Comparison of 3D computer graphics software

3D computer graphics software refers to programs used to create 3D computer-generated imagery.

General information

This is a chart about notable software on basic comparative elements that is based on the raw software without the inclusion of additional plugins.

Application Latest release date
and version
Developed by Platforms Mainly Used For License
3ds Max "2016" Autodesk Microsoft Windows Modeling, Animation (Video Games), Lighting, Rendering Proprietary
AC3D 2014-03-03
v 7.2.17
Inivis Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Modeling Proprietary
AOI 2013-09-23
v 3.0
Peter Eastman Java Virtual Machine supported platforms Animation, Lighting, Modelling, Rendering GNU GPLv2
Blender 2015-11-03
v 2.76b
Blender Foundation Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, BSD, Solaris, AmigaOS 4, MorphOS Animation, Lighting, Modeling, Rendering, Video Game Creation, Visual 3D Effects, Sculpting, Basic Post-Production Video Editing, Motion Tracking, Python Scripting, Fluid Simulation, Particles, Physics, Compositing GNU GPLv2+ / Apache 2.0 [1]
Bryce 2010-12-23
7.1.0.109
DAZ 3D Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X Animation, Landscape Modeling, Fractal Geometry Proprietary
Carrara 2010-04-21
8.0
DAZ 3D Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X Animation, Modeling Proprietary
Cheetah 3D 2013-12-30
v 6.3
Dr. Martin Wengenmayer Mac OS X Animation, Modeling Proprietary
Cinema 4D
R17
MAXON Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Amiga OS[2] Animation, Lighting, Modeling, Visual 3D Effects, Rendering, Simulation Proprietary
CityEngine
v 2013
Procedural Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux Procedural Modeling of 3D Cities Proprietary
Clara.io 2013-07-09
Exocortex Mozilla FireFox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer Modeling, Animation, Rendering Proprietary
Cobalt 2009-12-11
v8 SP2r3
Ashlar-Vellum Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Modeling, Computer Aided Design, Animation Proprietary
DesignSpark Mechanical 2015-11-18
v2.0.1
SpaceClaim, RS Components Microsoft Windows Modeling, Computer Aided Design, Rapid Prototyping, 3D Printing Freemium
Electric Image Animation System 2009-05
v8.0.
EIAS3D Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Animation, Lighting, Rendering, Film, Television, Visual 3D Effects Proprietary
form-Z / form-Z Renderzone Plus 2013-10-11
7.3
autodessys, Inc. Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Animation, Modeling, Lighting, Render, Fabrication, Set Design Proprietary
Hexagon 2008-05-20
2.5
DAZ 3D Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X Subdivision Modeling, UV Mapping Proprietary
Houdini 2015-01-15
v 14
Side Effects Software Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux Animation, Lighting, Modeling, Visual 3D Effects Proprietary
IClone 2014
v 6.0
Reallusion Microsoft Windows Animation, Film and Television Previz, Videogame Asset Creation, Lighting, Visual 3D Effects Proprietary
LightWave 3D 2014
v 11.6.2
NewTek Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Amiga OS[3] Modeling, Animation, Lighting, Rendering, Film and Television Previz, Videogame Asset Creation Proprietary
MASSIVE ?
v 3.5
Massive Software Microsoft Windows, Linux Artificial Intelligence in Models Proprietary
Maya 2014
"2015"
Autodesk Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux Modeling, Animation (Video), Lighting, Rendering, Visual 3D Effects Proprietary
Metasequoia 2011-05
2.4.13 (Metasequoia), R2.4a (MetasequoiaLE)
O. Mizno Microsoft Windows Modeling Proprietary
MODO 2014-04-24
v 901
The Foundry Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux Modeling, Animation, Rendering Proprietary
Mudbox
v 2015
Autodesk Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux Lighting, Sculpting (the deformation of the model) Proprietary
POV-Ray 2013-11-06
v 3.7
The POV-Team Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux, AmigaOS Lighting, Visual 3D effects GNU AGPLv3
Pro/Engineer Template:September 2009
2009 Wildfire 5.0
Parametric Technology Corporation Microsoft Windows, HP-UX, Unix Modeling Proprietary
Remo 3D v 2.5.1 Remograph Microsoft Windows, Linux Modeling, Virtual Reality, Real-time modeling, Video Game Creation, Computer Aided Design Proprietary
Rhinoceros 3D v 5 McNeel Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X in beta Modeling, Computer Aided Design Proprietary
Sculptris 2011-07-22
v Alpha 6
Pixologic Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Sculpting, Texturing Proprietary
Shade 3D 2014
v 14.1.2
Shade3D Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Modeling, Rendering, Animation Proprietary
Silo 2008-08-13
v 2.1
Nevercenter Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Modeling Proprietary
SketchUp / SketchUp Pro 2015-02-5
v 15.3.331 (Win64)
v 15.3.330 (Win32)
v 15.3.329 (Mac)
Trimble Navigation Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Computer Aided Design Proprietary
Softimage
"2015" (Final Release)
Autodesk Microsoft Windows, Linux Modeling, Animation, Video Game Creation, Lighting, Rendering, Visual 3d Effects Proprietary
Solid Edge 2014-08-08
ST7
Siemens PLM Software Microsoft Windows Computer Aided Design Proprietary
solidThinking 2014
v 2014
solidThinking Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Modeling Proprietary
SolidWorks 2014-09-09
v 2015
Dassault Systèmes Microsoft Windows Computer Aided Design Proprietary
SpaceClaim 2014-11-19
v 2015
SpaceClaim Corporation Microsoft Windows Computer Aided Design Proprietary
Swift 3D 2009-06-03
v6.0 (Final Release)
Electric Rain Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Modeling, Animation Proprietary
TopSolid 7.9
2014
Missler Software Microsoft Windows Computer Aided Design/ Computer Aided Manufacturing Proprietary
trueSpace 2009-05-25
v 7.61
Caligari Corporation Microsoft Windows, AmigaOS Animation, Modeling Proprietary
E-on Vue
v 2014
E-on Software Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Animation, Landscape Modeling, Lighting Proprietary
Verto Studio 3D 2012-10-9
v 1.3.1
Michael L. Farrell Mac OS X, iOS Mobile Modeling, Texture Mapping, Lighting Proprietary
ZBrush 2015-01-29
v 4R7
Pixologic Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows Modeling, Texturing, Lighting, Sculpting (the deformation of the model), Rendering Proprietary
Wings3d 2014-04-14
1.5.3
Dan Gudmundsson (maintainer) Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, BSD, Linux Modeling, Sculpting (the deformation of the model), UV mapping BSD

