Category: Game Environment Art
June 11, 2013 (updated: June 26, 2013)
An Overview Of The Best 3D Printing Software Tools. Every 3D print begins as a 3D model generated in a modeling program. Years ago, we had to spend lots of money and time to acquire and learn modeling software. Now, there are many easy-to-use modeling software options available, many of which are free. The software is used in graphic design, product design, and game design, but it can be used by anyone interested in 2D and 3D modeling. This free 3D modeling program doesn’t require previous experience, just a basic knowledge of the design concepts.
What software/applications do you need to create game environment art?
The following article is a list of software you would need to know and use to create game environments.
I narrowed the list down to essentials few to get you started in the right direction. After you've gone through this article you should have a strong foundation of what software you would need. From there you could choose to explore alternative applications. This is not a complete list of software and it is subjective, based on my experience and what I've seen environment artist use majority of the time.
Video Game Modeling Software
- Illustration of how the Game Development Software market will grow during 2018-2022. From the above infographic, we find that the game design software market will experience incremental growth between 2018 and 2022.
- Blender is the free and open source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, video editing and 2D animation pipeline.
In this tutorial you will learn:
- What software you will need to create game environments with
- Software for various production pipelines such as Modeling, Texturing, Sculpting etc
- Essential list of software you would need to get started
- List of free alternative versions of software
- Updated with new software and categories
I also included 'What I Use' section, to see what software I use and recommend.
I've split software into pipeline categories. From visual development to modeling to rendering your work inside a game engine.
I've also listed free alternative applications that you could use.
The categories are split into following pipelines:
- Concept Art and Visual Development
- Modeling
- Sculpting
- Retopology
- Normal Maps and Baking
- Texturing
- UV Unwrapping
- Terrain Generation Tools
- Rendering Your Modeled Assets - Game Engines
- Video Recording and Showcasing Your Work
ESSENTIAL SOFTWARE FOR BEGINNERS
Before we get started, a quick note for beginners. You do not need software in each category. If you are just starting out, here is the minimum you need to get started creating 3d game environments. Focus on the following categories.
Modeling, Texturing, Normal Maps/Baking and Rendering (Game Engines).
If you have one software from the above 4 categories, you should be set to get started. As a beginner, limit the amount of software you learn and use to the core essentials. Once you get more comfortable using the toolset within each software, then you can begin to explore additional and alternative tools.
For example: If I were to start all over again this would be the software from the four basic categories that I would recommend to myself.
Modeling: Maya or 3dsMax
Texturing: Photoshop
Normal Maps/Baking: xNormal and nDo2
Game Engine (Rendering): UDK (Unreal 3), CryEngine 3 or Unity
Texturing: Photoshop
Normal Maps/Baking: xNormal and nDo2
Game Engine (Rendering): UDK (Unreal 3), CryEngine 3 or Unity
This would be the basic core I would start with.
Ok, lets get started...
CONCEPT ART/VISUAL DEVELOPMENT
Although concept art is not a requirement for environment artist, it is a very valuable discipline to be familiar with. Color, value, composition, design. At some point you may want to create your own concept designs to work from. Concept art and visual development often involves digital and matte painting. Adobe Photoshop or Painter are primary tools you'd need. Free alternative is Gimp.
Software:
- Adobe Photoshop ($)
- Painter ($)
- Gimp (Free)
What I Use: Photoshop
MODELING
Essential piece of software for any game environment artist. There are a lot of 3d modeling applications out there to choose from. But the core two are 3dsMax and Maya, these are the industry standard software. These are complete 3d packages that include an extensive modeling toolset. If you can learn to be very proficient with 3dsMax or Maya, you'll be at a very good place in your 3d modeling process. Free alternative to Max or Maya is Blender.
There are a few additional alternatives such as Softimage, Modo and Cinema4D, but they do not have a very strong user base for real-time game engine work. Some artist do use them but they are not as powerful as Maya or 3dsMax.
