Mari by Foundry is a high-resolution 3D texture painting solution ideal for projects with complex assets. It supports UDIM workflows, offers non-destructive layer systems, and boasts Python API support. Mari is utilized across industries such as movies, fashion, architecture, and games, providing real-time previews and shading capabilities.
For those exploring alternatives to Mari, options encompass ZBrush, Substance Painter, 3DCoat, Blender, Mudbox, 3ds Max, and Maya.
ZBrush
Leveraged by experts in the gaming, film, and animation sectors, ZBrush is an established digital sculpting software, renowned for its 3D modeling, texturing, and painting capabilities. With a wide range of features, ZBrush guides you from the embryonic stages of your 3D artwork to the fine detailing process.
ZBrush Top Features
Sculptris Pro: Unleash your creativity with Sculptris Pro’s digital sculpting features.
Dynamesh: Ideal for creating complex 3D designs with immense simplicity and precision.
ZRemesher: Automate retopology and enhance your workflow.
PolyPaint: Uniquely designed to offer painting on a model’s surface sans a texture map.
PolyGroupIt: An intuitive way of grouping the geometry that comprises your model.
Gizmo 3D: Enables a more fluid control over translation, rotation, and scaling.
ZBrush Courses
Applications
Courses available on platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, and Cineversity, catering to different learning styles and levels of expertise.
Used extensively for developing high-poly characters, complex shapes, helmet panels and ring designs.
Tutorials and courses endorsed by seasoned artists affiliated with reputed studios.
A go-to tool for game development: used in creating highly detailed animal characters and dinosaur figures.
ZBrush Limitations
Despite ZBrush’s numerous advantages, it’s worth acknowledging its potential downsides. Among these are the software’s steep learning curve and limited compatibility with some support tools.
ZBrush Use Cases
Use case 1: Game Development
ZBrush’s detailed modeling capabilities make it an industry-standard tool in game development. From detailed animal characters to hyper-realistic dinosaur figures, ZBrush allows for intricate, high-poly designs.
Use case 2: Film and Animation
In the film and animation industries, ZBrush’s advanced sculpting and modeling features enable artists to create realistic characters and environments, breathing life into their narratives.
Use case 3: Jewelry Design
ZBrush is also employed in jewelry design, where its tools allow for detailed exploration of intricate ring designs, intricate shapes, and ornamental motifs.
Substance Painter
Forged by Allegorithmic, Substance Painter has garnered fame as the Adobe Photoshop for 3D digital painting. Its prowess lies in texturing models and creating textures, empowering artists in the gaming industry with high profile credits like Uncharted 4 and Horizon Zero Dawn.
Substance Painter Top Features
3D painting: Paint directly on 3D models within the 3D viewport.
Procedural texturing tools: Achieve advanced effects with ease.
Real-time PBR workflows: Ensuring compatible exports for game engines.
8K texture baking: Superb resolution at your disposal.
Powerful Masking: Bring your textures to life with in-depth manipulation.
BENEFITS+FEATURESPBR Material WorkflowsEnables creation/export of all textures compatible with game engines. High ResolutionTexture baking up to 8k for superior detailing. Supports UV TilesAllows painting across UV tiles enhancing the texture workflow.
Substance Painter Limitations
The tool requires a properly UV unwrapped polygonal model for painting, making prior step checks necessary.
Substance Painter relies heavily on a very specific 3D software package interface, which could pose a learning curve to folks unfamiliar with Adobe Photoshop.
Substance Painter Pricing
Despite being priced higher for individual game developers, Substance Painter is cheaper than Mari, and equivalent to 3D-Coat and Mudbox. There’s also talk of a possible bundle with Substance Designer for $700.
Substance Painter Use Cases
Use case 1 – Gaming Industry
Companies like Capcom and Activision utilize Substance Painter to create realistic textures in games, enhancing player immersion.
Use case 2 – Asset Enhancement
All those with a beta license can sell assets on the Steam Store, making it a profitable venture.
Use case 3 – Digital Three-dimensional Art
Artists and designers find Substance Painter a valuable tool in creating lifelike 3D digital art, showcasing their creativity in impressive depth and resolution.
3DCoat
Rising from the tech hub of Kyiv, Ukraine, 3DCoat is a pioneering software developed by Pilgway, specifically tailored for sculpting, designing, and working in the exciting spheres of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR).
