We move from one of the undisputed best free 3D artistic modeling tools to one with a solid engineering focus. FreeCAD gives users chance to mimic the powerful CAD software suites to develop their own designs, completely free of charge (most CAD suites costs thousands to license). FreeCAD uses the concept of 'work benches.' (239) 4.2 out of 5. Entry Level Price: $1470. Remove from Favorites. 3ds Max Design software is a comprehensive 3D design, modeling, animation, and rendering solution for architects, designers, civil engineers, and visualization specialists. Though one of the best 3D modeling software tools for 3D design and engineering specialists, the learning curve of Fusion 360 is pretty steep. Best 3D modeling software (3D Design/3D CAD software) for: Professional and industrial users with an eye on simulating everyday use.
The best 3d modeling software for beginners: In the field of industrial design, computer animation, and three-dimensional modeling, it is essential to learn how to manage an excellent best 3d modeling software that can provide you with the necessary tools to carry out your projects.
I recently got myself the 2017 iPad Pro (10.5″). This was a conscious decision. The Pro line packs so much GPU power that the A10X SoC is actually faster than the A12 in the iPhone XS Max in 3D performance while driving only slightly more pixels. Along with strong GPU, it also packs 120 Hz display which is god-send when it comes to 3D modeling
The logic’s clear: Whatever work’s on Apple’s highest-end iPhone should work on this too. As I found out over the course of writing this feature, that assumption was accurate. The iPad Pro 10.5 delivered stellar performance in all the apps tested. Wherever limitations existed, they weren’t hardware-bound. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best 3D modeling apps on iPad Pro.
Read: Best Games Optimized for iPad Pro: Special Edition
Best 3D Modelling Apps For iPad Pro
1. Sketchup Viewer
Who it’s for: Users who want to take a look at Sketchup models and present them
Let’s start with the easy stuff first. Sketchup Viewer isn’t a 3D modeling tool in the strictest sense. It doesn’t actually let you create new models. What it does do, however, is give you a great, interactive platform to showcase models made in Sketchup. Google sold its iconic modeling software top Trimble several years ago. But even though the IP changed hands, Sketchup remains a great entry-level modeling tool that places emphasis on ease-of-use.
Sketchup Viewer makes things even more simple. You get an interface with a variety of movement tools in the side panel. These include pan, orbit, and look around. The onscreen gestures will change your perspective differently depending on the movement tool you’ve selected. This makes it possible to display the model at exactly the angle that you want, and also to go into model interiors.
The display hidden lines option allows you to gain a finer appreciation of the shapes being used in the model and their alignment, though at the cost of making some models look a bit “busy” because of all the lines.
Read: Green Screen Apps For iPad Pro in 2019
AR functionality can spice up presentations
Lastly, Sketchup viewer makes great use of the iPad Pro’s back camera through its AR view. You can point your camera towards any flat surface and Sketchup viewer will try to place a scaled version of the model on top. We had mixed results with this feature, although we did try it out at night-time with the lights on. Scaling and perspective weren’t perfect Nevertheless, you do get a sense of what your model would look like in the real world.
Pros:
Multiple display options make it easy to present Sketchup models
Cons:
Can’t use it to actually edit Sketchup models
Download SketchUp Viewer
2. Shapr
Who it’s for: Professionals who want a full-fledged modeling solution running on their iPad Logic pro x macbook air 2018.
The Apple Pencil is one of those good-to-have, yet optional tools. Of course, the pressure sensitivity makes handwriting look more natural and allows for complex artwork. And the general experience of using the Pencil to jot down notes–which get saved on iCloud–is just nice. It would definitely enhance precision in 3D modeling apps.
Apple Pencil required: and that’s a good thing
Honestly, I was surprised to see that Shapr3D actually requires an Apple Pencil to function. Seriously, try tapping the interface with your finger and nothing will happen. Forcing you to use Pencil is both a good and bad thing. It’s bad because, clearly, you’re locked of using Shapr unless you’ve spent the extra $99 on the Pencil peripheral.