Software:
- Maya ($)
- 3dsMax ($)
- Blender (Free)
![Best Game Modeling Software Best Game Modeling Software](https://assets.goodfirms.co/blog/general/1555390185-blender---3d-modeling-software.png)
What I Use: Maya
Alternatives: few other suggestions for alternative 3d modeling software
- Softimage XSI ($)
- Modo ($)
- Lightwave 3D ($)
- Cinema4D ($)
3D SCULPTING
Digital sculpting is a process of creating a high poly models. End result would be to acquire normal maps through baking high poly onto a low poly model. Sculpting is primarily used for high poly organic models but hard surface models can often be seen through a 3d sculpting pipeline as well. 3d modeling and 3d sculpting go hand-in-hand. If you are a beginner, focus on 3d modeling first before you start learning 3d sculpting. Two primary sculpting applications are Mudbox and Zbrush.
Software:
- Mudbox ($) powerful and works fluently with other Autodesk products such as 3dsMax and Maya
- ZBrush ($) very powerful sculpting package that many prefer over Mudbox
- Sculptris (Currently still Free)
- 3DCoat ($) cheaper alternative to ZBrush and Mudbox, uses voxel sculpting; in additon to sculpting also includes retopology, uvlayout and texture painting
What I Use: Currently Mudbox, but I've been looking at switching to ZBrush
RETOPOLOGY
Retopology allows you to rework polygon flow of your model. Topology flow is very important when creating characters or objects with deformation and for animation. You can model with topology flow in mind from the start using your 3d modeling software, but you can also use additional application to help you with topology later on during your project. This way you can model more freely in the beginning and fix your polygon flow later on.
- 3dCoat ($) very good for retopology, also includes texture painting, voxel sculpting and uv layout toolsets
- Topogun ($) another very good retopology application that many 3d artist prefer
TEXTURING
Texturing (texture mapping) is applying a 2d image (photo or hand painted image) to a 3d model. Texturing environments requires few things. Unwraping and uv layout, access to photography to use as base for textures, photo manipulation and digital painting.
Unwrapping and laying out uvs will require a 3d application such as Max or Maya. Or a stand alone application such as Roadkill UV or TexTools.
For painting and creating textures you will need Photoshop. Free texturing alternative is Gimp.
Software:
3d Modeling Games Online
- Adobe Photoshop ($)
- Gimp (Free)
What I Use: Photoshop
NORMAL MAPPING/BAKING
Normal mapping is used to fake object surface detail of high-resolution geometry to a low-poly mesh model. This is done through a normal map texture. When you apply a normal map to a low polygonal mesh, it will create an illusion of extra geometry and surface detail without adding additional polygons.
You will either bake your normal maps inside a 3d modeling app (3dsMax or Maya), or use additional software for baking such as xNormal (free).
Sometimes you need to add additional detail without having to re-bake your models or you don't have the time to create high poly to bake from. You will need additional normal mapping tools that will get the job done. Software such as nDo2 or Crazybump allow you to create normal maps from heightmaps, photos or simply hand painting additional detail.
Software:3d baking, requires a high poly mesh and low poly mesh to generate a normal map
- XNormal (Free) 3d normal map baking tool, great for baking high poly mesh to low poly mesh, what you end up with is a normal map
- Blender (Free) includes ability to bake normal maps using high poly and low poly meshes
Software: 2d texture (diffuse/heightmap) normal map generators, requires a photo or a heightmap to generate a normal map
- NVidia Photoshop Filter (Free) plug-in for 2d normal maps in Photoshop
- Gimp Normal Map Plugin (Free) requires Gimp which is free; this is an alternative to NVidia PS Filter Plugin
- nDo2 ($) very good 2d normal map generator software for Photoshop
- CrazyBump ($) stand alone 2d normal map software; in additona to normal maps, allows you to generate occlusion maps, heightmaps, specular maps
- Mindtex ($) much cheaper and a very good alternative to CrazyBump; in addition to normal maps, allows you to generate height, specular, self illumination, and/or ambient occlusion maps
- Knald (currently free and in beta) in addition to normal maps, allows you to generate occlusion, concavity/convexity maps and heightmaps
What I Use: nDo2, nVidia Photoshop Filter, xNormal
UV UNWRAPPING
UV unwrapping is a process of laying out your 3d model's texture coordinates in 2d; for texturing. Most of 3d applications have their own UV mapping tools, and many prefer to use that. But there are additional software, stand-alone or that adds extra functionality to the 3d application's UV mapping that makes the job a lot easier. UV mapping tends to be very time consuming so any help to speed up the process is a huge plus.
