Browsing Tag
modeling
399 posts
Zen UV 5.0: Unwrapping the Future of UV Mapping in Blender
Zen Masters unveils Zen UV 5.0, introducing the Zen UV Touch Tool, Auto Unwrap operator, and new selection features for enhanced UV mapping in Blender.
MPFB 2: Blender’s New Character Generation Sidekick
MPFB 2 integrates seamlessly with Blender, enabling artists to create custom 3D characters with ease.
Plasticity 25.1: Slicing Through Models and Streamlining Workflows
Plasticity 25.1 introduces new commands and a revamped UI to enhance surface modeling workflows.
Architectural visualisation in a war zone
Let's do a 3D reconstruction of the Museum of Western and Eastern Art with Rhino and Blender in Odessa (Ukraine)!
Mufasa heads to MPC
The Prequel of a remake of a animated movie, based on a Shakespeare play... and still worth watching! We got a Chance to talk to Audrey Ferrara, MPCs VFX Supervisor for Mufasa
Delta Quad: The Add-On That Tames N-Gons in Blender
Delta Quad, a Blender add-on, turns N-gons into clean quads with ease, optimizing 3D modeling workflows for professionals.
iClone 8.52: A Major Leap for Animation Editing
iClone 8.52 delivers a highly anticipated update for professional animation editing, packed with groundbreaking features driven by user feedback. Despite its numerical step from 8.51, this release introduces transformative tools to elevate animation workflows.
3DCoat 2024.30: New Year, New Tools for Your 3D Arsenal
Pilgway's 3DCoat 2024.30 introduces RealityCapture integration, enhanced boolean operations for 3D printing, and new array tools for streamlined workflows.
ShapeLab 2025: Sculpting in VR, Now Sharper Than Ever
ShapeLab 2025 brings VR sculpting tools for VFX artists, game developers, and 3D creators – now available for download.
AI Meets 3D: Meshtron Spins Up Smarter Meshes
Meshtron uses AI to generate 3D meshes with speed and flexibility. A promising tool for VFX, games, and real-time workflows—simplicity remains key.
From Sketch to Scene: Clay Pencil Turns 2D into 3D in Real Time
Clay Pencil transforms 2D sketches into 3D animations in real-time, leveraging Blender’s node-based Geometry Nodes system.
Autodesk Opens USD for 3ds Max
Autodesk has released the USD plugin for 3ds Max as open-source on Github,
Free 3D Looping Animated Tree Asset
"VFXAssets" on Gumroad offers a free procedural 3D looping animated tree for VFX, game design, and CGI workflows—ideal for environment animation projects - a larger library is also available!
Procedural Scene Generation in Blender: AAA Nodes Add-On
AAA Nodes offers a powerful procedural modeling toolkit for Blender, simplifying the creation of detailed 3D scenes and assets with a node-based approach.
Maxon One Winter Update Brings New Tools
Maxon’s winter release offers powerful updates across Cinema 4D, ZBrush, Red Giant, and Redshift, enhancing workflows for all the little VFX artists and designers who have been nice.
Crocotile 3D 2.4.5: Tile-Based 3D Modeling Tool Gets New Features
The Crocotile 3D 2.4.5 update adds key enhancements to streamline tile-based 3D modeling, with new editing tools, features, and improved workflows.
Through the Woodlands
Creatures made of tree branches and roots seem to have a firm place in the history ofVFX. Just…
World Creator 2024.3: Enhanced Terrain Generation for Game Dev and VFX
The latest update to World Creator introduces faster terrain generation, streamlined workflows, and deeper integration with engines like Unreal and Unity.
Nevercenter Updates Silo and Milo for 2025: Refining 3D Modeling and Rendering
Nevercenter launches Silo 2025 and Milo 2025, enhancing quick and lightweight 3D modeling and real-time rendering tools.
Blender 4.3: Updates for Animation, VFX, and Rendering
Blender 4.3 introduces light linking, a Metallic BSDF node, F82 Tint, enhanced compositing features, and updates for geometry nodes and simulations.