3DCoat’s 2022 editions, namely 3DCoat 2022 and 3DCoatTextura 2022, offer a thrust into next-gen creation, rendering augmented capabilities to artists and engineers alike.
3DCoat Top Features
Profoundly AR/VR tech-focused solutions for immersive design needs.
Renowned for offering regular updates and new features, ensuring sustained development.
Affordable licenses starting at $49 for 3DCPrinting licenses to comprehensive $468 for Floating licenses.
Facility to operate on two computers simultaneously under one license.
Feature
Detail
Sculpting Tools
Comprehensive range aiding vivid creations.
Baking Scan
Delivers improved curvature calculation.
Smart Materials usage history
Enables ready access to previous design settings.
3DCoat Limitations
Dependence on internet connectivity for validation with 3DCoat’s FServer servers.
Occasional need for license activation-deactivation during app updates.
Reports of license issues due to simultaneous use on different systems in rare cases.
3DCoat Pricing
The pricing for 3DCoat varies, starting at $49 for 3DCPrinting licenses, reaching up to $468 for Floating licenses; there also exists a range of licenses for individuals, students, and enterprises. They likewise offer one-time purchase, monthly, quarterly, and Rent-for-1-year options.
3DCoat Use Cases
Use case 1
Education: As a testimony to its user-friendly design, over 200 universities globally have integrated 3DCoat into their curriculum, proving it a valuable tool in shaping the designers of tomorrow.
Use case 2
Professional Designers: With smart materials and an integrated renderer solution, 3DCoat supports designers in crafting and visualizing exceptional 3D models with ease and accuracy.
Use case 3
AR/VR Developers: Offering full-fledged support for AR/VR technologies, 3DCoat proves a boon for developers aiming to push the boundaries of immersive experiences.
Blender
Spark your creativity with Blender, the revolutionary 3D computer graphics tool set that has been making waves since 1994. This open-source and free-to-use software has been instrumental in shaping the world of animated films, art, virtual reality, and much more.
Blender Top Features
Varied utilities: 3D modelling, UV mapping, texturing, digital drawing, and raster graphics editing
Advanced simulation features: Includes fluid and smoke simulation, particle simulation, and soft body simulation
Sculpting and animation features: Ideal for animated films, art, and motion graphics
Video editing capabilities: Including match moving, rendering, compositing, and video editing
Development
Supported OS
Languages
Driven by Blender Institute and a passionate community
Linux, macOS, Windows, BSD, Haiku
Available in 36 languages
Open-sourced since 2002, funded by crowdfunding
Supported 3D file formats include Alembic, 3DS, FBX, and more
Written in C, C++, and Python
Blender Limitations
The Blender Game Engine has been deprecated since the 2.8 release
Blender Internal, previously used for rendering, was removed in the 2.80 release, favoring the Eevee renderer
Blender Pricing
Blender is absolutely free and open-source, making it a budget-friendly choice for creators across the globe.
Blender Use Cases
Use case 1: Animated Films
From storyboarding to rendering, Blender provides an extensive suite of features for creating top-notch animated films.
Use case 2: Virtual Reality
Usher your audiences into immersive experiences using Blender’s powerful capabilities for fabricating interactive 3D applications and virtual reality.
Use case 3: 3D Modelling & Sculpting
Whether it’s creating intricate 3D-printed models or engaging digital art, Blender is ready to shape your ideas into reality.
Mudbox
An innovative digital sculpting software – Mudbox. Brought to life by Skymatter during the creation of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and matured during its use in King Kong (2005). A highly efficient tool enabling 3D art and design with a cost-effective touch, ideal for professionals and beginners alike.
Mudbox Top Features
Powerful sculpting tools and brushes.
Unique compatibility with other Autodesk software.
Incorporation of Catmull-Clark subdivision algorithm for optimal mesh shape maintenance.
Permits addition of intricate details to pre-existing models.
Non-destructive workflow capability for versatility in design.
2009 upgrade
Painting and texturing features added for realistic texture creation.
Stencils
Option to use grayscale images as stencils for quicker detail crafting.
Retopologizing tools
Optimization for animation rigging made possible.
Mudbox Disadvantages
Since 2020, only new installers have been released with no new features or bug fixes.
Considered an intermediate level program which might pose a learning curve for novices.
Mudbox Pricing
Accessible to a range of budgets, Mudbox offers a competitive subscription model priced at $90/year. Special provision exists for students offering a free 3-year license, making it an ideal choice for upcoming digital sculptors.