So you have an option of using 3d application's UV mapping tools or any of the software below:
- 3D Modeling Application: most if not all of the 3d application software will have their own uv mapping tools
- Headus UVLayout ($) a common favorite for unwrapping, UVLayout is a stand-alone application
- Ultimate Unwrap 3D ($)
- RoadKill (Free) is a standalone application that can be called from Maya, 3DS Max and Softimage XSI
There are also plenty of free and paid plug-ins for most 3d applications that give you additional functionality to unwrapping and laying out your UVs.
What I Use: I like using Maya's UV mapping tools.
HEIGHTMAP (TERRAIN) CREATION TOOLS
(World Machine)
![Game Game](https://media.blendernation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sci-fi.jpg)
Heightmap generator will allow you to procedurally generate large, detailed terrain heightmaps or geometry that you then can use to import into a game engine. It also allows you to create textures and texture masks. Instead of trying to create large size landscape by hand, you will have most of the terrain generated for you.
Software:
- World Machine ($ and free basic edition)
- Terragen 2 ($ and free non-commercial edition)
- HMES TerreSculptor (Currently in beta and free)
- L3DT ($ and free basic edition)
GAME ENGINES
To see your environment assets in-game you will need to import them into a game engine. Models you see in 3d application may not be how they will look in-game. The best way to see how your environment models will be rendered in-game is to import them into a game engine. You shouldn't be rendering anything in Maya, Max (except for wireframes) or composting your images using Nuke, Combustion or any other software. Final results you want is how your environment art looks in-game.
I wrote an extensive tutorial of recommended Game Engines here.
VIDEO EDITNG/VIDEO CAPTURING
(Adobe® Premiere CS2)
Solely for screenshots, you can use inside the game functions to grab a screenshot or simply just Print Screen. Then use Photoshop to resize and save the image.
To create a video environment fly-through or to showcase your work in a reel you will need to capture your video footage, then edit and produce that footage to a video file that can be easily viewed or/and uploaded.
Software Video Capture:
- Camtasia ($)
- Fraps ($ and free limited version)
- Dxtory ($) alternative to Fraps
- Open Broadcast Software (Free)
Software Video Editing:
- Premiere ($)
- Sony Vegas ($)
- Final Cut ($)Mac only
- Windows Movie Maker (comes with Windows)
What I Use: Camtasia, Fraps and Premiere
OTHER / MISC:
3d Modeling Software Free Online
Few other additional software that doesn't fall into any above categories but important part of the production are for online file storage, back up and synching, writing notes, creating lists and looking up research online.
Some common software:
- Dropbox (file hosting and synching)
- Webhosting and Domain ($ for a website, free for many online blogs such as Wordpress)
- Chrome/ FireFox web browsers for research and image reference
- Notepad or MS Word or Pen and Paper: notes, lists, to do
- Image Viewers: irFanView, XnView, FastStone
What I Use: Dropbox, Chrome/Firefox/IE, MS Word, pen and paper
A collection of best free 3d modeling software for you. 3D modeling software is used for animation, sculpting, visualization, simulate and ender graphic designs. 3D modeling programs are mostly in a variety of industries such as architecture, construction, film, television, video games, product development, science and medical industries.
