Since then, Foundry has had a series of updates and is taking advantage of modern graphics cards to make it way more powerful. We comprehensively tested Modo (see our Modo 12 review), and liked its toolset and UI, but found it a little limited in its capabilities. The toolset is well thought out and implemented, making it very user-friendly, add to that an impressive rendering system, and it’s easy to see why Modo has continued to grow in popularity. Over the years Modo has grown from a basic subdivision surface modeller into a fully-featured digital content creation app. The removal of a perpetual licence option will grind some gears, though, with only a subscription model available now. And with Maxon’s acquisition of ZBrush, creative workflows will continue to be strengthened and streamlined. There's also volumetric modelling, which is perfect if you don't have the time or skillset to create smooth solid forms.Ĭinema 4D 2023 is a major release with significant new features and upgrades, most notably soft body simulation, modelling and colour management. It boasts a vivid community of creatives with a huge online library of tutorials – not to mention the training site Cineversity, to which you get free membership when you buy the app or pay for the annual Maxon service agreement (MSA). Cinema 4D’s parametric modelling toolset is generally very good, and you can increase its functionality with a range of reasonably priced plugins.

Maxon’s Cinema 4D has been around for a long time and is highly regarded in the worlds of motion graphics, visualisation and illustration. The free version gives you access to virtually all of the features from the award-winning Houdini FX, meaning you can really develop your skills. There's the full-featured Houdini Indie too, which provides an affordable commercial option for smaller studios. Thankfully, SideFX offers Houdini Apprentice, a free version of Houdini FX, which can be used by students, artists and hobbyists on personal non-commercial projects. Like Maya, Houdini's power and non-standard workflow can be tricky to get the hang of. You can see more reasons we rate this software so highly in our Houdini review. When testing, we found that its problem-solving capabilities were leagues ahead of other 3D software, with the ability to rewire feeling incredibly natural, a big plus point for the software. This nodal workflow isn’t for everyone, but Houdini also has some more traditional tools which allow you to directly interact with the polygons on screen. Its node-based procedural approach offers artists unprecedented power, flexibility and control. SideFX's Houdini is responsible for creating a range of 3D imagery across the CG industry.

Download Houdini Apprentice (free version).

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