Mudbox Use Cases
Use case 1: High-Resolution Digital Sculpting
With its powerful sculpting tools, intricate detailing capability, and advanced mesh deformation features, Mudbox is a perfect choice for high-resolution digital sculpting.
Use case 2: Texture Painting and Design
For creatives focusing on texture painting and design, the 2009 upgrade introduced texture-creation tools that have since optimized the quality of output, making Mudbox a top contender.
Use case 3: Film Production
Employed by giants in the entertainment industry, such as in the production of King Kong and even Hulu’s Appendage, Mudbox’s capabilities have been tested and trusted in high-end film production environments.
3ds Max
A 3D modeling and rendering software, 3ds Max is a creation of Autodesk Media & Entertainment. With its roots dating back to the days of DOS, it was once known as 3D Studio and 3D Studio Max. Primarily used for 3D animations, models, games, and images, the software has become a favorite on the Windows platform. Post its purchase by Autodesk and subsequent renaming, it has continued to evolve and innovate, offering a plethora of features and capabilities designed to enhance creativity.
3ds Max Top Features
Flexible plugin architecture for customizations.
MAXScript, a built-in scripting language for automation and customization.
Character Studio, an essential tool for character rigging and animation.
Scene Explorer, offering a hierarchical view of scene data.
Import and linking of .dwg files.
Creative texture and planar mapping options.
Integration with Autodesk Vault, enabling centralized management of 3ds Max assets.
Complex skeletal deformation adjustments with modifiers like Skin Wrap and Skin Morphs.
Feature
Explanation
Max Creation Graph (MCG)
A toolset built into 3ds Max for algorithmic modeling tasks.
Polygon Modeling
Commonly used in game design for creating complex models with high detail.
3ds Max Disadvantages
Highest compatibility is exclusive to Windows 10 and Windows 11, restricting usage for other platform users.
Complex learning curve for beginners.
Usage on a pay-as-you-go basis, with tokens required.
3ds Max Use Cases
Use case 1: Video game development
Thanks to its sophisticated animation tools and polygon modeling, 3ds Max is widely used by video game developers to create stunning, detailed game environments and character models.
Use case 2: Architectural design
Architectural and engineering design firms also take advantage of 3ds Max for its precision modelling features, creating detailed, hyper-realistic renderings of buildings and structures.
Use case 3: Educational purposes
3ds Max is included in educational programs across institutions for instructing and introducing students to the world of 3D design and animation.
Maya
Introducing Maya, or better known as Autodesk Maya, the maverick in the realm of 3D computer graphics applications. From animated films to interactive 3D apps, this versatile tool is a creative powerhouse delivered by Autodesk.
Maya Top Features
Detailed 2D drawing and intricate 3D modeling capabilities.
Powerful animation simulation, enabling realistic movement and effects.
NURBS modeling system —ideal for conjuring complex, detailed shapes.
Highly customizable user interface designed to fulfill every animator’s dream..
Advanced data import/export features for seamless workflow.
Integrated renderer
mental ray for advanced features like subsurface scattering and global illumination.
Detailed texturing and shading
Create lifelike scenes with an array of light control options.
Interoperability with game engines
Animate and import your creation into Unreal Engine and Unity.
Maya Limitations
High pricing for users with earnings exceeding $100,000.
The learning curve might be steep for beginners due to comprehensive features.
Requires high system resources for optimal performance.
Maya Pricing
Maya offers a free trial and an educational license for learners. And for businesses, there are convenient monthly and yearly subscriptions. Businesses earning less than $100,000 enjoy a reduced fee, making Maya a cost-effective tool for startups and SMEs.
Maya Use Cases
Use case 1: Animation and Film Industry
Maya’s powerful animation capabilities and lifelike rendering have driven creations ranging from ‘Ice Age’ to the ‘Star Wars series’. Any creative platform looking to produce high-quality animated content, Maya is your code.
Use case 2: Gaming Industry
Creating assets for interactive 3D applications? Here’s where Maya’s shape-creation prowess and interoperation with game engines truly shines.
Use case 3: Businesses
From Dell to Accenture, Maya’s wide-ranging capabilities have found takers among businesses looking to create high-quality 3D content, offering comprehensive support owing to its widespread usage.
Grant Sullivan
Content writer @ Aircada and self proclaimed board game strategist by day, AI developer by night.