Operating system support

The operating systems on which the editors can run natively (without emulation or compatibility layers), meaning which operating systems have which editors specifically coded for them (not, for example, Wings 3D for Windows running on Linux with Wine).

Name Windows Mac OS X Linux Unix BSD Other
3ds Max Yes No No No No No
AC3D Yes Yes Yes No No No
Art of Illusion Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
Blender Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Solaris, AmigaOS 4, MorphOS
Carrara Yes Yes No No No No
Cheetah 3D No Yes No No No No
Cinema 4D Yes Yes No No No Amiga OS
Clara.io Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Chrome OS, Android
DesignSpark Mechanical Yes No No No No No
Electric Image Animation System Yes Yes No No No No
form-Z Yes Yes No No No No
Houdini Yes Yes Yes No No No
IClone Yes No No No No No
LightWave 3D Yes Yes No No No AmigaOS
MakeHuman Yes Yes Yes No No No
Massive Yes No Yes No No No
Maya Yes Yes Yes No No No
Metasequoia Yes No No No No No
Modo Yes Yes Yes No No No
POV-Ray Yes Yes Yes No No Amiga OS, Atari TOS
Remo 3D Yes No Yes No No No
Shade Yes Yes No No No No
Silo Yes Yes Yes No No No
SketchUp Yes Yes No No No No
SketchUp Pro Yes Yes No No No No
Softimage Yes No Yes No No No
Solid Edge Yes No No No No No
solidThinking Yes Yes No No No No
solidWorks Yes No No No No No
SpaceClaim Yes No No No No No
Swift 3D Yes Yes No No No No
TopSolid Yes No No No No No
trueSpace Yes No No No No Amiga OS
Verto Studio 3D No Yes No No No iOS
E-on Vue Yes Yes No No No No
Wings 3D Yes Yes Yes No No No
ZBrush Yes Yes No No No No

