Having used this tool in anger, our only reservations about it are that for someone coming from a more conventional modeling environment this learning curve can be a steep one. Overall, this product is superb for prototyping mechanical parts or creating concept designs and then having them turned into physical items using 3D printing. Alongside the plugins is a scripting language, enabling complex detailing or modification processes to be automated.īut even if you’re not a software developer you can create enhanced functionality through Grasshopper, a tool for making form generation algorithms without writing code. Like 3DS Max this also has a plugin solution and a sophisticated developer platform for those wanting to create new ones. And, Rhino is the undisputed king of NURBS.Īvailable for both the Mac and PC, Rhino can sculpt objects, adapt LIDAR scans, work with meshes from other systems and even render scenes using raytracing. To accurately model the body of a vehicle or aircraft, NURB surfaces, with their ability to curve in more than one plane, are important. When Rhinoceros first appeared most 3D modeling systems did basic geometry and a few offered splines, but almost none of them could handle NURBS. A discount is available for a three-year commitment, but that still doesn’t make this a cheap experience. The other issue with this product is the high price. And, complex plugins that stress the PC can make 3DS Max unstable on occasion. The first is that if you use many plugins, then they can interact in somewhat unpredictable ways. With so much functionality, what’s the downside the 3DS Max? There are a few. Images can be generated using a very wide range of rendering systems, including Renderman created by Pixar and mental ray. Some of these plugins are free, but the best ones are paid.įor modeling purposes, 3DS Max supports conventional polygon construction, NURBS and also patch surfaces. If the software doesn’t support the exact function or rendering mode you need, an extensive plugin system allows third-party modules to add this to 3DS Max. The standard features include skeletons and inverse kinematics, cloth simulation, skinning and character controls for bipedal motion. The original Autodesk 3D Studio ran under DOS in 1988, but the current Autodesk 3DS Max (formally 3DS Studio Max) has been a Windows tool since 1996.Īs a 3D modeling system, this one is especially popular with those creating animation, game assets and simulations.

3d design software freeware