Choosing 3D Rendering Software?

Choosing 3D Rendering Software?

Source:

your3dsource.com

Software	Level	OS	Price	Notes	Details
Maya	Pro.	PC	$3,495.00	Full Blown Production Film Quality	Alias's Maya 3D is extremely powerful.  Its node-based architecture enables complex animation and rendering linkages to be created and it offers a nonlinear modeling history, plus Mental Ray rendering.
Strata 3D	Mid.	MAC/PC	$700.00	Have experience building tradeshow Displays In this, Use it at work. Similar to Photoshop	Strata's Strata 3D has a long history and is available for Mac and PC.  It's a sturdy if slightly archaic 3D program, but it has found favor with many digital illustrators.  It has some good rendering features, including radiosity, which are rare at the price. www.strata3d.com
Bryce 3D	Mid.	MAC/PC	$99.95	For Landscapes and Environment	Corel's Bryce 3D is an interesting 3D program.  It's primarily a landscape rendering application, designed to produce skies, seas, and terrains in a very efficient way.  It can be pressed into service as a more general purpose 3D tool, but lacks any serious modeling tools.
Pixels	Mid.	MAC	$49.00	Great for animation and video games	Pixels is a Mac-only 3D program that offers advanced rendering and animation and robust modeling for a modest cost.  It also features a renderer based on the REYES algorithm-the same one used in Pixar's RenderMan software.
Blender	Mid.	MAC/PC	FREE	Considered one of the best with full 3D production packages.	One of the best free 3D applications available is Blender. This program is a full featured 3D production package featuring the kinds of tools you'd expect to see in a mid to high end application.
Lightwave 3D	Pro.	MAC/PC	$895.00	Great tools	Newtek's Lightwave 3D is a dual application featuring separate modeler/texturing and animation/lighting/rendering apps. Its quirky interface is deceptively powerful, and it offers one of the best quality renderers out there.
Cinema 4D	Pro.	MAC/PC	$2,771.00	Full Blown Production Film Quality	The full suite of plug-ins for Cinema 4D takes it into the high end.  With advanced radiosity rendering, sophisticated character tools, and a GUI based expression system, it's also one of the easiest high-end 3D apps to get to grips with.
Poser Pro	Beg.	MAC/PC	$499.99	Character Development	It's a 3D character renderer and animator that lets you pose and animate ready-made, high quality 3D figures.  It's very powerful, but it's not an all rounder- it does one thing only-but does it very well.

3D Rendering Software

1. Which applications animators use to render 3D images?
   
   Maya, Strata 3D, Bryce 3D, Pixels Pro, Blender, Lightwave 3D, Cinema 4D, Poser Pro, Houdini, Softimage XSI.
   
   
2. How do 3D applications apply to still graphics as well as animation? 
   
   3D applications use still graphics at sources to composite and develop complex 3D imagery.
   
   
3. Uses of 3D animations—do they enhance Web sites? Inform an audience? Sell a product? Entertain?
   
   3D animations are used in a wide variety of forms. Many think that 3D animation only is really used in the entertainment industry in video games and movies. The truth is that 3D animations are use everywhere in our society. From simple small apps and functions on a cell phone, to complex technical animations for demonstrations and instructional purposes 3D animation has become a part of everyday life.
    
4. Why animators choose to render 3D animations rather than 2D animations?
   
   3D animation creates and the ability to reveal more dimension and detail in an image. Moving an image from a flat surface to revealing more volume allows the viewer to see and understand more data and detail than compared to what a 2D image introduces. For example in a 3D environment the viewer has a better sense of scale, proximity, and in many instances can view the impossible like in wire frame or cutaways.
   
   
5. Which individuals and industries are using 3D graphics—either still images or animations? What are the characteristics of those 3D graphics currently in use by these individuals/industries?
   
   The entertainment industry is all about using advanced technology to push the industry further into reality. With 3D graphics and animation both the film industry and gaming industry have exploded with realistic detail. Video games are no longer just for the kids, but remain a high point in the day for many adults. I have even heard of elderly people in their 80’s getting in on the action. One couple I heard about uses a Wii system to play golf every night after dinner. They are too old to go out to the course, but love the game. They tee off every night at 7pm are able to play on courses around the world.
   
   Beyond entertainment, the medical field is able to explain and show so much more to students and patients about what is happening in the body with both 3d graphics and animation.
   
   Actually, as technology has greatly advanced and software is more available we see it popping up all over. From cell phones to flight simulators 3D graphics and animation are becoming away of life.
   
   

Sources:

"Google Images." Google. Web. 15 June 2011. .

Mac 3D : PiXELS3D for OSX. Web. 14 June 2011. .

"MAXON SHOP - Home Page - North and South America." Www.maxonshop.com. Web. 14 June 2011. .

"Maya - 3D Animation, Visual Effects & Compositing Software - Autodesk." Autodesk - 3D Design & Engineering Software for Architecture, Manufacturing, and Entertainment. Web. 14 June 2011. .

"Which 3D Animation Software Should I Use?" Animated Gifs | Build A Website | Animation Schools | Animation Software. Web. 14 June 2011. .