Features

Wireframe Animation Rendering Imports Exports
3ds Max Yes Yes Yes FBX, 3DS, PRJ, AI, DAE, DEM, XML, DDF, DWG, DXF, Openflight FLT, HTR, IGE, IGS, IGES, IPT, WIRE, IAM, LS, VW, LP, OBJ, SAT, SHP, SKP, STL, TRC FBX, 3DS, AI, ASE, ATR, BLK, DAE, DF, DWG, DXF, Openflight FLT, HTR, IGS, LAY, LP, M3G, OBJ, SAT, STL, VW, WRL
AC3D Yes ? No GIF, JPG, PNG, BMP, DDS, PPM, Targa, TIFF, 3D Studio, AC3D, DXF,COLLADA, LDraw (Lego), Lightwave, Massive, Milkshape Ascii, Obj (Wavefront), OFF, Pointfield, Points, Quake BSP, Quake MD2, Renderware, SMF, SOF Airfoil, STL (ascii), Terragen, Triangle, Vector, VRML 1.0[4] GIF, JPG, PNG, BMP, DDS, PPM, Targa, TIFF, 3D Studio, 3D Studio ASE, AC3D, DirectX, Dive, DVS, DXF, COLLADA, Inventor, LDraw (Lego), Lightwave, Massive, Milkshape Ascii, Obj (Wavefront), Ogre, PovRay, Quake MD2, Quake Map, Renderman, SMF, STL (ascii), Triangle, Unreal Tournament, VRML 1.0, VRML 2.0, X3D[4]
Blender Yes Yes Yes TGA, JPG, PNG, OpenEXR, DPX, Cineon, Radiance HDR, Iris, SGI Movie, IFF, AVI and QuickTime GIF, TIFF, PSD, MOV (Windows and Mac OS X),3D Studio, Autodesk FBX, AC3D, COLLADA, DXF, Wavefront OBJ, DEC Object File Format, DirectX, Lightwave LWO, MD2, Motion Capture, Nendo, PLY, Pro Engineer, Radiosity, Raw Triangle, Softimage, STL, TrueSpace, VideoScape, VRML, VRML97, X3D Extensible 3D TGA, JPG, PNG, OpenEXR, DPX, Cineon, Radiance HDR, Iris, SGI Movie, IFF, AVI and QuickTime GIF, TIFF, PSD, MOV (Windows and Mac OS X),3D Studio, AC3D, COLLADA, Autodesk FBX, Adobe After Effects JSX, DXF, Wavefront OBJ, DEC Object File Format, DirectX, Lightwave LWO, MD2, Motion Capture, Nendo, PLY, Pro Engineer, Radiosity, Raw Triangle, Softimage, STL, TrueSpace, VideoScape, VRML, VRML97, X3D Extensible 3D, xfig export
Electric Image Animation System Yes Yes Yes TGA, JPG, PNG, BMP, Radiance HDR, AVI and QuickTime, TIFF, PSD, MOV, 3D Studio, FBX, DXF, Wavefront OBJ, LWO, MDD PNG, BMP, AVI and QuickTime GIF, TIFF, MOV,3D Studio, DXF, Wavefront OBJ, LWO
Cinema 4D Yes Yes Yes FBX, OBJ, 3DS, QD3D, STL, DEM, VRML 1, VRML 2, LWO/LWS, DXF FBX, OBJ, 3DS, QD3D, STL, W3D, VRML 1, VRML 2, DXF
Clara.io Yes Yes Yes FBX, OBJ, Collada, MD2, MD3, MD5, 3DS, STL, DXF, Three.js, LWO, GEO, IRR, PLY, POV, SHP, XGL, ZGL, X, WRL, WRZ, AC, BLEND, BVH, CSM, LWS, PNG, JPG FBX, OBJ, Collada, STL, Three.js, Babylon.js
