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Art of Illusion is a free, open source 3D modelling and rendering studio. It is written entirely in Java, and should be usable on any Java Virtual Machine which is compatible with J2SE 1.4 or later. Many of its capabilities rival those found in commercial programs. Some of the highlights include subdivision surface based modelling tools, skeleton based animation, and a graphical language for designing procedural textures and materials.
| Developer | Download | Changelog
Art of Illusion 2.6:
The mesh editor can color the surface by parameters or bone influence.
"Link to External Object" allows you to include children of the selected object.
Pose tracks can be added to curve and tube objects.
The procedure editor lets you specify what time the preview is displayed for.
Animation tracks are automatically reapplied as the scene is edited.
The color chooser lets you select what range is used for component values.
Plugins can add arbitrary metadata to a scene.
Created API for plugins to extend the raytracer by defining new object types.
Upgraded to Buoy 1.9.
Lots of bug fixes.
| 2000/XP | Rating : Good |
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Wings 3D is a polygon mesh modeller with a user interface that is easy to use for both beginners and advanced users. It works with edge loops and edge rings in the style of Nendo, Silo, and Hexagon. Working in that way, with smoothing and selecting edge rings and loops, allows one to make complex models faster than with a traditional polygon modeler. Wings has great workflow and that means you get things done and have a lot of fun on the way. For really large models just make them in parts and then assemble them in your program of choice. There are also Wings forums that are quite active on several of the major 3D sites that can answer some of your burning questions. Wings 3D is available for most platforms, including Windows, Linux and Mac OS X, using the Erlang environment. Wings 3D has a fairly shallow learning curve, and a plug-in system. Though it lacks a powerful internal renderer, Wings can easily be combined with raytracing programs such as POV-Ray or Yafray to produce high-quality images. Wings 3D is a great addition to any toolbox.
| Developer | Download | Screenshot | Changelog
Wings 3D 0.99.02:
- Now using Erlang/OTP R12B-1. The build instructions have been updated with
more details. The SDL library in the Linux distribution no longer references
libaa (thanks to vtechk). [bjorng]
- Verbose and Mouseover info text options added to Edit|Preferences|General.
[optigon]
- Added interface options to Edit|Preferences|General. Options to
edit the width of Hard Edges and Normals, and set the default colour
of the Default and Hole Material. Also, the Mini Axis can now be
switched on or off and the colour of its axes are now linked to the
main axes. [optigon]
- Wings could crash when triangulating (for display purposes)
extremely degenerated polygons. For instance, Cylindrical Shift
on a cylinder could cause the problem. (Thanks to pauljs75.)
[bjorng]
- In secondary selection mode, invoking some selection commands (such
as Select|Similar Normals) would cause a crash. Also, invoking
Select|Similar Normals through a hotkey in the wrong selection mode
(i.e. not face mode) would cause a crash. (Thanks to optigon.)
[bjorng]
- Optional Feature: Changing modes while dragging would make the model
jump. Mode changes can now be set to reset the model back to its initial
position. [optigon]
- Fixed the repeat drag arguments (Shift D and D) for Vertex Intersect,
Bend, and Shift. [optigon]
- Basic mode Turn menu now cascades. [optigon]
- Extended vector ops to accept vectors defined across multiple objects.
Also added Cross Product as a way to define a vector using two edges.
[optigon]
- New Feature: Vertex|Deform|Inflate Cylindrical. Works in both basic
and advanced menus. In basis menus, select a central axis (XYZ) and
inflate. In advanced menus, pick a central axis and optionally, pick
a center point and radius. Vertices will move towards the radius along
a vector extending from the center point. All vertices are aligned with
the radius when the distance reads 100%. [optigon]
- New Feature: Vertex|Connect(RMB)|Connecting Edge (advanced menus only).
Creates a new edge by connecting the selected vertices and returns the
new edge already selected. [optigon]
- New Feature: Edit|Preferences|Constraints > Drag Preferences.