But it’s good because, as we’ve found out, Pencil is kinda required if you want to make anything more than the crudest of models: finger tap and drag just isn’t precise enough. Shapr costs an eye-popping $300 per year. It may possibly be the most expensive app on the App Store. Don’t worry I didn’t buy it. The app comes with a 14-day trial. We’d expect nothing less, considering the huge outlay for the full version.
The trial’s fully-featured and it showcases how Shapr is different from the competition right from the outset. CAD’s traditionally been thought of as complex by necessity, something you have to spend months learning. Similar to SketchUp (and unlike other desktop CAD solutions), Shapr generates 3D surfaces, not solid objects. This makes it a bit easier to highlight object dimensions.
Read: 10 Places to Get Amazing Wallpapers for iPad Pro
Shapr is the iPad Pro CAD tool
We couldn’t find anything wrong with Shapr. The price might seem steep, but it’s actually quite reasonable by enterprise CAD standards. The performance was phenomenal. The iPad Pro has a Pro Motion 120 Hz high refresh rate display. It can display twice as many frames per second as your standard mobile display. If you thought 60 Hz was smooth, well this is a whole different ball game. Apart from making UI interactions feel smooth, I’ve always felt that Pro Motion was a bit gimmicky until seeing it implemented in Shapr.
Pro Motion is supported in Shapr and the resulting interface smoothness is jaw-dropping. When rotating an object, the program responds to your swipes instantaneously. It feels like you’re actually rotating an object, instead of just swiping your Pencil across a touchscreen. Together with the Apple Pencil 2’s improved latency, the moment-to-moment modeling experience in Shapr is mesmerizing. Modeling isn’t just something that has to be done: it’s a joy to work on.
Pros:
Real, full-fledged CAD suite for iPad Pro
Makes full use of Pro Motion and the Apple Pencil for great UI interactions
Cons:
Very high subscription cost
Download Shapr
3. Umake
Who it’s for: Users who want a simpler, yet still robust alternative to Shapr
Umake is like Shapr and Sketchup, but a bit simpler. This is reflected in the cost, too. With an annual subscription of just over $100, it’s not cheap by any means, but a lot more affordable than Shapr and, well, almost any PC CAD solution. Umake doesn’t let you do quite as much as Shapr. However, its multiple perspective views make it a viable option, even in complex use cases like architecture modeling. Instead, it focuses on ease of use.
Umake’s tutorials can turn you into an expert in 15 minutes
Umake tries to help you hit the ground running with some surprisingly intuitive tutorials. You get brief video explanations of what each function does. After about 15 minutes, you’ll have familiarized yourself with most of the key UI functions and you’ll be all set to start modeling. Unfortunately, this is where things get a bit ugly. Umake has a 14-day trial but it requires you to set up payment and then cancel later.
If you forget, you’re in for some hefty charges. Without doing that, Umake only lets you use viewer mode. But even with usability this limited, it’s easy to see why Umake’s such a great option. Just like Shapr, it features native support for Pro Motion, so you get incredibly smooth and responsive UI interactions (and a better Pencil sketching experience). And the tutorials, as we mentioned, go a long way towards simplifying the CAD experience. This, in turn, broadens the market a little. If you’re looking to dabble in some 3D modeling but can’t afford a premium solution, you could just get a month’s subscription to Umake for $20 and sketch away to your heart’s content.
Pros:
Easy to use, with intuitive tutorials
Native Pro Motion support
Cons:
Trial limits you to viewer mode unless you add a payment method
Download Umake
Closing Words
Each of these 3D modeling tools makes a great case to get an iPad Pro, whether you do professional CAD work or just dabble in 3D modeling. Although SketchUp Viewer doesn’t actually let you create models, it gives you a great platform to showcase premade SketchUp models. You could pass the iPad around a conference table with SketchUp viewer loaded up and get everyone’s eyes on the model.
Shapr is prohibitively expensive for most people, but the $300 annual subscription is small money for enterprise users. For that amount, you get one of the most feature-rich CAD solutions on mobile, making full use of the iPad Pro’s unique strengths.