Cobalt Yes Yes Yes 3DS, ACIS SAT, AI, ASCII Text, BMP, CATIA v4, CGM, CCAD, CO (native), Drawing board, DWG/DXF, Facet, GIF, Grid Surface, IGS (IGES), JPEG, Parasolid XT, PICT, PNG, PPM, Pro/E, Rhino 3DM, Spline, STP (STEP), VRML, XBM, XPM ACIS SAT, AI, ASCII Text, BMP, CATIA v4, CGM, CO (native), Drawing board, DWG/DXF, Facet, GIF, Grid Surface, IGS (IGES), JPEG, Parasolid XT, PDF, PICT, PNG, PPM, Pro/E, RAW Triangle, Shockwave 3D, STP (STEP), VRML, XBM, XPM
IClone Yes Yes Yes FBX, OBJ, BVH, SKP (via 3DXChange) | JPG, BMP, GIF, TGA, PNG | AVI, WMV, MP3, WAV, popVideo FBX, OBJ, BVH (via 3DXChange) | JPG, BMP, GIF, TGA, PNG | WMV, AVI, MP4, popVideo, FLV, iWidget
Lightwave 3D Yes Yes Yes TGA, JPG, PNG, AI, EPS, BMP, IFF, Radiance HDR, AVI and QuickTime GIF, TIFF, PSD, MOV, 3D Studio, COLLADA, FBX, DXF, Wavefront OBJ, LWO, FBXMD2, VideoScape, VRML, VRML97 TGA, JPG, PNG, BMP, Radiance HDR, IFF, AVI and QuickTime GIF, TIFF, PSD, MOV,3D Studio, COLLADA, FBX, DXF, Wavefront OBJ, LWO, MD2, VRML, VRML97
MakeHuman No No No N/A COLLADA, FBX Export, MD5, MHX, Wavefront OBJ, Ogre3D, STL
Maya Yes Yes Yes Ai, Pix, AVI, Cineon, EPS, GIF, Jpeg, Swf, Maya IFF, Maya16 IFF, MacPaint, PSD, PNG, Quantel, Quickdraw, MOV, RLA, SVG, SGI, SGI16, SGI Movie, TGA, TIF, BMP, HDR, Maya Ascii, Maya Binary, MEL, FBX, DXF, OBJ, IGES, StudioTools Wire, Aiff, VRML2, Openflight FLT, STL Maya Ascii, Maya Binary, Mel, FBX, DXF, OBJ, IGES, StudioTools Wire, VRML2, GE2, RTG, Mental Ray, RIB, Open Inventor2, OpenFlight FLT, Maya IFF, AVI, QT, GIF, Softimage, RLA, BMP, TIF, SGI RGB, Alias PIX, Jpeg, EPS, Cineon, Quantel, TGA, Macpaint, PSD, PNG, Quickdraw, DDS.
Metasequoia Yes No Yes 3DS, COB (Caligari Object), DXF, LWO, OBJ, ROK (Rokkaku Daiō), RSD (PlayStation), SUF (DoGA CGA System) 3DS, COB (Caligari Object), DirectX, DXF, LWO, OBJ, POV-Ray, RDS (Ray Dream Studio), RIB, ROK (Rokkaku Daiō), RSD (PlayStation), SCE (SoftF/X Model), SUF (DoGA CGA System), VRML 1.0
Modo Yes Yes Yes LXO, sldprt, sldasm*, LWO2, LWOB, DXF, FBX, 3DS, GEO, EPS, AI, PSD, OBJ, DAE, MDD, FLX, TGA, BMP, GIF, HDR, HDR, JP2, JPG, JPEG, PNG, SGI, openEXR LXO, LWO, X3D, DXF, FBX, PLT, PSD, GEO, OBJ, DAE, FLX, TGA, BMP, GIF, HDR, JP2, JPG, JPEG, PNG, TIF, openEXR, MOV, MWV
