Arnold is a renowned computer program for rendering photorealistic 3D scenes, utilized in major films and TV series for animation and VFX. Developed by Marcos Fajardo and co-developed with Solid Angle and Sony Pictures Imageworks, it integrates Monte Carlo path tracing techniques. With compatibility with x86 CPUs and Nvidia RTX GPUs, Arnold stands out for its large texture map rendering capabilities and user-friendly interface.
In exploring options beyond Arnold, individuals can consider Redshift, Marmoset Toolbag, KeyShot, Substance Painter, Unreal Engine, Blender, and Substance.
Redshift
Gaze upon the quantum realm of Redshift, a laudatory fusion of technology and graphics design brought to life by the software connoisseurs at Maxon. A paragon of GPU-accelerated rendering, Redshift ushers in a glorious age of illustrative exploration for studios and individual creators alike.
Redshift Top Features
The additional MatCap shader parameters allow for illustrative renders of sublime quality.
Breathtaking 3D distortions can be achieved with the versatile Distorter node.
Seamless integration with industry-standard CG applications ensures an unbroken production pipeline.
A RenderView Interactive Preview Region for genuine real-time setting tweaking for photorealistic results.
Superior performance on systems enriched with at least 12 CPU threads, giving you the edge in rendering speeds.
Advanced Shading Networks
Redshift supports advanced shading networks and texturing capabilities for a flawless production-quality rendering.
Integration
Seamless incorporation with popular 3D applications, enhancing production pipeline integration.
Redshift Limitations
The requirement of substantial GPU capacity to render efficiently can be restricting for some users.
Redshift Pricing
Offered through Maxon’s licensing system, Redshift’s subscription costs rest comfortably within the realm of the current annual maintenance fees – a pricing balance amicably designed for the innovative mind and wise investor.
Redshift Use Cases
Use Case 1: Studios
As a studio, Redshift’s enhancement of the 3D distortion capabilities and powerful performance on systems with at least 12 CPU threads can revolutionize your design process. Harness speed and quality as your new creative allies.
Use Case 2: Individual Artists
For the solo visionary, Redshift’s real-time setting tweaking and the additional MatCap shader parameters will be transformative additions to your toolbox. Create illustrations that resonate with your unique vision, faster and better.
Marmoset Toolbag
Meet Marmoset Toolbag, a multi-tool offering real-time rendering, texturing, and baking tools for 3D artists. Being on the market since 2012, it has cultivated a reliable reputation among game developers, visual effects studios, and creative professionals alike.
Marmoset Toolbag Top Features
Real-time rendering and texturing capabilities, enabling the creation of visually stunning and accurate 3D models.
An industry-leading set of real-time baking tools, accelerating productivity and workflow.
A customizable interface with drag-n-drop functionality, dual monitor compatibility, and smart loaders for enhanced user experience.
Ability to output stills or custom animations of character art, environment art, or product designs.
Python scripting and support for authoring custom plugins, aiding the creation of customized pipelines.
Category
Feature
Rendering
Real-time Ray Tracing optimized for all GPUs, particularly faster on NVIDIA RTX Series GPUs.
Texture Project System
Creates physically-accurate materials and allows exporting of textures for use in external software.
Online Showcase
3D models can be showcased online with Marmoset Viewer, providing interactive 3D display on various devices.
Marmoset Toolbag Downsides
While it boasts a rich feature set, it comes with a relatively high price tag starting at $189 per user or around $300 for individual perpetual Toolbag 4 license.
Requires NVIDIA RTX Series GPUs for the most optimal real-time Ray Tracing performance.
Marmoset Toolbag Pricing
For Toolbag 4, an individual perpetual license is priced at approximately $300. Discounts are available for version 3 users. Otherwise, pricing starts at $189 per user.
Marmoset Toolbag Use Cases
Use case 1 – Game Development
Game developers can leverage Marmoset Toolbag’s real-time rendering and texturing capabilities to create convincing in-game environments and characters.
Use case 2 – Visual Effects Production
With its advanced, real-time baking tools, Marmoset Toolbag serves as a indispensable tool for visual effects studios to create high-quality 3D assets for their projects.
Use case 3 – Product Design
Product designers can visualize their designs in real-time with physically accurate materials, creating realistic product models for client presentations.
KeyShot
If you’re looking for a high-quality 3D rendering tool that’s user-friendly and offers seamless integration with CAD programs, KeyShot is an excellent choice. This popular software is designed to deliver stunning visuals with scientific accuracy and is globally recognized and utilized by industrial designers.