And if you want a Pro-centric modeling tool but aren’t quite ready to splurge on Shapr, Umake is a fine point of entry. A slightly more limited toolset is offset by a lower purchase price and native Pro Motion goodness makes it a treat to use.
Read: Best Note Taking Apps For iPad Pro 2019
Top 10 3D Sculpting Programs – The Best Software for Creating Digital Sculptures for 3D Printing
3D sculpting is a fascinating way to bring characters, monsters, and all kinds of organic shapes to life. While many 3D modeling programs focus on precision, 3D sculpting apps are all about turning a piece of visual clay into a stunning 3D print. This article will show you the 10 best 3D sculpting programs to get the job done!
In the first part of this blog post, we will focus on sculpting programs. Here, sculpting is the sole purpose of the software and not just a bonus feature. Later on, we will also mention traditional 3D modeling programs that offer basic sculpting modules.
Sculpting Programs
1. ZBrush
Without any doubt, ZBrush is the most popular and most powerful digital sculpting program out there. It offers the world’s most advanced tools for everyone from art enthusiasts to major film and games studios.
Launched in 1999 as 2.5D modeling software, it is now the go-to solution for 3D sculptors and painters. Jody Garrett, who printed the goat skull that you can see below with ZBrush, calls the software a “hands-down tour-de-force of digital tools.”
Heads up though: ZBrush comes with a rather steep learning curve and a price of 795 USD. To get a feel for the software without taking any risks you can start ZBrush’s 45-day-trial version here. You should also check out our tutorial about how to prepare your ZBrush models for 3D printing here.
By: Pixologic
Price: 795USD
Jody Garrett’s goat skull was designed with ZBrush
2. Mudbox
ZBrush’s biggest competitor is Mudbox, which was developed in 2007 and acquired by Autodesk. Mudbox digital painting and sculpting software provides 3D artists with an intuitive and tactile toolset for creating and modifying 3D geometry and textures.
By: Autodesk
Price: 10USD/month or 80USD/year
It’s hard to say which of these two programs (ZBrush or Mudbox) is really better, but here are some points to consider:
Mudbox’s sculpting style differs somewhat to that of ZBrush and can be considered as more beginner-friendly.
The main difference between both programs is that ZBrush is much better at generating a base geometry to start modeling with than Mudbox. With Mudbox, you need to use integrations with Maya or 3ds Max to generate a base geometry more easily.
Overall, ZBrush and Mudbox feature similar sets of tools and brushes. However, ZBrush beats Mudbox in terms of functionality.
ZBrush is often considered to be superior to Mudbox when it comes to painting the model.
Mudbox costs 10 USD/month, whereas ZBrush costs 795 USD for a single user license.
Best 3d Modeling Software 2019
Since both ZBrush and Mudbox come as free trial versions, you might want to check them both out first and then choose the program you like most.
3. Meshmixer
If you don’t want to jump into the cold water right away, you might want to get started with some free sculpting apps first. Meshmixer is one of the free 3D-sculpting-based CAD programs created by Autodesk – and it is also one of their simpler, more beginner-friendly programs. Meshmixer can be used to intuitively sculpt designs, hollow them out, cut them apart, and combine parts together without wrecking your mesh’s internal or external geometry. It’s a very cool tool to prepare your design for 3D printing as well.
You can mash, mix, sculpt, stamp or paint your own 3D designs from scratch, or start from over 10,000 models in the 123D Gallery. Our very own mascot (the Piguin; see below), was created in this great program. If you also want to give it a try, be sure to take a look at our extensive Meshmixer beginner’s guide.
By: Autodesk
Price: Free
These 3D printed Piguins by Bert de Niel were created in Meshmixer
4. 3D Coat
3D Coat is another interesting digital sculpting program. Its main advantages are its super powerful texturing, UV mapping, and painting tools.
The general 3D modeling part of working with this software is pretty unconventional and differs from the other programs listed here. However, if your number one concern is ‘coating’ your sculpt with a great texture, then 3D Coat is your best friend.
