3D Animation Software

The products we reviewed are powerful and intricate, which makes choosing between them difficult. To help you decide which application is right for you, we have highlighted the most import aspects of the best 3D animation software packages: features, the user interface and software extensibility.

Modeling Features There are multiple modeling styles, including polygon, subdivision and NURBS. Most 3D animation software packages specialize in the polygon and subdivision modeling methods, but the best packages offer NURBS as well. This curve-based modeling technique is ideal for building smooth, organic surfaces necessary for creating things like cars. We also recommend that you look for a soft-selection tool for easy, accurate modeling.

You should select software that simulates a wide range of materials, like muscle, fur, hair, liquid and skin. These materials go a long way towards creating believable characters and settings for your animations. Having them available within your application (without a cumbersome plugin) will make them much easier to apply to your models.

Animation Features Your character models can really come to life in the animation stage of production if you have the right features at your disposable. We recommend software with support for multiple animation layers with editable motion trails and extra tracks for audio effects. Pose blending also makes the process of animating characters a pleasant and efficient process.

Intuitive User Interface (Those uninitiated in 3D modeling) may find themselves lost at the helm within the ocean of features and tools (packed into the user interface before them). Unless you have prior experience, you should choose an application (that is easy to understand). Intuitive placing of buttons and features will allow you to find what you need without fighting through manuals. We also recommend a customizable user interface for the professionals out there — creating a workspace (that fits your unique workflow style) can greatly increase your productivity.)

Extensibility 3D animation software packages can do a lot, but the scope of their functionality can't possibly cover everything you might want do. That is where extensibility comes into play. If your software can't do (what you have in mind), you can extend it with plugins and scripts. This gives you the freedom to add functions and features to meet your specific needs.

References:

Top 3 Best FREE 3D Animation Software (2016-2017)

Best 3D Design and Animation Software (Open Source / Free)

3D ANIMATION AND MOVIE MAKING SOFTWARE - FREE DOWNLOAD

Vocabulary Bank

intricate錯綜複雜的；複雜精細的

multiple 多種的

modeling 建模

polygon 多角形

package 套裝組件

specialize in 專精於

curve-based 曲線為基礎的

technique 技術

organic 生物的

surface 表面

soft-selection 選擇輕鬆舒適的

simulate 模擬

a wide range of 大範圍的

material素材

muscle肌肉

fur（獸類的）軟毛

go a long way用很長時間

character 角色

setting 環境

cumbersome累贅的；麻煩的

plugin 外掛

dispose (v) 處置, 處理

disposal (n) 可任意處理的

at your disposable 由你支配

layer層

editable motion trail 可編輯的動作蹤跡

pose 姿勢

blending 混合

efficient有效率的

intuitive直覺的

Initiate (v) 開始; 起始; 啟動

Initiation (n)

Initiated (adj) 開始的

helm 舵

at the helm掌權；控制

unless除非

manual手冊

Customize (v) 客製化

Customizable (a) 可客製化的

Extend (v) 延伸

Extensive (a) 延伸的

Extensible (a) 可延伸的

Extensibility (n) 可延伸性

scope範圍，領域

functionality功能

script 腳本，底稿