KeyShot Top Features
Intuitive Interface: KeyShot focuses on design rather than complicated software usage, making it highly user-friendly.
Real-Time Updates: This software offers real-time updates to display changes made in material, lighting, and geometry.
Extensive Library of Plugins: Allows for updating geometry without loss, ensuring your work is always safe.
3D Paint Functionality: Introduced in KeyShot 2023, this feature allows for customization of material and finish by painting or stamping on model surfaces.
Web Viewer: Optimized for top-notch visuals on web browsers and mobile devices.
Features
Benefits
Seamless CPU to GPU mode transition
Gives the flexibility to switch modes with a single click
Physics Simulation tool
Helps in recording the physics of objects and applying as keyframe animation
Native support for Apple silicon
Enhances performance and usability
KeyShot Limitations
Limited in advanced input and output control
Does not support simulations, advanced animations, hair/fur generation, and grooming
KeyShot Use Cases
Use case 1 – Product Design
From idea conception to rapid prototyping, KeyShot has proved to be a crucial tool for product designers.
Use case 2 – Making Complex Ideas Understandable
Engineers find KeyShot extremely useful when they need a tool to make complex ideas understandable.
Use case 3 – Virtual Packaging Design
Packaging designers can create virtual packaging experiences with KeyShot, saving on physical printing costs.
Substance Painter
Introducing Substance Painter by Allegorithmic, the Adobe Photoshop equivalent in the realm of 3D digital painting. It’s a game changer for texturing models and creating textures.
Substance Painter Top Features
Utilizes advanced masking and procedural texturing tools.
Offers 8K texture baking.
Designed with an interface reminiscent of other 3D software packages and Photoshop.
Enables painting in both 2D maps and 3D model in the 3D viewport.
Exports all textures in real-time PBR material workflows compatible with most game engines.
Provides tools such as brush, eraser, and masking with customization options for texture work.
Includes a full training series covering most-used features
Substance Painter Limitations
Requires a polygonal model properly UV unwrapped for painting.
Pricing may be high for individual developers.
Substance Painter Pricing
While the pricing for Substance Painter could be considered high for individual developers, it is less expensive than Mari and roughly equivalent to 3D-Coat and Mudbox. Additionally, a bundled offer with Substance Designer is considered to be priced at $700.
Substance Painter Use Cases
Use case 1: Gaming Industry
Well received within the gaming industry, Substance Painter has been utilized by companies like Capcom and Activision, proving instrumental in the production of high-profile games like Uncharted 4 and Horizon Zero Dawn.
Use case 2: 3D Digital Art
For those involved in the creation of digital three-dimensional art, Substance Painter proves its capabilities in generating realistic textures and meshes quickly, an undeniably important function in such intricate work.
Use case 3: Game Art
The functionality of Substance Painter extends to game art, with its beta license allowing developers to sell their assets on the Steam Store, thus fostering a healthy creative ecosystem.
Unreal Engine
Brought to life by the technological visionaries at Epic Games, Unreal Engine is a robust series of 3D computer graphics game engines. Since its inception in 1998, Unreal Engine has steadily evolved, offering an ocean of versatility across game genres and industries, from film to television.
Unreal Engine Top Features
Comprehensive multicity of platforms – from desktop to virtual reality.
Ultra-modern technology with the recent launch of Unreal Engine 5 in 2022.
Creation and selling possibilities with the Unreal Engine Marketplace.
Generous amount of basic project templates to jumpstart game development.
Additional Features
Description
Quixel Incorporation
Features from acquired companies like Quixel enrich the toolset of Unreal Engine.
Unreal Development Kit
Inclusions of tools for crafting iOS games and apps.
Royalty Benefits
Royalty charge waived for games published on the Epic Games Store.
Unreal Engine Downsides
Charges 5% of revenues over USD 1 million for commercial use.
Primarily written in C++, which might be challenging for beginners.
Less open for modding compared to the previous iteration, Unreal Engine 3.
Unreal Engine Pricing
Unreal Engine follows a fair pricing model, free for all and only charges 5% of revenue for products making more than $3,000 per quarter. Noteworthy is the significant royalty waiver for games published on the Epic Games Store. Additionally, Epic Games champions education, offering Unreal Engine free for schools and universities.
Unreal Engine Use Cases
Game Developers
Offering a strong base for creating immersive, compelling games across a wide range of platforms.
Film and Television
With Unreal Engine’s expansive 3D graphics capabilities, it paves the path for creating stunning visuals in film and television industries.
Educational Institutions
As an accessible tool for educational institutions, Unreal Engine can be a powerful asset in training future game developers, 3D modellers and graphic artists.
