Free<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Sketchup <\/a>is mostly an architectural visualization program, with all other uses coming later. But it\u2019s just about as simple as 3d programs get (although I recommend you watch the tutorials, because the controls are unintuitive if you go in blind) and perfect for making bases that you can draw or paint over.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Blender<\/a>, on the other hand, is capable of anything the big boys are, but the learning curve is infamously steep.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"Blender](\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2019\/09\/1-blender-1024x576.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
Blender architectural visualization by DennisWoo1993<\/a>. Created and rendered in-program.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- Daz Studio<\/a> <\/b><\/b>is free (with microtransactions for extra models and backgrounds) and best for character posing and scene mockups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Unreal Engine<\/b><\/a> can be used to make excellent backgrounds, but since it\u2019s intended for games, there\u2019s a learning curve involving a lot of things you might feel distract from your art itself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Sculptris <\/b><\/a>is the premier free 3d sculpting program. It\u2019s no longer updated\u2014offered as a legacy download with no support\u2014but the price is right.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Paid:<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- ZBrush<\/b> <\/a>is the reigning king of 3d sculpting. Definitely the most common tool you\u2019ll see integrated into digital painters\u2019 workflows for things like character art.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 3dCoat <\/b><\/a>is a far cheaper, up-and-coming alternative that\u2019s making a lot of waves in the production industries. Side note: sculpting programs work best with tablets, so if you\u2019re in the market for one, we make those...<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Maya<\/b> <\/a>and 3DSMax<\/b><\/a> are the industry standards for dedicated character and object modeling. They\u2019re very expensive, and if you\u2019re strictly a 2d artist, you almost definitely won\u2019t be using these, but any decent list has to include them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Modo <\/b><\/a>is a simpler, faster, and cheaper version of the above.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Poser <\/b><\/a>is like Daz, but paid, and with less user-created content. It makes up for it by being more intuitive and arguably more flexible, however.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Preparing a 3d Model<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We can\u2019t cover the actual process of obtaining one of these programs and learning to use it, so let\u2019s skip ahead a bit. You\u2019re at the point where you have a nice, finished model ready to go. What\u2019s the best way to render it for use in a painting?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The specific settings for what light and color settings to use vary wildly from program to program....<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sidenote: Render Engines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re new to 3d, these are the programs that turn your image from a blocky shape in a program to a pretty finished picture, allowing you to set lighting conditions and the details of how you want your exported image to look. They can be bought in packs with 3d software, or as standalone programs that you load your model files into. The most popular one is VRay<\/b><\/a>, but there are some freeware options available like LuxRender <\/b><\/a>and Kerkythea<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"LuxCoreRender](\"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2019\/09\/2-blender.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
LuxCoreRender image by CG Cookie<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOf particular note to digital artists, are non-photorealistic, or \u201ctoon,\u201d shaders. These are sub-programs within most rendering engines that render your image in a \u201ccel\u201d style with hard edges and more vivid colors. These come bundled with some programs like 2019\u2019s Z-Brush, or they can be purchased separately, often as a setting or plugin for a standalone render engine. Freestyle<\/b> <\/a>is a freeware program packaged with Blender that renders clean lineart, which might prove invaluable for things like comic art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Daz Studio<\/a> <\/b><\/b>is free (with microtransactions for extra models and backgrounds) and best for character posing and scene mockups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Unreal Engine<\/b><\/a> can be used to make excellent backgrounds, but since it\u2019s intended for games, there\u2019s a learning curve involving a lot of things you might feel distract from your art itself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Sculptris <\/b><\/a>is the premier free 3d sculpting program. It\u2019s no longer updated\u2014offered as a legacy download with no support\u2014but the price is right.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Paid:<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- ZBrush<\/b> <\/a>is the reigning king of 3d sculpting. Definitely the most common tool you\u2019ll see integrated into digital painters\u2019 workflows for things like character art.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 3dCoat <\/b><\/a>is a far cheaper, up-and-coming alternative that\u2019s making a lot of waves in the production industries. Side note: sculpting programs work best with tablets, so if you\u2019re in the market for one, we make those...<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Maya<\/b> <\/a>and 3DSMax<\/b><\/a> are the industry standards for dedicated character and object modeling. They\u2019re very expensive, and if you\u2019re strictly a 2d artist, you almost definitely won\u2019t be using these, but any decent list has to include them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Modo <\/b><\/a>is a simpler, faster, and cheaper version of the above.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Poser <\/b><\/a>is like Daz, but paid, and with less user-created content. It makes up for it by being more intuitive and arguably more flexible, however.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Preparing a 3d Model<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We can\u2019t cover the actual process of obtaining one of these programs and learning to use it, so let\u2019s skip ahead a bit. You\u2019re at the point where you have a nice, finished model ready to go. What\u2019s the best way to render it for use in a painting?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The specific settings for what light and color settings to use vary wildly from program to program....<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sidenote: Render Engines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re new to 3d, these are the programs that turn your image from a blocky shape in a program to a pretty finished picture, allowing you to set lighting conditions and the details of how you want your exported image to look. They can be bought in packs with 3d software, or as standalone programs that you load your model files into. The most popular one is VRay<\/b><\/a>, but there are some freeware options available like LuxRender <\/b><\/a>and Kerkythea<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LuxCoreRender image by CG Cookie<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Of particular note to digital artists, are non-photorealistic, or \u201ctoon,\u201d shaders. These are sub-programs within most rendering engines that render your image in a \u201ccel\u201d style with hard edges and more vivid colors. These come bundled with some programs like 2019\u2019s Z-Brush, or they can be purchased separately, often as a setting or plugin for a standalone render engine. Freestyle<\/b> <\/a>is a freeware program packaged with Blender that renders clean lineart, which might prove invaluable for things like comic art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- 3dCoat <\/b><\/a>is a far cheaper, up-and-coming alternative that\u2019s making a lot of waves in the production industries. Side note: sculpting programs work best with tablets, so if you\u2019re in the market for one, we make those...<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Unreal Engine<\/b><\/a> can be used to make excellent backgrounds, but since it\u2019s intended for games, there\u2019s a learning curve involving a lot of things you might feel distract from your art itself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n