Foundry Offers 10-Year Free License for Modo: A Farewell Gift for Loyal Users
Foundry grants 10-year Modo licenses for users as part of its end-of-life transition plan.
Blender Conference 2024: Mastering Topology and Retopology
Blender Conference 2024 covered practical topology techniques for 3D workflows, with a free PDF guide on efficient modeling for diverse applications.
Foundry Announces Modo’s Retirement: A Final Version Before End-of-Life
Foundry announces the end of Modo development, shifting focus to core products; support for Modo 17.1 will continue until contracts expire.
Sketchsoft Releases Feather 1.0: Streamlined 3D Drawing
Sketchsoft’s Feather 1.0 introduces a real-time 3D drawing and modeling tool focused on efficient asset creation.
MIO3 UV for Blender: Advanced UV Unwrapping and Mesh Transformation Tools
MIO3 UV Blender add-on offers efficient UV-to-mesh transformation, with
Blender Pack Saves Your Back: 2,000+ Interior Assets for 3D Artists
Skip the furniture store—this 2,000-item Blender pack brings diverse, ready-to-use interior assets straight to your VFX pipeline.
Substance 3D Modeler released! v1.15: New VR Feature
Adobe’s Substance 3D Modeler v1.15 brings VR sculpting enhancements and improved stability for 3D artists.
Blender 4.3 Beta Released
Blender 4.3 Beta is live, introducing the third-gen Grease Pencil, Eevee Light Linking, and Asset Browser updates. Available for testing until November 6.
Free Blender Addon Converts Images to 3D Models
A new Blender addon converts 2D images to 3D objects. It's free, easy to use, and available for immediate download on BlenderMarket.
Silo 2024.3: New Modifiers Enhance Non-Destructive 3D Modeling Workflows
Silo 2024.3 introduces new modifiers for non-destructive 3D workflows, including Boolean, Chain Replicate, and Path Extrusion. Updates also include community-driven improvements.
Modeler 2025 Released for Houdini
Modeler 2025 brings a complete rewrite of the Houdini modeling toolkit, introducing new retopology features and enhanced usability for artists.
Plasticity 3D – CAD for Artists
"The best solid and surface modelling" - the website of the developer, Nick Kallen
(plasticity.xyz), this new modelling tool, currently in version 1.2.10, is advertised as "CAD for artists". It is said to be an optimised NURBS modeller based on the PARASOLID geometry kernel. The UI and workflow are based on Blender's polygon modeller. The developer claims to simplify modelling for concept artists and product developers in particular, but also for CAD users, and to enable faster results than with conventional CAD tools.
All the teeth!
Sometimes there are fantastical productions, where you get a
monster that feels fresh and new – and once we had seen Season 2 of “Carnival Row” (Release on Amazon Prime), we needed to talk about
the toothy skinned bat: Sparas!
Elementary!
You’ve surely seen the posters: There’s a new Pixar movie, this time asking “What if the Aristotelian elements have feelings?” The story plays out in Element City, where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together.
Off to Blender School! In Mannheim from 28.7 to 30.7!
Have you always wanted to learn Blender but haven't made the leap yet? Then we've got something for you: The Blender 3D School in Mannheim is coming in two months!
Photos of skyscrapers: An asset with Blender Geometry Nodes
Blender 3.5 comes with assets as standard for the first time. To keep the download size small, these are Geometry Nodes setups. Reason enough to create such an asset yourself and add it to your
and add it to your private tool collection.
Direct Modeling (R)evolution für Houdini
For most people, the idea of modelling directly in Houdini causes them to break out in a sweat at the very least, and some are even said to have thrown the mouse out of the window in sheer horror. The reasons for this are understandable at first glance.
Autodesk releases Maya 2024
Autodesk has released Maya 2024. The updates include enhancements to the Retopology toolset, a new USD-based material autthoring and new brush-based workflows for sculpting animation curves. Also new: native Apple Silicon support, the Bifrost multiphysics plugin and the MtoA plugin for the Arnold renderer, which run on M1 and M2 processors.
Here comes Modo 16.1!
Give your 3D model a new coat of paint - without having to paint! Modo 16.1 offers more decal options than you'll ever need!