Blender
Welcome to the world of 3D artistry where the only thing that’s out of bounds is your imagination. Meet Blender, the free and open-source 3D computer graphics software toolset, brought to life by Dutch animation studio NeoGeo in January 1994. Serving artists globally, be it for animated films or seamless virtual reality applications, Blender is your one-stop shop.
Blender’s Top Features
Impressive 3D modeling and UV mapping.
Rich and flexible texturing, digital drawing, and raster graphics editing.
Advanced rigging and skinning capabilities. Who needs a skeleton in the closet when you can have one in your model?
Fluid and smoke simulation. What’s life without a little smoke and mirrors?
Lively particle and soft body simulation.
Creative sculpting and animation features. Whether you’re the literal hands-on type or have an eye for movement, we’ve got you covered.
Efficient match moving, rendering, and video editing functionalities.
Expert compositing capabilities.
Language
Supported OS
File Formats
Written in C, C++, and Python.
Linux, macOS, Windows, BSD, Haiku. If it computes, it’s likely compatible!
Extensive range of 3D file formats including Alembic, 3DS, FBX, DXF, SVG, STL, UDIM, USD, VRML, WebM, X3D, OBJ. Talk about a universal translator!
Blender Downsides
The Blender Game Engine was deprecated in the 2.8 release. So gamers, it’s a bit of a bummer!
Blender Internal was removed in the 2.80 release in favor of the Eevee renderer. Less choice, but more streamlined, right?
Blender Pricing
Here’s the real stunner – it’s free! Blender is open source software, meaning it won’t cost you a penny. Cue the confetti!
Blender Use Cases
Use case 1: Animated Films
From ambitious independents to major studios, if there’s a film to animate then Blender is ready up to the task.
Use case 2: 3D-Printed Models
For 3D printing enthusiasts crafting their next masterpiece or businesses prototyping their next product, Blender’s the master key that can unlock your creations.
Use case 3: Virtual Reality
The world is not enough? No problem! Blender’s trusted by developers worldwide for creating interactive 3D applications or fully immersive virtual reality experiences. Step into the future!
Substance
Delving into the realm of 3D graphics and modelling, we’ll be enlightened by the powerful suite that is Substance. Hailing from the technology titan, Adobe, the Substance suite has been transformed into the Substance 3D Collection – a robust toolbox for today’s game developers, VFX artists, and motion graphic designers.
Substance Top Features
Substance 3D Designer: A treasure trove of procedural modelling tools and an industry-standard platform for asset creation.
Substance 3D Painter: For discerning artists interested in texturing, layering, and painting materials with the added benefit of automatic UV unwrapping.
Substance 3D Sampler: A tool built with lighting setup capabilities for seamless integration into an environment.
Substance 3D Stager: An addition designed for laying out, lighting, and rendering 3D scenes – a godsend for beginners.
Feature
Significance
Smart Materials & Masks
Automates the texturing process, saving precious time and breathes life into models.
Bundling of Designer & Painter
Offers a monetary edge for 3D content creators, leveraging dual-purpose application functionality.
Extensive 3D Asset Library
Empowerment to users with a plethora of materials at their fingertips via Adobe Bridge integration.
Substance Limitations
Pricing model criticised as potentially costly for indie developers, with suggestions for a sliding scale of $25 – $200.
Concerns voiced over limitations on non-commercial versions.
Valued alternatives like Mudbox and 3D-Coat present in the market.
Substance Pricing
Adobe maintains the pricing structure, with individually priced options available for artists. A standalone Substance 3D Texturing subscription is marked at $19.99/month or $219.88/year. A holistic Substance 3D Collection subscription, that includes all these stellar tools, comes in at $49.99/month or $549.88/year.
Substance Use Cases
Use case 1: Game Development
Substance’s prowess shines in the gaming landscape. It’s been a trusted ally in the creation of highly acclaimed games such as Uncharted 4, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Apex Legends. Its automatic UV unwrapping and smart materials capability have proven invaluable to these projects.
Use case 2: Film & TV Production
Over the years, Substance has seamlessly fit into production pipelines, contributing to a wide array of impressive visual effects in films and TV shows like Spider-Man: Far From Home, Game of Thrones, and Frozen II.
Use case 3: Graphic Design
Their versatile Substance 3D Painter and Designer have been widely employed by graphic designers, empowering them with superb texturing and materials creation tools.
Logan Bellbrook
Content writer @ Aircada with a knack for nature & AR/VR/XR. Blogging the intersection of tech & terrain.
