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| 3d_tools [2025/06/13 22:15] – added two tools, changed some phrasing ribose | 3d_tools [2026/03/08 02:09] (current) – sorted into free/paid tool sections ribose |
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| </note> | </note> |
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| <WRAP center round todo 60%> | ====== Free/Abandonware/Open Source ====== |
| TODO:\\ | |
| More organization, descriptions, links to guides | |
| </WRAP> | |
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| ===== Tools ===== | ===== Modeling Tools ===== |
| |
| * [[https://www.winworldpc.net/product/3d-studio/4|3D Studio]] - the original 3D modeling program for DOS - still good for low poly work! | * **[[https://www.winworldpc.net/product/3d-studio/4|3D Studio]]** (1992-1994) DOS |
| * [[https://www.blockbench.net/|Blockbench]] - modern open-source low poly editor that does minecraft-style models! | * the original 3D modeling program for DOS - still good for low poly work! |
| * [[https://archive.org/details/bryce-5-5-free-setup|Bryce 5]] - only outputs 2D images I think, but the images are very cool 3D renders of weird spaces | * **[[https://www.macintoshrepository.org/2378-macrenderman-1|MacRenderMan]]** (1994) Classic Mac |
| | * its the software made by Pixar for their very early films and if you want to make a pre-toystory style animation this would be the real deal! |
| | * **[[https://archive.org/details/3d-grafik-studio-caligari-truespace-2|Cilgari/MS Truespace]]** (1994) Windows |
| | * modeling, animation, rendering |
| | * **[[blender|Blender]]** (1994-) Windows, Linux, MacOS |
| | * probably the most powerful free and open source computer graphics software |
| | * **[[https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/strata-vision3d-40|StrataVision 3D]]** (1995) Classic Mac |
| | * the program [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myst|Myst]] was made with |
| | * Guide: [[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?topic=4459.0|Making Myst-ish worlds on your site]] |
| | * **[[https://www.macintoshrepository.org/43290-blobsculptor-1-1|BlobSculptor]]** (1997) Classic Mac |
| | * a lil program for old mac that allows you to create blob creatures! |
| | * **[[https://archive.org/details/POSER3|Poser 3]]** (1998) Windows 95/98/NT, Power Macintosh |
| | * for making early 00s game characters |
| | * this one is still actively developed and you can get v13 as of writing - its kinda expensive though! If you look on eBay/Amazon you can get older copies like 11 much cheaper! |
| | * **[[https://www-ui.is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~takeo/teddy/teddy/teddy.html|Teddy]]** (1999) Web (requires Java) |
| | * 3D drawing applet |
| | * **[[https://www.anim8or.com/|Anim8or]]** (1999-2017) Windows |
| | * good for making old 90's cheap goofy CGI looking characters |
| | * **[[https://archive.org/details/bryce-5-5-free-setup|Bryce 5]]** (2005) Windows |
| | * only outputs 2D images I think, but the images are very cool 3D renders of weird spaces |
| * The newest version is 7.1 from 2010 and you can still buy it - often on sale for around 4 euro [[https://www.daz3d.com/bryce-7-pro|from DAZ]] | * The newest version is 7.1 from 2010 and you can still buy it - often on sale for around 4 euro [[https://www.daz3d.com/bryce-7-pro|from DAZ]] |
| * [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9580B6A57092DEDB|Getting started videos]] on YouTube | * [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9580B6A57092DEDB|Getting started videos]] on YouTube |
| * [[https://archive.org/details/POSER3|Poser 3]] - for making early 00s game characters | * **[[https://www.sweethome3d.com/|Sweet Home 3D]]** (2006) Windows |
| * this one is still actively developed and you can get v13 as of writing - its kinda expensive though! If you look on eBay/Amazon you can get older copies like 11 much cheaper! | * for interior design |
| * [[https://www.macintoshrepository.org/2378-macrenderman-1|MacRenderMan]] - its the software made by Pixar for their very early films and if you want to make a pre-toystory style animation this would be the real deal! | * **[[https://archive.org/details/sculptris_2010|Sculptris]]** (2010) |
| * [[https://www.macintoshrepository.org/43290-blobsculptor-1-1|BlobSculptor]] - a lil program for old mac that allows you to crate blob creatures! | * made by the same people who made ZBrush |
| * [[https://www.macintoshrepository.org/2451-tree-pro-4-0|Tree Pro 4.0]] - makes trees (for Mac Classic) | * **[[https://www.blockbench.net/|Blockbench]]** (2018-) Windows, Linux, MacOS, Web |
| * [[https://archive.org/details/sculptris_2010|Sculptris]] - made by the same people who made ZBrus | * modern open-source low poly editor that does minecraft-style models! |