Real-time rendering and modelling tool in a double pack!
With Silo 2023 and Milo 2023, software provider Nevercenter is releasing the latest versions of its rendering and modelling tools. Cost: 160 US dollars.
XPresso in Cinema 4D
XPresso in Cinema 4D is a node-based programming and an important way to build or programme small circuits,
to build or program small circuits that can help you simplify complex processes without writing a line of code. Today we will look at a few small examples and create a small setup to build a road configurator.
Womp: Simple 3D for everyone?
"No downloads or grey apps with 1,000 buttons. Just your browser and your creativity". The website www.womp.com presents itself colourfully and confidently and promises to make 3D modelling easy for everyone. Womp, an online 3D application, is currently still in the alpha phase and is still free to try out. The Womp team promises that Womp Alpha will remain 100% free. A "Pro version" with a wider range of functions is planned for later - the current version has only been released for about a month. A price does not yet seem to have been set.
Pilgway releases 3DCoat 2022.35!
Software update with bite force? The latest version of the 3D modelling tool is packed with sharp features - including: Improved hotkey mechanics, API with support for coloured voxels and other feature delights.
3DCoat 2022.28 Updates UE5 and Blender
3DCoat 2022.28 improves Unreal Engine 5 compatibility, Blender PBR export and colour selection, with an FBX PBR limitation.
Unreal Engine 5 Modelling Mode Explained
Epic Games details Unreal Engine 5's modelling mode, covering selection, polygroups, mesh creation, UVs, sculpting, attributes and volumes.
Marvelous Designer 11 released
Just released: the latest version of the 3D garment creation and simulation software with improved retopology and more.
Loveletter
Who doesn't know it: the portable games console that saw the light of day at the end of the 1980s and gave us endless hours of fun and games for many years. We are, of course, talking about the Gameboy. A time when the potential of computer-generated graphics was in its infancy. But what if a creative team back then had had access to today's production pipelines and technologies?
Clayxels Tutorial: Volumetric Sculpting in Unity
Game developer Alex Strook demonstrates a Clayxels workflow for volumetric modelling in Unity, from reference and colour to lighting and post-processing.
Silo 2021.3 Adds Array Replicate and Randomisation
Nevercenter's Silo 2021.3 introduced Array Replicate plus random controls for position, rotation, scale and blend shapes.
3ds Max Tutorial: Combining Subdivision and Boolean Modelling
Arrimus 3D demonstrates a practical workflow for combining subdivision surfaces with Boolean modelling in 3ds Max.
Cinema 4D Quick Tip: Close All Polygon Holes at Once
Jonas Pilz demonstrates how to repurpose Cinema 4D’s Voronoi Fracture object to close every polygon hole in a mesh at once.
ZBrush 2019’s NPR Filters for Non-Photorealistic Rendering
A detailed review of ZBrush 2019’s BPR-based NPR filters, presets, effect layers, masks and render-pass workflow for illustrative 3D imagery.
3ds Max Tutorial: Modelling Welded Metal Pipes
Arrimus 3D demonstrates a ten-minute 3ds Max workflow for modelling the welded joint between metal pipes.
Free Post-USSR Builder Creates Modular Apartment Blocks in Blender
Alexey Yakovlev’s free Post-USSR Builder generated configurable apartment buildings in Blender 2.93 and later.
PhotoCatch Converts Photographs into USDZ Models with Apple Object Capture
Ethan Saadia’s free PhotoCatch app used Apple’s Object Capture API to build USDZ 3D models from sets of photographs.
Image Vectorizer Traces Raster Artwork into 3ds Max Splines
Guillermo M. Leal Llaguno’s Image Vectorizer plugin converted raster-image outlines or centre lines into editable 3ds Max splines.
Six Blender Tutorial Channels for Continuous Learning
A 2021 tutorial selection highlights Blender educators covering fundamentals, game art, futuristic design, industrial modelling, VFX and rendering.
Fluent Add-on Brings Non-Destructive Hard-Surface Modelling to Blender
The Fluent add-on provided editable, non-destructive hard-surface and Boolean modelling tools for Blender.
