good 3d software thats free
- Thread starter Dan_Hat
- Start date
Retro00064
New member
I would suggest either gmax or Blender. Both are free. Gmax is a stripped-down version of presumable older versions of 3ds Max. Blender is an open-source package. Gmax had been officially unsupported for a while now, but I still use it, and you can replace the old Trainz Asset Creation Studio exporter DLLs with those from the Max4 exporter to allow you to make Trainz models with normal mapping and specular effects in gmax. Blender has built-in support for normal mapping. If you have used 3ds Max before, then gmax might be easier to learn, for it really is, again, just a stripped-down version of 3ds Max. 
Regards.
Regards.
Blender is the up & coming big guy in the world of 3D modeling. It's very powerful, free, & constantly being updated (you'll only see the updates when you patch). www.blender.org
GMAX is the other fav by Trainz people, as it's the original free one. However it hasn't been updated in years (there are some 3rd party addons that update it a bit). There is no 'proper' support for it, etc.
If your trying to get into the modeling def go with blender. However I've been told once you learn on they are different enough that it is very hard to switch to the other.
oeter
GMAX is the other fav by Trainz people, as it's the original free one. However it hasn't been updated in years (there are some 3rd party addons that update it a bit). There is no 'proper' support for it, etc.
If your trying to get into the modeling def go with blender. However I've been told once you learn on they are different enough that it is very hard to switch to the other.
oeter
I learned how to use Blender after I went through the tutorials for 3d Canvas/Crafter, there is a free version. The tutorials are right there on screen.
Having grasped the concept of 3d design software, I just fiddled around Blender looking for similar commands.
Blender tutorials are impossible to follow due to the dependence on keyboard commands. All the stuff is in the on screen menus.
Blender has better UV mapping than 3d Crafter and other advanced options. The only thing I got from tutorials was the materials part.
I am using 2.49. Just go in and poke around.
Just a thought
Harold
Having grasped the concept of 3d design software, I just fiddled around Blender looking for similar commands.
Blender tutorials are impossible to follow due to the dependence on keyboard commands. All the stuff is in the on screen menus.
Blender has better UV mapping than 3d Crafter and other advanced options. The only thing I got from tutorials was the materials part.
I am using 2.49. Just go in and poke around.
Just a thought
Harold
I don't understand this remark.
And thoroughly disagree.
You have the choice of keyboard commands or on screen menus. Once you get to know the keyboard commands they allow you to work efficiently. What is difficult, is using a tutorial written for 2.4x in 2.5x, because of the new (and much improved but very different) interface.
Just my 2 cents.
Mick Berg.
PS note excessive use of smilies to preserve positive attitude........
johnwhelan
Well-known member
Blender is the most capable of the free 3D software used for creating things for Trainz. Unfortunately there has been an interface change from 2.49b to 2.57 so the older tutorials don't quite match up.
I'm not certain whether to suggest getting hold of Blender 2.49b and doing the tutorials would be better than trying to work out how to use 2.57. The learning curve on this stuff is quite steep so I'd be inclined to at least have the version that the tutorials work in.
email me jwhelan0112 gmail.com and I'll flip you 2.49b if you decide to follow that route.
Cheerio John
I'm not certain whether to suggest getting hold of Blender 2.49b and doing the tutorials would be better than trying to work out how to use 2.57. The learning curve on this stuff is quite steep so I'd be inclined to at least have the version that the tutorials work in.
email me jwhelan0112 gmail.com and I'll flip you 2.49b if you decide to follow that route.
Cheerio John
The solution is of course to update the tutorials. I'd be willing to have a go at this, but of course the author's permission would be needed. Paul Hobbs' Y7 would be a good candidate, but I'm not proficient enough to deal with his texturing section. Which, by the way has never been completed, I think?
Mick Berg.
Mick Berg.
Fella's
I've been using 2.57 for about a month now and have no problems.
Just found out tonight, from Mick (thanks Mick) on how to bevel individual edges. And that was all I could find bad.
I have found tons of tutorials on 2.57, not to mention the ones on the site.
They do limit the amount of training when it comes to UV Mapping, but I found plenty of that on Youtube.
I've now used Blender 2.49 and 2.57, Gmax, 3DMax and Truespace including there tutorials and still feel that Blender is going to be stepping up in the world real soon.
Once you get used to using your left hand on the keys and right one on the mouse, you can fly with it with it!
I've been using 2.57 for about a month now and have no problems.
Just found out tonight, from Mick (thanks Mick) on how to bevel individual edges. And that was all I could find bad.
I have found tons of tutorials on 2.57, not to mention the ones on the site.
They do limit the amount of training when it comes to UV Mapping, but I found plenty of that on Youtube.
I've now used Blender 2.49 and 2.57, Gmax, 3DMax and Truespace including there tutorials and still feel that Blender is going to be stepping up in the world real soon.
Once you get used to using your left hand on the keys and right one on the mouse, you can fly with it with it!
You can import Paul Hobbs' Y7 as a ready made model. His tutorial is in 2.49 but there's no reason why you couldn't import it into 2.57.
Mick Berg.