3D Modeling Programs

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Revision as of 13:13, 2 October 2007 by Tourorist (talk | contribs) (cleanup)
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Wikipedia icon 3D modeling software is mostly used for making props and characters, but can also be used for generating textures.

With Half-Life: Source model exporter

  • 3D Studio Max - a high end suite for animation, modeling and rendering. one of the industry's best. Has a large support network and many plugins. Valve used 3Ds MAX for the original half-life (hence the name of studiomdl.exe and .smd) there for exporters exists for all versions from 3 to 9, importers for .smd also exists for most versions as well as a .vta exporter and .vtf importer.
  • Blender - a high end free, open-source, suite for animation, modeling and rendering. Exporters for Blender currently only support static prop exporting.
  • Cinima 4D - a popular modeling program, especially in TV media. It is a powerful toolbox. It's exporter currently only support static prop exporting.
  • Fragmotion - a low end modeling and animation suite, but it has tight integration with the structure of half-life models and supports waitghted vertexes. Fragmotion comes with .smd importer and importer as well as .vtf importer.
  • GMax - a discontinued free version of 3D Studio Max currently distributed by Turbo Squid. Both .smd exporter and importer exists for GMax.
  • Maya - a high end suite for animation, modeling and rendering. An advanced smd and .vta exporter exists as well as a limited smd importer.
  • Milkshape - a low end, popular and simple to use 3D modeling program. Comes with smd exporter and importer.
  • Lightwave an excellent mid range modeling and animation suite. Currently the exporter for Lightwave only supports static props.
  • XSI - an excellent mid to high end modeling, animation and rendering suite, Valve used XSI for most models in Half-life:Source, the XSI Mod Tool exporter can be used with a little modification.
  • XSI Mod Tool - a free version of XSI with limited capabilities compared to the full version of XSI. Valve developed the exporter for XSI Mod Tool together Softimage (the creators of XSI), and as a result it has full support for importing and exporting .smd and exporting of .vta.

Without Half-Life: Source model exporter

  • Wings3D - a free, open source Nendo-like natural modeling Wikipedia icon IDE.