3D graphics creation programs are practical working tools for CG artists for three-dimensional visualization. There are many software products and plug-ins for them, so studios and professionals choose the main one, using the others as auxiliary ones.
Autodesk 3ds Max
This is a real all-rounder – a large comprehensive product for 3D modeling, visualization and animation, creating simple and complex geometric shapes, developing details, creating textures and mapping UV coordinates. It is used in architecture, industrial design, gaming and film industries. It allows you to visualize different levels of complexity and achieve photorealistic results.
Blender
A free, open-source program with a full set of tools for creating 3D models, animation, compositing, and rendering. Thanks to its openness, the 3D graphics creation tool has many fans. It is the users who provide free technical support. There is a wide range of plug-ins and libraries. It has an intuitive interface. Supports many file formats (OBJ, FBX, STL, etc.).
SketchUp
An easy-to-use program with an intuitive interface designed to visualize and create 3D models of any objects, including buildings, furniture, landscape objects, etc. It is popular among architects, designers, and all professionals who need to quickly and conveniently sketch a project. SketchUp has free and paid versions. It supports work with various file formats, including DWG, DXF, 3DS, OBJ, XSI, VRML.
ZBrush
A program for creating 3D models of various levels of complexity. It is widely used in video games, film industry, cartoons, design, etc. It is used in architectural 3D visualization if you need to get complex and unique shapes. The peculiarity and advantage of this program for creating 3D graphics is modeling by sculpting, thanks to which CG artists create very detailed models with a high level of realism. ZBrush has topology editing tools that allow you to change the geometry of the model and make the modeling process more efficient. Automatic and manual retopology tools allow you to create models with fewer polygons. ZBrush also has the ability to change the shape and size of 3D models without losing details. It also integrates seamlessly with other 3D graphics programs.
Unreal Engine
A popular program for creating 3D graphics in real time. Among its advantages is easy animation creation. Unreal has its own rendering engine, many plug-ins, and libraries. Thanks to its wide range of tools, it is suitable for developing interactive applications, architectural 3D visualization, and video games, including physics systems, character movement, artificial intelligence, etc. The intuitive interface of the Unreal Engine editor makes it easy to get started with this 3D graphics program. It also has extensive capabilities for working with audio, video, and images, so it’s suitable for creating complex multimedia projects with high-quality sound and visual effects.
SideFX Houdini
This software for creating visual effects, animation, simulation, and 3D modeling is used in the film industry, video games, television programs, web design, and more. The main advantage is the node structure of building anything, which allows you to customize various objects, interactions, or effects as flexibly and accurately as possible. With the help of procedural modeling, you can create complex parametric models that are easy to change in the future. This 3D graphics program provides ample opportunities to create various types of simulations, including simulations of liquids, fire, smoke, tissues, and other objects. Thanks to its advanced tools, it is suitable for creating complex animation scenarios, including animation of bone skeletons and character movements.