with much of the focus on creating avatars optimized for real time animation. It is free, open source under the MIT license.
  • Wings 3D is a BSD-licensed, subdivision modeller.

Freeware packages

  • 3DCrafter (previously known as 3D Canvas) is a 3D modelling and animation tool available in a freeware version, as well as paid versions (3D Canvas Plus and 3D Canvas Pro).
  • Anim8or is a proprietary freeware 3D rendering and animation package.
  • Autodesk 123D is Autodesk's entry into the hobbyist 3D modelling market.
  • DAZ Studio a free 3D rendering tool set for adjusting parameters of pre-existing models, posing and rendering them in full 3D scene environments. Imports objects created in Poser and is similar to that program, but with fewer features.
  • DX Studio a complete integrated development environment for creating interactive 3D graphics. The system comprises both a real-time 3D engine and a suite of editing tools, and is the first product to offer a complete range of tools in a single IDE.
  • Evolver is a portal for 3D computer characters incorporating a human (humanoid) builder and a cloner to work from picture.
  • FaceGen is a source of human face models for other programs. Users are able to generate face models either randomly or from input photographs.
  • GMax
  • Sculptris is a program made by Pixologic it’s a free simple to use program, it is essentially just a beginners version of Zbrush
  • SketchUp Free (Trimble) is a 3D modeling package that features a sketch-based modelling approach integrated with Google Earth and limits export to Google's "3D Warehouse", where users can share their content. It has a pro version which supports 2D and 3D model export functions among other features.

Renderers

  • 3Delight is a proprietary RenderMan-compliant renderer.
  • Adobe Photoshop can import models from programs such as zbrush and 3ds max, it allows you to add complex textures
  • Aqsis is a free and open source rendering suite compliant with the RenderMan standard.
  • Brazil is a rendering engine for 3ds Max, Rhino and VIZ
  • FinalRender is a photorealistic renderer for Maya and 3Ds Max developed by Cebas, a German company.
  • FPrime for Lightwave adds a very fast preview and can in many cases be used for final rendering.
  • Gelato is a hardware-accelerated, non-real-time renderer created by graphics card manufacturer NVIDIA.
  • Indigo Renderer is an unbiased photorealistic renderer that uses XML for scene description. Exporters available for Blender, Maya (Mti), form•Z, Cinema4D, Rhino, 3ds Max.
  • Kerkythea is a freeware rendering system that supports raytracing. Currently, it can be integrated with 3ds Max, Blender, SketchUp, and Silo (generally any software that can export files in obj and 3ds formats). Kerkythea is a standalone renderer, using physically accurate materials and lighting.
  • KeyShot is 100% CPU-based, realtime ray tracing and global illumination program for 3D rendering and animation that runs on both Microsoft Windows and Macintosh computers.
  • LuxRender is an unbiased open source rendering engine featuring Metropolis light transport
  • Maxwell Render is a multi-platform renderer which forgoes raytracing, global illumination and radiosity in favor of photon rendering with a virtual electromagnetic spectrum, resulting in very authentic looking renders. It was the first unbiased render to market.[citation needed]
  • mental ray is another popular renderer, and comes default with most of the high-end packages. (Now owned by NVIDIA)
  • Octane Render is an unbiased GPU-accelerated renderer based on Nvidia CUDA.
  • Pixar's PhotoRealistic RenderMan is a renderer, used in many studios. Animation packages such as 3DS Max and Maya can pipeline to RenderMan to do all the rendering.
  • Pixie is an open source photorealistic renderer.
  • POV-Ray (or The Persistence of Vision Raytracer) is a freeware (with source) ray tracer written for multiple platforms.
  • Sunflow is an open source, photo-realistic renderer written in Java.
  • Turtle (Illuminate Labs) is an alternative renderer for Maya, it specializes in faster radiosity and automatic surface baking technology which further enhances its speedy renders.
  • VRay is promoted for use in the architectural visualization field used in conjunction with 3ds max and 3ds viz. It is also commonly used with Maya and Rhino.
  • YafRay is a raytracer/renderer distributed under the LGPL. This project is no longer being actively developed.
  • YafaRay YafRay's successor, a raytracer/renderer distributed under the LGPL.