Allows you to customize dragging speeds for Rotational, Absolute,
and Relative drags. [optigon]
- New Feature: This preliminary release of the new Set Constraints plugin
gives you the ability to take measurement directly from your model and
save them as default constraints which can be used while dragging. You
can take measurements in various ways including the use of secondary
selections and vector ops. Bind the constraint to the modifier key(s)
of your choice (Alt,Shift,Ctrl) by holding them down while accepting a
method of measurement or set a default key combo in the prefs. If the
measurement includes a secondary selection, you may hold down the modifier
keys when finalizing your selection. [optigon]
Edge Mode:
Total Length - total length of the selected edges
Average Length - average length of the selected edges
Angle - angle between two edges
Subtract Angle - difference of two angles
Edge To Axis - angle between a single edge and a chosen axis
Percentage - difference two selections as a percentage
Difference - difference in length of two selections,
Centers - distance between the centers of two selections
Face Mode:
Percentage - difference in area between two face selections as a percentage
Centers, Angle, Subtract Angle, Face To Axis
Vertex Mode:
Centers
- New Feature: Switch constraint sets on the fly while dragging. Every drag
mode now has two related sets of constraints. You can switch to the related
constraint set by press Shift+Tab while dragging in any tool. The related
sets are as follows.
Scale Factor/Reciprocal: Reciprocal is equal to 1/Scale Factor
Angle/Supplementary: Supplementary is equal to 180 - Angle
Distance/Alternate Distance: Two sets for distance constraints
[optigon]
- New Feature: Vertex|Deform|Shear. This plugin lets you shear vertex selections
and more! Drag in all three modes (Absolute, Angle, Relative). Add curve to
the shear. Use vector ops or standard axes(XYZ). Many thanks to puzzledpaul
for testing and offering useful suggestions. [optigon]
- Increased limits of the main Wings primitives to infinity. [optigon]
- The hotkeys for Toggle Proxy Mode and Quick Smoothed Preview (Shift+Tab)
are now properly ignored in interactive commands and when the camera is active.
(Thanks to optigon.) [bjorng]
- When defining hotkeys for menus such as Edit|Preferences or pop-up menus
when advanced menus were not turned on, there could be a useless question
about mouse buttons. This question has been eliminated. [bjorng]
- The Wavefront importer will now import objects that have defects such
as invalid texture coordinate references. Instead of crashing, texture
coordinates will be removed from the face in question. Also, import of
Wavefront files with relative vertex references will be faster (much
faster for big files). (Thanks to terje7601.) [bjorng]
- Added new camera modes: Google SketchUp and Wings 3D suggested by oort.
Wings 3D mode is the same as Mirai mode, except that the mmb pans instead
of dollying. Added optional scroll wheel activated pan and rotate (available
in all camera modes). Also extended arrow key panning to work in all modes
and improved its useability. [optigon]
| 2000/XP | Rating : Excellent |
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ChaosPro is a freeware fractal generator able to create beautiful images based on mathematical formulas. ChaosPro is one of the most versatile fractal plotters. Unlike most of the other fractal generators it is a modern program, which constantly gets improved. It's not a day's work spread out into the world, it's a complete fascinating package. ChaosPro can create 3D views from two dimensional images, i.e. it can create height fields. This way you can create stunning images from fractals. ChaosPro not only creates Julia and Mandelbrot sets of any formula (using either one of about 20 built in formulas or using a user defined formula), it can create bifurcation diagrams, IFS fractals, Plasma fractals, Lindenmayer systems, dynamic systems like the Lorenz attractor, the Rossler attractor, and Lyapunov Spaces (more to come). You can write your own formulas using the integrated compiler. The compiler natively knows about complex and quaternion numbers. The program supports layers, allowing you to merge different fractals and combine coloring modes. ChaosPro supports other fractal types as well, so it can create IFS fractals and L-Systems. ChaosPro is able to create animations by using keyframes: Almost each parameter and/or parameter combination can be animated.
| Developer | Download | Screenshot | Changelog
ChaosPro 3.3.197:
Render jobs
New zoom capabilities (mouse wheel, manual redraw)
Improved compiler speed
several bug fixes
| 98/ME/2000/XP | Rating : Excellent |
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Blender is the first and only fully integrated 3D graphics creation suite allowing modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, realtime interactive 3D and game creation and playback with cross-platform compatibility - all in one tidy, easily and free downloadable package!