Voxel Plugin 1.2 Adds Landscape Materials and Splines to Unreal Engine
Voxel Plugin 1.2 for Unreal Engine added landscape materials, spline support and a no-clipping component for characters moving through voxel terrain.
Tutorial: Building a Photorealistic Game Prop from Reference to Render
Mohamed El Bouhy explains a complete next-generation prop workflow through the creation of a photorealistic wooden chest.
Maya 2022.1 Adds Guided Onboarding and Interactive Tutorials
Autodesk Maya 2022.1 introduced a welcome screen, search, interactive tutorials and quick tours to help new and experienced users.
Epic Games Explains Nanite’s Impact on UE5 Asset Pipelines
Epic Games technical artist Arran Langmead explains Nanite virtualised micropolygon geometry, its pipeline impact and early limitations.
Tutorial: Rendering, Lighting and Shading in Marmoset Toolbag 4
3D Scan Store demonstrates head rendering in Marmoset Toolbag 4, covering ZBrush export, lighting, shaders, maps, eyes and textures.
Modo 15.1 Refines Modelling, Rendering and USD Workflows
Foundry’s Modo 15.1 added OmniHaul, Static Analysis, Curve Booleans, expanded MeshOps, mPath dispersion and USD improvements.
Epic Games Acquires Sketchfab and Reduces Marketplace Fees
Epic Games acquired Sketchfab, promising continued independent operation, closer Unreal Engine collaboration and lower seller fees.
3DCoat 2021 Adds Retopology, New Sculpt Tools and Free Learning Mode
3DCoat 2021 introduced a revised brush engine, retopology, curves, sculpt layers, Kitbash Room and an unlimited free learning mode.
3ds Max 2022 Update 1 | Feature Preview
Autodesk provides a sneak peek: Users can look forward to these announced functions.
Sculptron 1.1 Adds Alembic Support and Improved Viewport Selection
Otoy released Sculptron 1.1 with Alembic import and export, image-based alpha support, improved viewport selection and adjustable interface opacity.
UV Kit 2.0 Automates UV Workflows in Maya
Rocket Square’s UV Kit 2.0 introduced a redesigned interface, automated UV unfolding and layout, and support for Maya 2022.
3DCoat 2021 Tutorial Series Explores New Modelling Tools
A four-part video tutorial series demonstrates 3DCoat 2021’s new modelling tools by building a rhinoceros model step by step.
3ds Max 2022 Tutorial Demonstrates Smart Extrude
An eight-minute ArchViz Artist tutorial shows how to use Smart Extrude in 3ds Max 2022 to speed up architectural modelling work.
Maya Bonus Tools Add SpeedCut and Extrude Instance Mesh
Autodesk updated the free Maya Bonus Tools collection with SpeedCut, Extrude Instance Mesh and additions for modelling, UV editing and character rigging.
ZBrushCoreMini 2021 Adds VDM Brushes and Real-Time Ambient Occlusion
Pixologic’s free ZBrushCoreMini 2021 update added Vector Displacement Mesh support, four Chisel brushes, real-time ambient occlusion and turntable animation.
European League of Football Launches Trophy Design Contest
The European League of Football invited designers to create the first ELF Bowl trophy, offering €5,000 in prize money with a 25 May 2021 deadline.
Hum3D Without Borders Contest Invites Artists to Build 3D Landmarks
Hum3D’s Without Borders competition challenged artists to create a 3D world around a prominent building and explain its history and appeal.
Nicole Ruggiero Builds and Animates Characters in Cinema 4D
Visual artist Nicole Ruggiero demonstrates character creation, posing, animation, compositing and finishing in Cinema 4D.
David Brodeur Creates an Infinite Zoom in Cinema 4D
David “Brilly” Brodeur demonstrates how to build an endlessly zooming Cinema 4D camera animation that moves through layered surreal worlds.
Zen UV 2.0 Streamlines UV Workflows in Blender
Sergey Tyapkin’s Zen UV toolkit for Blender accelerates UV creation and introduced further workflow improvements in version 2.0.