Remo 3D Yes Yes Yes 3DC, 3DS, AC, DAE, DW, DXF, LWO, LWS, MD2, OBJ, OSG, OSGB, OSGT, OSGX, IVE, OSGA, P3D, PFB, PLY, STL, STA, SHP, X 3DS, DAE, DOT, OBJ, OSG, OSGB, OSGT, OSGX, IVE, P3D, IVE, STL
Shade Yes Yes Yes DXF, OBJ, SketchUp, XML; (Pro) 3DS, BVH, COLLADA, LWO COLLADA, DXF, OBJ, RIB, SWF, QuickTime VR, Second Life Sculpted Prim, XML; (Pro) 3DS, Blue Mars, DirectX, EPix, LWO, VRML 2.0
Softimage Yes Yes Yes ? ?
Solid Edge Yes Yes Yes IGES, STEP, DXF, JT, ACIS (SAT), ProE, SolidWorks, NX, SDRC, Microstation, Inventor, CATIA (V4/V5), Parasolid, Autocad, STL, XML, MDS IGES, STEP, STL, PDF, EMS, JT, XGL, XML, DXF, Parasolid, CATIA (V4/V5), ACIS (SAT), Microstation, Autocad
SketchUp Yes[5] Yes[5] Yes[5] JPG, PNG, TIF, TGA, BMP, SKP, SKP+KMZ, 3DS, DEM, DDF[6] JPG, PNG, TIF, BMP, DAE, SKP, SKP+KMZ[7]
SketchUp Pro Yes[5] Yes[5] Yes[5] JPG, PNG, TIF, TGA, BMP, SKP, SKP+KMZ, 3DS, DWG, DXF, DEM, DDF[6] JPG, PNG, TIF, BMP, DAE, SKP, SKP+KMZ, PDF, EPS, EPX, DWG, DXF, 3DS, FBX, OBJ, XSI, VRML, MOV(on Mac), AVI (on Windows)[7]
Wings3D Yes No Yes 3DS, AI, EPS, LWO, LXO, Nendo, OBJ, STL, SVG, Wings3D 3DS, BZFlag, COLLADA, DirectX, Kerkythea, LWO, LXO, Nendo, OBJ, POV-Ray, Renderware, STL, SVG, VRML 2.0, Wings3D

Lighting

Application Rendering
Engine
Interactive
Rendering
Isolating
light contribution
Light
Lister
IES
Light
Physical Sun & Sky Light Portal IBL and Environment texture Light Paint Light Layers
Fisheye Cube Map Lat Long sIBL
Maya Viewport 2.0 Yes No[8] No No ? ? ? ? ? ? No No
Maya Software ? Light Linking No No ? ? Env Ball Env Cube Env Sphere ? No No
Mental Ray ? Light Linking No mia_photometric_light mia_physicalsun and
mia_physicalsky
mia_portal_light ? ? ? ? No No
3ds Max Quicksilver Yes No[9] Yes ? ? ? ? ? ? ? No No
mental ray ? Light Exclude/Include Yes Photometric Lights mental ray Sun & Sky mr Sky Portal ? ? ? ? No No
iray ? Light Exclude/Include Yes Photometric Lights mental ray Sun & Sky mr Sky Portal ? ? ? ? No No
Blender Viewport Yes Light Groups Property Chart Addon No No No ? ? ? ? No No
Blender Internal Yes Light Groups Property Chart Addon No No No ? ? ? ? No No
Cycles Yes No No D1543 Yes from 2.75 ? ? ? ? No No

See also

References

[10]
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