Related to 3D software

  • Swift3D is the marquee tool for producing vector-based 3D content for Flash. Also comes in plug-in form for transforming models in Lightwave or 3DS Max into Flash animations.
  • Match moving software is commonly used to match live video with computer-generated video, keeping the two in sync as the camera moves.
  • After producing video, studios then edit or composite the video using programs such as Adobe Premiere or Apple Final Cut at the low end, or Autodesk Combustion, Digital Fusion, Apple Shake at the high-end.
  • MetaCreations Detailer and Painter 3D are discontinued software applications specifically for painting texture maps on 3-D Models.
  • Simplygon is a commercial mesh processing package for remeshing general input meshes into real-time renderable meshes.
  • Pixar Typestry is an abandonware 3D computer program released in the 1990s by Pixar for Apple Macintosh and DOS-based PC computer systems. It rendered and animated text in 3d in various fonts based on the user's input.
  • Machinima is using video capture to record video games and virtual worlds.

Discontinued, historic packages

  • Alias Animator and PowerAnimator were high-end 3D packages in the 1990s, running on Silicon Graphics (SGI) workstations. Alias took code from PowerAnimator, TDI Explore and Wavefront to build Maya. Alias|Wavefront was later sold by SGI to Autodesk. SGI had originally purchased both Alias and Wavefront in 1995 as a response to Microsoft’s acquisition and Windows NT port of the then popular Softimage 3D package. Interestingly Microsoft sold Softimage in 1998 to Avid Technology, from where it was acquired in 2008 by Autodesk as well.
  • CrystalGraphics Topas was a DOS and Windows based 3D package between 1986 and the late 1990s.
  • Evolver was a portal (discontinued in early 2012) for 3D computer characters incorporating a human (humanoid) builder and a cloner to work from picture.
  • Internet Space Builder, with other tools like VRMLpad and the viewer Cortona, was a full VRML edition system, published by Parallel Graphics, in the late 1990. Today only a reduced version of Cortona is available.
  • MacroMind Three-D was a mid-end 3D package running on the Mac in the early 1990s.
  • MacroMind Swivel 3D Professional was a mid-end 3D package running on the Mac in the early 1990s.
  • Symbolics S-Render was an industry-leading 3D package by Symbolics in the 1980s.
  • trueSpace (Caligari Corporation) is a 3D program available for Windows, although the company Caligari first found its start on the Amiga platform. trueSpace features modelling, animation, 3D-painting, and rendering capabilities. In 2009, Microsoft purchased TrueSpace and it is now available completely free of charge.
  • Wavefront Advanced Visualizer was a high-end 3D package between the late 1980s and mid-1990s, running on Silicon Graphics (SGI) workstations. Wavefront first acquired TDI in 1993, before Wavefront itself was acquired in 1995 along with Alias by SGI to form Alias|Wavefront.

See also

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References

  1. ^ "About Aerospace Coordinate Systems". Retrieved 2007-11-23.
  2. ^ "Electric Image Animation Software (EIAS) v8.0 UB Port Is Shipping". Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  3. ^ "EIAS Production List". Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  4. ^ "C.O.R.E. Goes to The Wild". Retrieved 2007-11-23.[dead link]
  5. ^ "Desktop Hollywood F/X". Retrieved 2007-11-23.
  6. ^ "So Say We All: The Visual Effects of "Battlestar Galactica"". Retrieved 2007-11-23.
  7. ^ "CSI: Dallas". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved 2007-11-23.
  8. ^ "Lightwave projects list". Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  9. ^ "Epic effects for 300". Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-23.
  10. ^ "Lightwave used on Iron Man". 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  11. ^ "Lord of the Rings terror: It was just a software bug". Retrieved 2007-11-23.
  12. ^ Cohn, David (2004-09-16). "NX 3 – The Culmination of a 3-year Migration". CADCAMNet (Cyon Research). Retrieved 2009-07-01.[dead link]
  13. ^ "Siemens PLM Software Announces Availability of NX for Mac OS X". Siemens PLM Software. 2009-06-11. Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  14. ^ "UGS Ships NX 4 and Delivers Industry’s First Complete Digital Product Development Solution on Linux". 2009-04-04. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  15. ^ "Solid Edge". Siements PLM Software. 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  16. ^ "Vue Helps ILM Create Environments for 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest' VFX". Archived from the original on 2008-03-18. Retrieved 2007-11-23.

External links

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