Path Deform Pro Improves Spline Deformation in 3ds Max
Marius Silaghi’s Path Deform Pro modifier bends models along paths while avoiding common self-intersections and stretching.
Akeytsu 2020.3.6 Refines Mirroring and Adds Unlit Rendering
Nukeygara’s Akeytsu 2020.3.6 improved rigging and animation mirroring and introduced an unlit display mode for clearer character silhouettes.
Direct modelling: modelling without obstacles
Review: In DP 01 : 2020, our author Rainer Duda took a closer look at the steep learning curve of VFX powerhouse Houdini - and revealed how the curve can be smoothed out.
3DCoat 2021 Beta Adds New Brush Engine and Smart Retopology
Pilgway’s 3DCoat 2021 beta introduced a redesigned interface, a new brush engine, low-poly and kitbash tools, Smart Retopology and expanded curves.
Małopolska Virtual Museums Publishes Over 1,000 Historical 3D Scans
A collaboration among 40 Polish museums made more than 1,000 scans of historical objects available online, with most offered under Creative Commons licences.
Hair Cards Tool Builds Real-Time Hair in 3ds Max
Mihail Lupu’s 3ds Max add-on creates and edits textured hair-card geometry for game characters and real-time projects.
Otoy Releases GPU Sculptor Sculptron 1.0
Sculptron 1.0 introduces a commercial GPU sculpting workflow with Outliner, Scene Graph, modifiers, transforms and HDRI viewport lighting.
Clothify Pro Adds Modifier-Based Cloth Tools
Clothify Pro brings non-destructive real-time cloth shaping and animation to 3ds Max through a stack-compatible modifier.
Adobe Publishes Substance Painter Starter Course
Adobe’s five-part Substance Painter course teaches foundational texturing through a compact three-legged robot project.
UModeler Lite Adds Free Unity Modelling Tools
Triplygon’s free UModeler Lite toolkit brings sketch-based level design, 3D modelling, VFX and concept-design tools into Unity.
Paletter Assigns Material Colours in Blender
Phygitalism’s Blender add-on Paletter assigns selected polygons to defined materials and colour palettes.
XRayMorph-EL Previews Pose Editing in 3ds Max
Raylight Games previews XRayMorph-EL, a 3ds Max pose editor for character animation, specialised animation and deformation.
Blender Brush Megapack Includes Over 550 Brushes
ZenShaders’ Blender megapack bundles more than 550 brushes for buttons, creatures, fur, hair, seams, stitches and stylised materials.
Blender 2.92 Feature Breakdown
Blender’s five-minute overview summarises the modelling, sculpting, geometry, rendering and workflow additions in version 2.92.
Modo 15 Reworks MeshFusion and Animation
Foundry’s Modo 15 overhauls MeshFusion booleans and the animation editor, with viewport depth of field, mPath interaction and Python 3.
Blender Book Generator Uses Parametric Layout
Stormteller3D demonstrates a Blender book generator inspired by Unreal Engine’s parametric approach to procedural assets.
Substance Designer Tutorial Builds Broken Concrete
Gustav Engman demonstrates a procedural damaged-concrete material in Substance Designer using a broken terracotta floor as the example.
ZBrush 2021.6 Adds Curve Sculpting Tools
ZBrush 2021.6 introduces Curve Alpha and Snake Curve brushes, a Mesh from Mask system and more control over curve shapes.
Maxon Acquires Mobile Sculpting App Forger
Maxon acquires Forger, Javier Edo Meseguer’s iOS application for mobile 3D sculpting and texture painting with Apple Pencil support.
PolySnow Plus Rebuilds 3ds Max Snow Tool in C++
PolySnow Plus moves the 3ds Max snow plug-in to C++ and adds brush-based tools for snow, icicles and frozen surface details.
MeInGame Generates 3D Faces from Portraits
MeInGame automates 3D face shape and texture generation from a single photographic portrait for use in game characters.
Morphle Adds Shape-Key Tools to Blender
Phygitalism’s free Morphle add-on creates objects containing shape keys derived from selected vertex positions.