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Overview of the most common 3D modelling and 3D printing tools

Within the domain of digital fabrication, optimal 3D modelling software serves as
a fundamental tool for converting imaginative conceptions into realistic, tangible
models. Regardless of your fields – automotive, film, engineering, gaming, product

design, or 3D printing – the appropriate 3D modelling software can transform
your creative capacities. However, both individual effectiveness and industry
standards have a significant impact on software selection. The most frequently

used software includes:

1. Autodesk 3ds Max: This software is particularly preferred by architects,

interior designers, and game developers who require expert modelling,
texturing, and meshing tools. Skeletal models and inverse kinematics, cloth

simulation, and texturing are all standard features.
2. Blender: Blender is the most effective free 3D modelling software for
animators and animation. It is an open-source, free 3D creation tool that a

user and developer community support.
3. Autodesk Maya: Autodesk Maya was among the first commercial 3D
rendering systems to incorporate hair and fur, making it without a doubt

the most outstanding 3D graphics software available.
4. ZBrush: ZBrush is an innovative approach to 3D modelling. It enables
designers and artists to create sculptures with digital clay in real-time

through the use of a brush system.
5. SketchUp: Due to its straightforward interface, SketchUp is among the
most user-friendly 3D modelling programmes available. However, below its

approachable exterior is a useful tool intended for designers, architects,
and artists.
6. Rhino: Rhino is the best option for working with surfaces, as even the most

advanced 3D modelling programmes could only handle simple geometry
and a small number of then included splines with the tool initially

introduced.
7. Tinkercad: Tinkercad is certainly the easiest to learn among all these tools.
It relies on a modelling approach that involves the use of primitives (pre-
made 3D shapes), which are used to compose the desired geometry. The

software is available via browser and is the one considered for many of the
activities outlined in this document.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the
author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European
Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can
be held responsible for them. Proposal number: 101087107.