| Developer | Download | Mirror | 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista | Rating : Excellent |
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Anim8or is a simple, free, but well featured, 3D computer animation program that is designed to allow straightforward creation of animations. It is an ideal introduction to 3D animation. You interactively create and edit objects, figures, and scenes directly on the computers screen. The basic interface is similar to most 3D animation and CAD programs. Anim8or is a very capable freeware program with many features and tools. Its small size and easy to follow tutorials make it a gateway into the world of 3D graphics for many computer users who normally would never get a chance to try their hand at modelling and animation. Even if you’re not new to 3D work you’ll find Anim8or a deceptively powerful piece of software. You’ll find plenty of help and resources at the Anim8or home page too.
| Developer | Download | Changelog
Anim8or 0.95c:
#095-064 - Bumpmap Texture/Material in Scripts Has Problems.
#095-065 - GetAttribute Crashes on Nonexistent Elements.
#095-066 - Initial GUI Settings Not Correct.
#095-067 - ASL Function randseed() Doesn't Do Anything.
Add texture coordinates to GeoSpheres.
Add View->DefaultVisuals command to reset GUI and workspace settings to default.
Set default value for scale controller expressions to 1.0 instead of 0.0.
Fix several other minor ASL problems.
| 98/ME/2000/XP | Rating : Very Good |
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OpenFX is an Open-Source 3D modeling, animation and rendering suite created by Dr. Stuart Ferguson. He made the decision to release the source code to the public in the middle of 1999, and the product formerly named SoftF/X was renamed to OpenFX. A powerful feature-set includes a full renderer and raytrace engine, NURBS support, kinematics-based animation, morphing, and an extensive plugin API. Plugin capabilities include image post processor effects such as lens flare, fog and depth of field. Animation effects such as explosions, waves and dissolves add enormously to the flexibility of the program.
| Developer | Download | 98/ME/2000/XP | Rating : Very Good |
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Chaoscope is an image rendering program running on Windows for producing 3 dimensional strange attractors, this ongoing project is released as freeware. The word “Chaoscope” was invented by Ralph Abraham, long time chaos theorist, to describe computer tools used to help comprehend dynamic systems, a superset of the strange attractors. In addition to 9 attractor types, it also has 5 different render types, which combine to create some extremely interesting fractals. Chaoscope applies various rendering modes to different attractors, such as lorenz, polynomials, julia, etc. Chaoscope output is more subtle than the traditional rather speckly attractor images, due to a choice of continuous-colouring schemes that render the attractor as, say, a gas, liquid or plasma. Chaoscope is known to run relatively smoothly on Windows 98, 2000 & XP. It requires OpenGL which is bundled with all Windows flavours apart from Windows 95 pre-OSR2. Please note that there is no way to switch to the software implementation of OpenGL in case of problems caused by your video card manufacturer's hardware implementation. The video mode must be set to 15 bits (32,768 colours) or higher. Chaoscope is in one word, AMAZING.
| Developer | Download | 98/ME/2000/XP | Rating : Excellent |
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Apophysis is a freestanding and freeware flame fractal generator & editor. Fractal flames are a extension on the ifs fractal. Fractal art is an algorithmic approach for producing computer-generated art using fractal mathematics. Fractals of all four kinds have been used as the basis for vast sections of digital art and animation. Starting with 2-dimensional details of fractals such as the Mandelbrot Set, fractals have found artistic application in fields as varied as texture generation, plant growth simulation and landscape generation. Fractal Art is a genre concerned with fractals—shapes or sets characterized by self affinity (small portions of the image resemble the overall shape) and an infinite amount of detail, at all scales. Fractals are typically created on a digital computer, using an iterative numerical process. Lately, images that are not technically fractals, but that share the same basic generating technique and environment, have been welcomed into the FA world.
