3d software

I am just getting started with with 3d designing, and I am trying to get a sense of which software most people use and for what kind of design. i. e what do they design with the software. I have tried tinkercad and ketchup, I have heard of modo- what do you use? I would love to hear your thoughts

be3d

I personally use Rhino 3D -- however, I have heard that OnShape is good for beginners. OnShape is browser-based CAD, and if I'm correct, it's completely free. It's created by the original founders of Solidworks... there should be online tutorials somewhere

The software you want to use, can depend a lot on what you're trying to make, and your experience with 3d modeling.

I write programs in Clojure that generate OpenSCAD files that I then export as STL files. I'm also looking into Onshape.

I use Blender. It is open source and has a fantastic and very active community behind it.

Blender does lots more than 3D modelling and you can get a lot back from it if you invest some time and effort to get over the initial learning curve.

If creating 3D models for print is all you need, there are simpler ways to get that done. If however, you need an all round capability for 3D print, cgi, video compositing or even game production, Blender is worth a look.

I use Blender 2.68....
It's not too hard to learn and has a ton of very handy tools & abilities.

thxs , 4 responses, and 3 different software names. so i suppose that indicates no 1 dominant packge and it depends on your backround and what you are trying to do. I have heard a lot of stuff about modu too.

software it would be a secondary choice , you should know what is you want to do, when you have an idea what your models should look like you should look how different software workflow allows you to create your models in the easiest way check you tube for tutorials and find more about the community , these two things will allow you to progress faster.
my software recommendations for a beginner are : blender for relatively clean simpler shapes , or zbrush if you'll model things like statutes or things like that

Before anybody can really recommend software, it's important to know what type of work you want to do- will you sculpt organic shapes such as figures, jewelry, etc., or do you want to build engineered shapes such as model aircraft, cars, armour, ships, trains, etc. or machinery parts?

These two disciplines need different software, unless you're into very expensive programs with all the bells and whistles.

I build model railway kits and parts, and use Geomagic Design/ Alibre.

Steve Hunter

Main software for 3D modeling - Blender
Model repair before printing - Microsoft 3D Model Repair service (online), you upload your STL, they fix, you download the fixed version, if you have trust issues don't use it.

For printing with my own printer:
Slicing - Meshmixer
3D Printing using gcode - Cura
Actual printing software - software that comes with the Micro printer, using the gcode generated from Cura

I'm still using AutoCAD. I never could get used to Blender and never had the coin to try out Solidworks.

What I do is mostly sculpting and I find Sculptris to be perfect for that. I use blender for other things and Meshmixer or netfabb Basic mostly for scaling and hollowing.

I use Blender.. Not to easy to learn, but there are many tutorials out there. Once mastered you could probably do almost anything.

1. DAZ3D is not "a program". It's an online marketplace for models, poseable figures and software.
2. I presume you are talking about DAZ Studio, one of the software which DAZ3D offers. That, on the other hand, is not a modeling software either, but mainly a still image- and animation rendering software.
So...
3. I have no idea what DAZ Studio is supposed to represent in terms of a 3D modeling application.
Sure, you can pose (bought and selfmade) figures using it; but most people just use it for *bought* figures, which cannot be uploaded to Shapeways for printing as they are copyrighted and the license by (DAZ, Renderosity, etc. - wherever you can buy poseable rigged figures) does not allow "uploading with the purpose of selling 3D printed models".

Probably just link spam, if you look at the other posts made by that person. Otherwise empty user profile on deviantart uses same photo, and his comments there are things like "i design logos for online casinos" (including a link to such a site) on a wallpaper image of the "casino royale" james bond novel.

yeah just a spammer disguised as a person trying to promote a competitive service

Now if our friesian mermaid would edit out his quote from her reply...

HAHAHAHAHA! That nickname seriously makes me want to change my name.

Anyway... I still think that my quote should remain here, be it just for the sake that people who read this thread don't think that DAZStudio would be a working modeling tool.
I also don't really think the spammer intended to advertise DAZ3D; they are a way too large, respected company for that scheme.
If, of course, Shapeways thinks that my quote / posting is misplaced here, they can still delete it - as they did with the spammer's posting ;-)

Primarily 3dsmax for production, and Blender occasionally.

While I am these late months much more focused in illustration gigs, I have modeled and animated as a job during many years. I used to use both Wings3D and 3ds Max at the jobs, at the companies. 3DS Max as was totally required to even be contracted. I usually always had a chance of convincing them to allow me to use Wings3D for all modeling, and then import into Max, specially non hi res models.

Now as a freelancer, I use: Blender, specially for 3D printing stuff as touching in two settings it gives you the accurate dimensions and etc, but also as it's a really full complete 3D package. I still can't get used to model daily with it, but mostly as I have "bad habits": Learnt "too deeply" another modeler, am more of a Wings3D modeler since many years, but any modeling can be done with Blender, is really flexible. I mostly use it to animate, edit, fix, and of course, render, with Blender Cycles and with Blender internal render.

If you liked Sketchup, you will probably like Wings3d. But about Blender, for a package that is hugely community supported, very complete, very promising, (and improved in the friendly UI department quite a bit) I'd recommend Blender all the way. Plus, open source like this, being kind of a flagship of it all, and so vastly supported everywhere, is a safe bet, IMO. There are bazillions of video tutorials in Vimeo, Youtube, etc, or to go the super cool way, among the best of the best resources (videos, books, etc) are in Blender.org shop.

They practically support every need in 3D, so, if you learn it, you can transfer the knowledge to other packages later on, just like with any complete 3D package. (in case you would ever need that for whatever the reason (a job, etc))

I recommend it not because is free, but because it is good and ...free. Both softwares.

Also, is great that certain little thing for hi res detailing, Sculptris. You can do this also inside Blender, but I kind of like specialized tools, too.

Edit: Forgot...! For fixing, Netfabb Basic, or if prefer a tool usable in commercial projects: Meshlab ( meshlab.sourceforge.net ), or even just Blender. (There are quite more tools for these fixing tasks )