HA4 Task 5 - 3D Development Software

3D Development software

3D Studio Max
Studio Max is 3D computer graphics software which is and are used for making 3D animations, models, and images. The software was developed and produced by Auto-desk Media and Entertainment the soft-ware has modelling capabilities and a flexible plugin architecture and it can also be used on the Microsoft Windows platform this makes it very useful and it is frequently used by video game developers, TV commercial studios and architectural visualization studios. It is also used for movie effects and movie pre-visualization. This soft-ware is extremely useful and it can be used for most things so that is why it is widely used by most big companies.

Also whilst talking about its modelling and animation tools the latest version of 3ds Max also features and has shader's this brings realism and dynamic simulation, particle systems, radiosity, normal map creation and rendering, global illumination, a customizable user interface, and its own scripting language so it is basically kitted out and it is able to perform better than it ever has.

Maya
Auto-desk Maya also known as Maya is 3D computer graphics software that runs on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and Linux, It was originally developed by Alias Systems Corporation and currently owned and developed by Auto-desk Inc It is used to create interactive 3D applications,Which can including video games, animated film, TV series, or visual effects. This particular product is named after the Sanskrit word Maya, the Hindu concept of illusion.

Maya 1.0 was released in February 1998 It was following a series of acquisitions so Maya was bought by Auto-desk in 2005 it was Under the name of the new parent company Maya was renamed Auto-desk Maya Even though the name "Maya" continues to be the dominant name used for the product and it more than likely will stay named this till other companies decides to buy it.



Light-wave

 Light-wave is software package usually used for rendering 3D images and both animated and static. It includes a rendering engine that supports such advanced features as realistic reflection and refraction, radiosity, and caustics. The 3D modelling component supports both polygon modelling and subdivision surfaces.After this the animation component has features such as reverse and forward kinematics for character animation, particle systems and dynamics.Then programmers can expand Light-Wave's capabilities using an included SDK which offers LScript scripting and common C language interfaces.

Blender

Blender is a really good and free open-source 3D computer graphics software product it is used for creating animated films, visual effects, interactive 3D applications or video games.The Blender's features include 3D modelling, UV unwrapping, texturing, rigging and skinning, fluid and smoke simulation, particle simulation, animating, match moving, camera tracking, rendering, video editing and compositing. It also features a built-in game engine it clearly has lots of features so that why it is a good piece of software to use considering it is free anyway.

Cinema 4D

CINEMA 4D is a 3D modelling animation and  it is also a rendering application developed by MAXON Computer GmbH of Friedrichsdorf from Germany. It is able to create procedural and polygonal/subd modelling, animating, lighting, texturing, rendering, and common features usually found in 3d modelling applications from lots of other usable software's.

Their are Four variants currently available from MAXON these are a core CINEMA 4D 'Prime' application, a 'Broadcast' version with additional motion-graphics features, 'Visualize' which adds functions for architectural design and 'Studio', which includes all modules. CINEMA 4D runs on Windows and Macintosh PC's this makes it popular if you have these PC because the software it really good and easily used on the PC.

Z Brush

Z Brush is a digital sculpting tool that usually combines 3D/2.5D modelling, texturing and painting. It uses a proprietary "pixol" technology which stores lighting, colour, material, and depth information for all objects on the screen. The main difference between Z Brush and more traditional modelling packages is that it is more akin to sculpting.

Z Brush is mostly used as a digital sculpting tool to create high-resolution models for use in movies, games, and animations. It is used by companies ranging from ILM to Electronic Arts who create battlefield or the most recent battlefield 4 or Fifa 14 which are well known games. Z Brush uses dynamic levels of resolution to allow sculptors to make global or local changes to their models like the character. Z Brush is most known for being able to sculpt medium to high frequency details that were traditionally painted in bump maps. The resulting mesh details can then be exported as normal maps to be used on a low poly version of that same model.

Sketch-up

Sketch-up is known for being a 3D modelling program for a broad range of applications such as architectural, civil, mechanical, film as well as video game design and it is available for free as well as 'professional' versions so you can get hold of it pretty easily.

The program can highlights its ease of use and then an on line repository of model assemblies known as 3D Warehouse enables designers to locate, download, use and contribute free models. The program also includes a drawing layout functionality this allows surface rendering in variable "styles," accommodates third-party "plug-in" programs enabling other capabilities and enables placement of its models within Google Earth.

File Formats

Each of the 3D application allows the user to save their work and both objects and scenes when in a proprietary file format and export in open formats. A proprietary format is a file format where the mode of presentation of its data is the intellectual property of an individual or organisation which asserts ownership over the format. In contrast, a free format is a format that is either not recognised as intellectual property, or has had all claimants to its intellectual property release claims of ownership. Proprietary formats can be either open if they are published, or closed, if they are considered trade secrets. In contrast, a free format is never closed.

Most Proprietary formats are typically controlled by a private person or organization for the benefit of its applications, protected with patents or as trade secrets, and intended to give the license holder exclusive control of the technology to the exclusion of others.