http://3d.about.com/ Get the latest headlines from the About.com http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hh http://www.about.com/ 118 20 en-us 2013-05-16T04:28:09Z Thu, 16 May 2013 04:28:09 +0000 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://3d.about.com/b/2013/05/17/free-3d-software-our-recommendations-and-top-picks.htm <p>Looking to get started in 3D, but don't want to pay an exorbitant amount of cash for software?</p> <p>While the top commercial applications will set you back hundreds or thousands of dollars, there are actually a ton of options out there that make it easy to jump into 3d modeling, animation, and game development without any monetary overhead.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://3d.about.com/b/2013/05/17/free-3d-software-our-recommendations-and-top-picks.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://3d.about.com/b/2013/05/17/free-3d-software-our-recommendations-and-top-picks.htm Fri, 17 May 2013 20:33:00 +0000 2013-05-17T20:33:00Z http://3d.about.com/b/2013/05/16/new-cgtrader-competition-win-a-3d-printer.htm <p><a href="http://www.cgtrader.com/"><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/3d/1/H/v/0/-/-/gI_66726_CGTraderV2_320x310.png" alt="CGTrader" width="150" height="145" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.cgtrader.com/">CGTrader</a> has just launched a new competition to see which of their users can produce the best 3D print-ready models between now and June 30th.</p> <p>Two <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.ultimaker.com/">Ultimaker</a> 3d printer kits are up for grabs, one for the best single model, and one for the best print-ready collection uploaded during the contest duration.&#160; Additionally, winners and runner-ups can snag gift certificates to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.sculpteo.com/en/">Sculpteo</a> and win a chance to have their work featured at the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.imakr.com/store">iMakr</a> shop in London.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://3d.about.com/b/2013/05/16/new-cgtrader-competition-win-a-3d-printer.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://3d.about.com/b/2013/05/16/new-cgtrader-competition-win-a-3d-printer.htm Thu, 16 May 2013 04:28:09 +0000 2013-05-16T04:28:09Z http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/30/pitfalls-of-cg-students-futurepoly-lecture.htm <p>Not too long ago, the guys from <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.futurepoly.com/">Futurepoly</a> (a game-art school in Bellevue) posted an excellent lecture on YouTube that discussed what it takes to go pro as a game artist.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/30/pitfalls-of-cg-students-futurepoly-lecture.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/30/pitfalls-of-cg-students-futurepoly-lecture.htm Tue, 30 Apr 2013 23:17:21 +0000 2013-04-30T23:17:21Z http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/30/knald-open-beta-first-impressions.htm <p>As promised, here's our review of Knald, the latest normal/ambient occlusion map extractor to hit the market.</p> <p>The software is currently in open beta and can be downloaded <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=https://www.knaldtech.com/get-knald/">here</a> if you're interested in taking it out for a spin.&#160; At its core, Knald is almost like a GPU accelerated (and improved) version of Crazybump.&#160; It's really pretty impressive!</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/30/knald-open-beta-first-impressions.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/30/knald-open-beta-first-impressions.htm Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:30:18 +0000 2013-04-30T22:30:18Z http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/30/software-review-substance-designer-3-5.htm <p>To round out the month we have a couple software reviews to share with you all.</p> <p>I've been testing Substance Designer 3.5, which is a procedural texture creation suite from Allegorithmic, and I have to say I'm pretty impressed. I've also been using Knald, which is a texture map extraction tool that just went into open beta a few weeks ago.&#160;&#160; We'll have the Knald review up later, but for now check out what we've got to say about Substance:</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/30/software-review-substance-designer-3-5.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/30/software-review-substance-designer-3-5.htm Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:32:01 +0000 2013-04-30T16:32:01Z http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/28/3d-recap-april-2013.htm <p>Hey guys--we've got our monthly recap up a few days early this time around.</p> <p>Tons of great sculpting this month, and some absolutely amazing game-art from the Trion Worlds/Syfy collaborative RPG <em>Defiance. </em>Plus we finally got to see the Elysium trailer!</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/28/3d-recap-april-2013.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/28/3d-recap-april-2013.htm Sun, 28 Apr 2013 18:47:31 +0000 2013-04-28T18:47:31Z http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/28/list-of-texturing-uv-mapping-software-apps-and-plugins.htm <p>Last month we published a list highlighting the extensive number of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://3d.about.com/od/A-Guide-To-3D-Software/tp/A-List-Of-Popular-Stand-alone-Rendering-Solutions.htm">stand-alone rendering solutions</a> available, for artists looking to expand their horizons and try new rendering workflows.</p> <p>We figured since there's been such an influx of new texturing software recently, this would be a good time to follow suit and publish a similar list for texturing apps.&#160; I've had a chance to try the vast majority of the software listed below, and some of them have completely changed the way I work.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/28/list-of-texturing-uv-mapping-software-apps-and-plugins.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/28/list-of-texturing-uv-mapping-software-apps-and-plugins.htm Sun, 28 Apr 2013 03:25:41 +0000 2013-04-28T03:25:41Z http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/26/interview-with-cgtrader.htm <p>3D model marketplace <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://cgtrader.com">CGTrader</a> recently launched a site redesign and were kind enough to take some time out and answer a few questions for us!</p> <p>Make the jump to read a little bit more about the site's exciting new features, their plans for the future, and some tips on selling your 3D models online:</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/26/interview-with-cgtrader.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/26/interview-with-cgtrader.htm Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:59:03 +0000 2013-04-26T15:59:03Z http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/25/20-insanely-cool-studio-showreels.htm <p>I was watching the new studio reel from The Foundry a few days ago, and it hit me that this would be a great time for a good old fashioned demo reel roundup.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/25/20-insanely-cool-studio-showreels.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/25/20-insanely-cool-studio-showreels.htm Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:40:11 +0000 2013-04-25T16:40:11Z http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/19/the-10-principles-of-3d-printing.htm <p>Hi all!</p> <p>Over the past couple days, I've been reading <em>Fabricated: The New World of 3D Printing, </em>a book by Hod Lipson and Melba Kurman that covers the past, present, and future of additive manufacturing.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/19/the-10-principles-of-3d-printing.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://3d.about.com/b/2013/04/19/the-10-principles-of-3d-printing.htm Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:21:46 +0000 2013-04-19T16:21:46Z