| * [[https://www.kurtz-fernhout.com/summary_plantstudio.html|Plant Studio]] - an older program that lets you design and evolve plants | |
| * [[https://kenney.itch.io/assetforge|Asset Forge]] - newer, and it's a bit like kit bashing, but in 3d | |
| * [[https://archive.org/details/3d-grafik-studio-caligari-truespace-2|Cilgari/MS Truespace]] - modeling, animation, rendering | |
| * [[https://www.anim8or.com/|Anim8or]] - good for making old 90's cheap goofy CGI looking characters | |
| * [[https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/strata-vision3d-40|StrataVision 3D]] - the program [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myst|Myst]] was made with | |
| * [[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?topic=4459.0|Making Myst-ish worlds on your site]] | |
| * [[https://www.sweethome3d.com/|Sweet Home 3D]] - for interior design | |
| |
| ==== Landscapes ==== | ==== Plants & Landscapes ==== |
| |
| * [[https://www.world-machine.com|World Machine]] - this ones still updated but its been around for years - generates 3D landscapes! (Free version is fine) | * **[[https://www.macintoshrepository.org/49777-landsculptor3d-|LandSculptor3D]]** (1995) Classic Mac |
| * [[https://www.macintoshrepository.org/49777-landsculptor3d-|LandSculptor3D]] - a lil landscape maker for classic mac made by a student, useful for small landscapes! | * a lil landscape maker made by a student, useful for small landscapes! |
| * [[https://www.vertexmeadow.xyz/|Vertex Meadow]] - tool that turns 2D .png files into explorable 3D environments | * **[[https://www.macintoshrepository.org/2451-tree-pro-4-0|Tree Pro 4.0]]** (1995) Classic Mac |
| | * makes trees! |
| | * **[[https://www.kurtz-fernhout.com/summary_plantstudio.html|Plant Studio]]** (1997) Windows, MacOS |
| | * design and evolve plants |
| | * **[[https://archive.org/details/VueDEsprit4|Vue d'Espirit 4]]** (2004) Windows, MacOS |
| | * natual scenery generator |
| | * **[[https://www.world-machine.com|World Machine]]** (2005-) Windows |
| | * this ones still updated but its been around for years - generates 3D landscapes! (Free version is fine) |
| | * **[[https://www.vertexmeadow.xyz/|Vertex Meadow]]** (2015-2018) Web |
| | * tool that turns 2D .png files into explorable 3D environments |
| |
| ===== Engines ===== | ===== Web-specific Engines/Libraries/Code ===== |
| |
| * [[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?topic=5.0|MelonEngine]] - mini [[Three.js]] game engine | * **[[x3d|X3D]]** (1997-) |
| * [[https://aurysystem.github.io/bitsy-forks/bitsy-color-3d/|Bitsy 3D]] - fork of the tiny adventure game engine [[https://bitsy.org|bitsy]] that adds a 3D scene editor | * **[[three.js|Three.js]]** (2010-) |
| * [[https://godotengine.org/|Godot]] - probably the most powerful free, open-source game engine | * **[[https://aframe.io/|A-Frame]]** (2015-) |
| | * **[[https://forum.melonland.net/index.php?topic=5.0|MelonEngine]]** (2020) |
| | * **[[https://modelviewer.dev/|<model-viewer>]]** (2018-) |
| | |
| | ===== Game Engines ===== |
| | |
| | * **[[https://www.raylib.com|raylib]]** (2014-) Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, iOS, Web, Switch, N64, Dreamcast, PS1 |
| | * only for programmers - but is very indie and very powerful with support for retro exports |
| | * **[[https://godotengine.org/|Godot]]** (2014-) Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, Web |
| | * probably the most powerful free, open-source game engine |
| | * the worlds can't be exported, so they're stuck in the sok-worlds ecosystem |
| | * **[[https://aurysystem.github.io/bitsy-forks/bitsy-color-3d/|Bitsy Color 3D]]** (2021) Web |
| | * fork of the tiny adventure game engine [[https://bitsy.org|bitsy]] that adds more colors and a 3D scene editor |
| | * **[[https://eldiron.com/|Eldiron]]** (2024-) Windows, Linux, MacOS |
| | * 2D & 3D retro RPG engine |
| | * **[[https://wareware.rip/|wareware]]** (2025-) Web |
| | * block-based adventure maker |
| |
| ==== Level Editors ==== | ==== Level Editors ==== |
| * [[https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Valve_Hammer_Editor|Valve Hammer Editor (Source Engine)]] | * [[https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Valve_Hammer_Editor|Valve Hammer Editor (Source Engine)]] |
| |
| | ====== Costs Money :$ ====== |
| | |
| | ===== Modeling Tools ===== |
| | |
| | * **[[https://crocotile3d.com/|Crocotile 3D]]** (2015) Windows, Mac [30 USD] |
| | * 3d modeling software based on using tilemaps. Useful for creating PSX-like 3d environments. |
| | * **[[https://kenney.itch.io/assetforge|Asset Forge]]** (2017-) Windows, Linux, MacOS [20 USD] |
| | * newer, and it's a bit like kit bashing, but in 3D |
| | |
| | ===== Game Engines ===== |
| | |
| | * **[[https://sokpop.itch.io/sok-worlds|sok-worlds]]** (2020) Windows, MacOS [3 USD] |
| | * make and explore 3d collage worlds |
| |