If you are looking free 3d model creator software, here we are presenting some useful 3D modeling software that you can use for free. These are the best free software to create 3d models for beginners and students.
The best free 3d modeling software will allow you to turn individual ideas into beautiful models and prototypes. Let’s take a look at the list of best free 3d modeling tools free download.
Best Free 3D Modeling Software
Wings 3D Modelling Software
Wings 3D is a free open-source subdivision modeling software with a wide variety of selection and 3d modeling tools. DOWNLOAD and wings 3d review Available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Learn 3D modeling video tutorials for free
Sculptris
Sculptris is a virtual sculpting software program. If you enjoy sculpture and want to make organic models, then try using a digital sculpting tool like Sculptris. DOWNLOAD&Sculptris features
Open SCAD
OpenSCAD is the best free software for creating solid 3D CAD objects. This simple 3d program is available for Linux/UNIX, MS Windows and Mac OS X. Download 3d object creator Open SCAD
Daz Studio
POWERFUL and FREE 3D creation software tool that is not only easy to use yet but feature and functionality rich. Whether you are a novice or proficient 3D artist or 3D animator – Daz Studio enables you to create AMAZING 3D Art. Download
Daz Studio has built in file export capabilities. This means that all of your Daz 3D content can easily be imported into other popular 3D software tools such as 3DS Max, Mudbox and Maya.Export formats include: Autodesk FBX, COLLADA, OBJ, BVH and Universal 3D.
AutoDesk 123D
AutoDesk 123D is a suite of CAD and 3D-modeling tools. It supports 3D printing technology. It consists of various tools to create, design, and render 3D models. The websites also offer more than 10,000 free 3D models to get inspiration from, fun experiments, or for use in personal projects. AutoDesk 123D is available for Windows, macOS, iOS | Android (soon) DOWNLOAD
3D Crafter
3D Crafter is a free real-time 3D modelling and animation tool that incorporates an intuitive drag-and-drop approach to 3D modelling. You can easily import 3D file formats for popular software like 3D Studio, AutoCAD, Maya, trueSpace, DirectX and more. Download free
Best Game Modeling Software Free
DesignSpark
Free, easy to use professional CAD software, for mechanical, electrical and electronic designs.Whether you are a professional engineer, hobbyist or a maker, our range of CAD tools are the perfect addition to your design arsenal. DOWNLOAD
DesignSpark Mechanical is a free 3D CAD (computer-aided design) solid modeling software with a huge library of CAD models, and the interactive BOM interface saves you time and money when designing and costing your project.
DesignSpark Electrical is free electrical CAD software. This is a bespoke electrical CAD solution for engineering professionals looking to save time and create error-free designs.
LeoCAD free 3d modeling tool
LeoCAD is a CAD program for creating virtual LEGO models. It has an easy to use interface and currently includes over 6000 different pieces. Download
MeshMagic 3D free 3d design software
MeshMagic 3D is a free 3d design software for viewing and editing STL files, 3D renderings and 3D files. Import STL files created with CAD and drafting software, use our 3D modelling software to rotate and rescale existing meshes. easily expand simple 2D outlines into 3D renderings. Download
Open Cascade 3D Applications
Open Cascade Technology is developing open source software for 3D CAD, CAM, CAE, etc. DOWNLOAD
VUE Pioneer – easy 3d modeling
Create vast expanses of terrains, add trees, select the best point of view and render hyper-realistic images of your landscapes in moody atmospheres. VUE Pioneer 2016 is a great way to learn 3D. It’s so easy to use that you’ll be composing amazing 3D landscapes in no time. Download
3DReshaper
3DReshaper is an easy-to-use and affordable software dedicated to point cloud processing for various applications. It is a complete toolbox to meet many 3D modeling or inspection needs. Thanks to its Topography module, this is an essential software for all surveyors working with point clouds. Download