This software comes at a price that ranges between 99 and 379 USD depending on which license suits your needs. The 3D printing community of this software is rather small, and so finding good 3D printing tutorials for it is a little more difficult than for the other programs mentioned in this list. To try it, you can simply start with their free 30 days trial version.
By: Pilgway
Price: from 99USD (amateurs) to 379USD (professionals)
Best 3d Modeling Software For 3d Printing
The Forrest Critter SC by Lazyad was created with 3D Coat.
5. Sculptris
Sculptris is a free digital sculpting tool, created by Pixologic, the company behind ZBrush. If you’re new to the world of digital sculpting, Sculptris is the ideal ground on which to get started. It shows you the very basics of what ZBrush is able to do.
Sculptris provides an excellent gateway into the world of 3D sculpting. Its features are easy to learn, even for people with little or no experience in digital art, yet robust enough for creating detailed base models. Sculptris also lets you import 3D meshes (.obj) for further detailing and modifying.
The only downside of Sculptris is its limited functionality. When you’re ready to take your Sculptris creations to the next level for detailing, having a look at ZBrush definitely makes sense.
By: Pixologic
Price: Free
The 3D printed Serpents Buckle by Michael Mueller was created in Sculptris
Further 3D Modeling Programs with Sculpting Capabilities
The programs that we looked at so far are nearly exclusively about sculpting an object. However, several traditional 3D modeling programs also offer sculpting features. So if you already have experience with one of the following programs, you might want to check out their sculpting modules first. Keep in mind that the sculpting functionality of these programs are inferior to those of Mudbox and ZBrush, but it’s enough to get a basic job done.
6. Blender
Blender is a very powerful 3D modeling program and a popular choice within the 3D printing community. It has been equipped with a sculpting tool set since 2007, and its workflow is pretty similar to that of ZBrush and Mudbox. Additional bonuses are the sheer number of tutorials and plugins out there as well as the fact that Blender is completely free! However, users continuously complain about the interface and the very steep learning curve!
By: Blender Foundation
Price: Free and Open Source
This monster was sculpted in Blender by BlenderMania
7. Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D received a sculpting module back in 2012. It features multi-resolution sculpting, advanced symmetry options and a big range of brushes, stencils and stamps. However, if you are not already an owner of this software, it comes with a price of roughly 3,500 USD (42 days free trial here).
By: Maxon
Price: 3,500USD
8. MODO
MODO has an integrated sculpting mode since 2007. The so called “Painting and Sculpting” function is designed to be simple to use while providing users with a powerful and intuitive toolset that empowers artists to realize their vision with the least amount of strain. MODO comes at around 1,799 USD (30 days free trial here)
By: Foundry
Price: from 599USD/year to 1,799USD perpetual license
9. Maya
Maya also extended its 3D sculpting capabilities and added a new set of brushes in 2016. While it does a decent job, many users complain that the workflow is still too buggy and sluggish. Also, Maya comes at 185 USD/month – so unless you already own a Maya license you might want to consider other programs first or try their 30 days free trial.
By: Autodesk
Price: 242USD/month or 1,936USD/year
Online 3D Sculpting App
10. SculptGL
Last but not least we have an honorable mention that certainly deserves a spot on this list: SculptGL. This app is free, doesn’t need a download/installation and doesn’t require you to sign up. It runs directly in your browser and allows you to start sculpting your first model in seconds. It’s a great app to start messing around and find out if this way of modeling is right for you. Of course it won’t lead to the most stunning designs, but it is a nice sandbox! You might want to check out our tutorial to get a better understanding of this free app.
By: Stephane Ginier
Price: Free
Japanese artist Motogashi designed this using Sculpt GL
Are you ready to get going? 3D sculptors love printing their designs in multicolor! Take a look at 10 stunning (sculpted) multicolor 3D prints here to see what other 3D artist have created. If your design is ready to be printed, upload it here and see the price of your HD 3D print instantly.