Freeware 3d Modelling / Animation Software
Reviews and ratings of the best freeware 3d modelling software
Google SketchUp
• http://sketchup.google.com
Program Type: 3D Graphics
Now here is an interesting idea. Use Google SketchUp to create 3D images and you can upload them to the Google Earth 3D warehouse! You don't have to - you can use the program to make your own models and keep them all to yourself if you like. There is a lot of tutorial help for this program and it is fairly simple to use so you can get going immediately. When we tested it we found the program a little unwieldy to use but that was probably down to unfamiliarity and inexperience. Clearly some people have mastered the program pretty well - you can see that from the model shown above of the Luxor Temple by the Eqyptian Tourist Authority. Indeed there seems to be a large community of SketchUp - ers out there! If you want to join in the fun, download the free (fully funtioning) version of SetchUp or you can pay for the pro version (free 8 hour trial but quite expensive to buy).
Platforms: Mac OS X and Windows.
Albatross 3D
• www.ppmodeler.com
Program Type: Freeware 3D Modelling Software
AKA ppModeler, 100% free. This is a fairly sophisticated 3D modelling program but, as a novice, I didn't get too far because of the 
dearth of good quality tutorials - there are some on the website (click forum for a list) but you probably need to have some experience with 3D modelling programs (or an awful lot of time) to make too much sense of these or, indeed, the help screens. If anyone knows of a good tutorial, please let us know! ppModeler has the following features:
* SDS modeling, with sharp edges
* Symmetrical meshes
* Blob modeleing, with ellipse, 3D splines, 3D meshes.
* 2D/3D curves: mixe of straight lines and splines, Read TTF font, Boolean operations.
* Toolboxes on meshes, faces, edges and vertices, texture projection.
* Use the mouse and/or the keyboard (numerical values)
Platforms: Windows, BeOS, Linux
OpenFX 
• www.openfx.org
Program Type: 3D Modelling and Animation
Open-Source 3D modeling, animation and rendering suite created by Dr. Stuart Ferguson. Features include a full renderer, morphing, animation and it has plug in capabilities. Large 43MB download. You can find some first class tutorials here: http://www.ee.qub.ac.uk/graphics/openfx/ plus you can download a basic version of the OpenFX manual. You can also find help with this program on the Openfx forums plus examples of users work.
Platforms: Windows
Povray
• www.povray.org
Program Type: Raytracing
Not for the faint hearted! This is a very powerfull 3D modeller and renderer but with this program there is no possibility of creating/inserting 3D objects and moving them around, which is what you get with many 
other packages. All the modelling is done by code (you work on what are called .pov files) but the quality of the ensuing graphics is superb. The image on the left (a demo that comes with the program) gives an idea of the quality that can be achieved. Beginners will almost certainly want assistance and although there are help screens that come with the program, the best thing to do first, after downloading and installing the program, is to head off Mike's Povray Page where, in addition to his own set of tutorials, you can also find links to the best beginner Povray tutorials on the web and links to Povray tools such as the tree generator POV-Tree. You can also peruse the image galleries there to get inspiration. There is also a pretty impressive insert menu add on to the standard program that you can get from Friedrich Lohhmuller (this link is also on Mike's website). There are several files to download but it is definitely worth it.
Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux.
Blender
www.blender3d.org
Program Type: Freeware 3D Modelling & Animation
Sophisticated 3D modeling and animation program. This is a fairly complicated program to use, especially if you are new to 3D modeling, but there are video tutorials available for download as well as tutorials on the website.
Available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License.
Now 3D
• http://digilander.libero.it/giulios/Eng/
Program Type: 3D Animation and Modelling
Like Serif 3D below this is probably the kind of program a beginner might like to use to ease themselves into 3D modelling before embarking on more sophisticated programs like Albatross and OpenFX. Several built in shapes and you can add your own materials and backgrounds. Download the N3D Plugin pack (on the downloads page) and this will allow you to import objects. The tutorials available on site are very good and guide you through the capabilites of the program - there are no help screens but there is a manual you can download.
Platform: Windows
DesignWorkshop Lite
• www.artifice.com/free/dw_lite.html
Program Type: Architectural 3D Modelling and Rendering
This is a free lite version which means you can upgrade to the more powerful versions of this software (not expensive) if you decide you like this and want more functionality. To get the free download just fill in the registration form and then download both Design Workshop and the tutorials file before you begin the installation.
Platforms: Windows and Mac
Serif 3D Plus
• http://www.freeserifsoftware.com
Program Type: 3D Animation and Modelling
Fairly basic program but has several built in shapes that you can use. You can add your own materials and backgrounds plus there are the usual tools for lighting and moving etc. It has 3D instant scenes and 3D text effects.
Tutorials available on site.
Anim8or
• www.anim8or.com
Program Type: Animation & 3D Modelling
Freeware character animation and 3D modeling software which is fairly easy to get the hang of. The software is written by Steven Glanville simply because he loves 3D graphics! Good for him! The download is a small zip file which you need to extract to the folder you want to keep the program in and you will also need to put your own shortcut on the start menu. On the website you will find galleries, movies, tutorials plus active forums and a chat room.
Platforms: Windows
Microsoft GIF Animator 
• Download
Great little program for creating animated GIFs.
Platform: Windows
Tales Animator
• www.dollysoft.com
(If this link does not work you can get it from here:
http://www.brothersoft.com/downloads/tales-animator.html)
Program Type: Animation Software for Children
Basic set of characters is provided plus you can create custom characters. Cartoons can be exported as AVI files, DVDs, GIFs or Comics.
Platforms: Windows
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