| Developer | Download | Screenshot | 98/ME/2000/XP | Rating : Excellent |
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RenderSoft VRML Editor is a freeware that allows you to quickly and easily create 3D logo animations in AVI format. Ever feel that you want to edit while you browse a VRML scene? Well, RenderSoft do just that. Apart from object transformations such as moving, rotating and scale, it also supports textures and materials and WWW anchor. Using RenderSoft VRML Editor, everything you edit is reflected instantly on the screen. You can see the material of your object change instantly as you move the slider, or see the texture change immediately after you select an image. Beginners will find RenderSoft the ideal program to jump start VRML, while those accomplished in the VRML language will find it useful for visualizing and fine tuning their VRML web pages. RenderSoft is written using OpenGL, an industry standard API. This ensures the rendering will be of sufficient quality. It features an updated interface, improved usability with auto-rendering, and many bug fixes. This is an example of an AVI movie logo created with RenderSoft VRML Editor 2.0. logo.zip. RenderSoft VRML Editor 2.0 is now freeware. All the features are fully enabled and no registration is necessary.
| Developer | Download | XP | Rating : Very Good |
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Browz 3D is a browser for 3D models of various types. It supports 3DS, ASC, DXF, LWO, OBJ and T3D formats with 4 display modes, wireframe, vertices transparent and opaque. You can zoom and rotate the model and highlight one of the meshes inside the model. Additional features includes sorting of your models, color coding and more. The program uses the OpenGL engine.
| Developer | Download | 98/ME/2000/XP | Rating : Good |
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ScapeMaker is a landscape-generation-tool for Windows. Adjusting simple parameters, you define how your landscape is going to look like and ScapeMaker creates a appropriate height-profile, surfacetextures etc. for you.After that you can freely move around throughout your 3d-landscape and take screenshots.
| Developer | Download | 98/ME/2000/XP | Rating: Very Good |
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The 3D Creator allows you to create your own complex 3D objects by defining simple polygons (triangles or quads) with the polgyoneditor (see the right side of the snapshots below). In the polygoneditor you can choose a color or texture for each polygon (3D Creator takes care in case the texture was previously already loaded once and doesn't load same textures twice into memory)
| Developer | Download | 98/2000/XP | Rating : Very Good |
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Inkulator9000 is software designed to create non-photorealistic graphic novel style images from 3D models using OpenGL.The Inkulator9000 creates vector based art from 3D Meshes using a special "perceptual" algorithm. Black or white is assigned to a plane of a 3D Mesh based on user input.
| Developer | Download | Mirror | Tutorial | 98/ME/2000/XP | Rating : Good |
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PhotoModeler Lite is a fully functional, high-quality Windows freeware program for creating 3D models of real-world objects and scenes through the use of photographs. With PhotoModeler Lite, you can create 3D models from photos complete with points, lines, surfaces, and phototextures mapped on right from your photos. PhotoModeler Lite is based on photogrammetry- the science of extracting data from photographs. Photogrammetry is a powerful and flexible tool, though many people are not familiar with its.
| Developer | Download | Mirror | 95/98/ME/NT | Rating : Good |
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A free but capable 3D modeller with tons of features and decent file support.Professional 3D modelling packages cost huge amounts, that’s all right if you’re creating armies for Sauron, but if you’re just dipping your toes into the texture-mapped water or on a tight budget it can be daunting. ppModeler (just the one ‘l’ thank you) is free and yet still manages to pack a punch.
Features include:
* SDS modelling, with sharp edges.
* Symmetrical meshes.
* Blob modelling, with ellipse, 3D splines, 3D meshes.
* 2D/3D curves: mix of straight lines and splines, Read TTF font, Boolean operations.
* Toolboxes on meshes, faces, edges and vertices, texture projection.
* Four Texture projectors: plane, cylinder, sphere and uv.
* Procedural texture generated by scripts.
* Morphing and skinning.
* Export to: 3DS, OBJ, Direct X, DXF, VRML, Virtual Light, SunFlow.
* Import from: 3DS, LWO, OBJ, VRML, DXF.
* Export to POV, RENDERMAN.
* ·All scene data (meshes, animation, texture...) saved in one '.3de' file.
| Developer | Download | 95/98/NT/2000/XP | Rating : Very Good |
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