3D ANIMATION SOFTWARE 1

For this part will discuss the most used software in 3D animation techniques based on modeling, texture, rigging, cinemática, effects, editing, motion capture, among others.

Below are the most used software in 3D animation and its characteristics.

Applications for 3D graphics:

Despite many applications of 3D modeling and animation, some of which have earned the most popular are:

3D Studio Max: It was originally written by Kinetix (a division of Autodesk) as the successor to 3D Studio for DOS. Kinetix later merged with Autodesk's latest acquisition, Discreet Logic. It is the leading developer of 3D gaming industry and is widely used at the amateur level.

Blender: Program for creating 3D content ranging from modeling and animation to the composition and rendering of complex 3D scenes. It is free software, and includes features like support for Python programming on a wide range of ever-evolving script, has a robust engine for game programming, an own rendering engine and a user community fully open and ready to work .

Lightwave 3D: It was originally developed by Friendly Computers in the early 90's.Later evolved into an advanced 3D graphics and animation package. Currently available for Windows, Mac OS and Mac OS X. The program consists of two components: the modeling and scene editor. It is used in many producing visual effects such as Digital Domain.

Maya: This is perhaps the most popular software in the industry, at least until 2003. It is used by many major visual effects studios in combination with RenderMan, the photorealistic rendering engine Pixar.

Softimage XSI: The biggest opponent Maya. In 1987, Softimage Inc, a company located in Montreal, wrote Softimage  3D which quickly became the most popular 3D program that period. In 1994, Microsoft purchased Softimage Inc. and began to rewrite SoftImage | 3D for Windows NT. The result was called Softimage  XSI. In 1998, Microsoft sold Softimage to Avid.

Aside from these applications, there are others who have not gained general acceptance, but provide advanced features. Some are:

Caligari trueSpace: an integrated 3D application with an intuitive interface. A distinctive feature of this application is that all stages of creating 3D graphics are made within a single program. It is not as advanced as leading packages, but provides features such as simulation of physical phenomena (wind, gravity, collisions between bodies).

Cinema4D: Motor fast rendering, radiosity calculation.

formZ: Offers topological manipulation of geometry.

Moray: Modeler for POV-Ray.

POV-Ray: An advanced freeware raytracing. Use your own scene description language with features such as macros, loops and conditional statements. It is completely free but was not released under GPL. It does not include modeling.

RealSoft3D: 3D Modeler for Linux and Windows. Includes render.

Rhinoceros 3D: A powerful NURBS modeler low.

SketchUp: 3D modeling program acquired by Google. It's free but the English version Spanish version charges. The reason Google acquired SketchUp (formerly Last Software) is to improve plugins 3D mapping program Google Earth.

Universe: (for Electric Image) modeling and animation package with one of the fastest rendering engines that exist.