3D Animation Software - What You Need To Know Before Purchasing
3D animation software differs greatly from the 2D version, and it is very rare to find good 2D software that can handle 3D animation. It is usually necessary to use dedicated 3D software if you wish to produce 3D images. Before you even consider buying a 3D program, the first thing you need to do is to audit your current PC and determine if it is up to the challenge of the latest software.
Good 3D programs are notoriously expensive and CPU intensive, so if you don’t have the latest top of the range computer specifications your PC can struggle with some of the features. Realistically, It may therefore be necessary to add the cost of a computer upgrade, or even a new machine, to the costs of the software you plan to choose. Good quality professionally produced software will not be cheap. The cost of some of the well known 3D software tools can run to several thousand dollars. Although the majority of tools will have the same features, it is how they manage the 4 main 3D animating tasks that differ.
The 4 main areas of 3D animation are modeling, texturing, animation and rendering. Thinking about which areas you want to specialize in before you start will give you a few clues as to which software packages are most likely to meet your needs. For example, while all tools will have polygon modeling, others will add some additional modeling methods which, although useful in certain situations, normally add additional cost to the software. If you don’t need these options, then you can save money by buying a software package that uses polygons as the basis for modeling. It comes down to finding a usable balance between all 4 features. This is the key to finding the software that will suit you best. Some packages will have great modeling tools and slow rendering while other will have superior texturing ability but the modeling tools will be of lesser quality.
As you may well know, there are some free tools available. However, I'm sure you're not surprised to hear that they are very basic and won’t provide all the features of the more expensive 3D animation software tools. Then again, if you are just starting out as an animator, they are very useful for practicing and refining the techniques involved. Some manufacturers will supply a 30 day trial, which is a great way to see if you like the interface and confirm that the software has all the tools and features that you need. If the program you want doesn’t advertise a trial version, just contact the manufacturers and ask them if in fact there is one. Sometimes they just don't advertise it widely. Alternatively, they may be able to provide you with a demo showing just what the tool can do.
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