Miscellaneous 3D Tools & Utilities
Assorted CG utilities and specialty tools.
| Software | Description | License | Tags | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blockbench | Free low-poly/voxel 3D modeler. See also: Software Reference → Misc 3D Utilities Software |
Free | Low-poly · Voxel | Low-poly / voxel modeling |
| darktable | Open-source RAW photo editor for reference/texture processing. See also: Software Reference → Misc 3D Utilities Software |
Open Source | RAW Editor · Open Source | RAW processing |
| Dust3D | Open-source quick base mesh generation. See also: Software Reference → Misc 3D Utilities Software |
Open Source | Base Meshes · Open Source | Base mesh generation |
| Gaea | Terrain generation tool (free community edition). See also: Software Reference → Misc 3D Utilities Software |
Freemium | Terrain Gen · Free Community | Terrain generation |
| Gl Ch Ao S.P | RealTime 3D Strange Attractors scout on GPU. See also: Software Reference → Misc 3D Utilities Software |
Open Source | Strange Attractors · GPU | |
| Hesiod | Free open-source node-based procedural terrain/heightmap generator. See also: Software Reference → Misc 3D Utilities Software |
Open Source | Terrain Gen · Node-based | Procedural terrain |
| IFS Renderer | Free GPU-accelerated fractal renderer with HDR/EXR export. See also: Software Reference → Misc 3D Utilities Software |
Free | Fractals · HDR/EXR | Fractal rendering |
| Mandelbulb3D (thargor6 fork) | A program designed for the Windows platform for generating 3D views of different fractals. See also: Software Reference → 3D Software: Free |
Open Source | Fractals · Windows | |
| Massive | AI-driven crowd simulation pioneered on Lord of the Rings; Massive Prime + plugins for Maya/Max. See also: Software Reference → Pipeline & Production Management Software |
Paid | Industry Standard · Crowd Sim | Feature-film crowd simulation |
| MeshLab | Open-source mesh processing, essential for photogrammetry cleanup. See also: Software Reference → Misc 3D Utilities Software |
Open Source | Mesh Processing · Photogrammetry | Mesh processing |
| OBS Studio | Free screen recording/streaming. Essential for tutorials. See also: Software Reference → Misc 3D Utilities Software |
Open Source | Recording · Streaming | Screen recording, streaming |
| Photopea | Free browser-based Photoshop alternative with full PSD support. See also: Software Reference → Misc 3D Utilities Software |
Free | PSD · Browser | Quick PSD editing |
| Pixie | Pixie is a photorealistic renderer that uses a Pixar's RenderMan-like interface. See also: Software Reference → Misc 3D Utilities Software |
Open Source | RenderMan-like · Renderer | |
| ShareX | Free Windows screen capture with recording and annotation. See also: Software Reference → Misc 3D Utilities Software |
Open Source | Screen Capture · Windows | Screen capture, annotation |
| Storm HydroFX | Real-time liquid and fluid simulation tool. See also: Software Reference → Misc 3D Utilities Software |
Paid | Fluids · FX | Fluid simulation |
| tlRender | Timeline render, is an early stage project for rendering editorial timelines. See also: Software Reference → Misc 3D Utilities Software |
Open Source | Timeline · Editorial |
Related:
- 3DN BIP. Fast image-preview Python library for Blender, a bpy.utils.previews drop-in replacement.
- Advanced Blender Add-on. Starter kit and annotated design patterns for advanced Blender addon development.
- Blender Addon Tester. Pytest-based test harness for running Blender addon tests inside a target Blender version.
- Blender CLI Rendering. Python scripts for rendering images with Blender from the command line.
- Blender Launcher. Standalone client for managing official Blender builds.
- Blender Manager. Standalone app for Blender auto-update, project management, time tracking, addon control and render management.
- Blender Scripting. Python scripting examples for Blender, from simple to advanced.
- Blender Updater CLI. Command-line version of BlenderUpdater.
- Blender Version Manager. Minimal download manager for Blender builds.
- BlenderUpdater. Download and install Blender nightly builds with one click.
- City Roads. Generate road maps of any city as vector art.
- DEM Net Elevation API Freemium. Live 3D textured terrain generation from real data - export height/normal maps, glTF, OBJ, STL
- DEM Net Elevation API C#. Terrain generation from real data with textures, normal maps, glTF, OBJ, STL support
- Developer Documentation. Blender developer docs: development process, design, architecture, and build instructions.
- emojillate. Pixellate an image into emoji
- EZGIF. Online GIF and video editing and conversion tools.
- Fake Bpy Module. Fake Blender Python API modules for IDE code completion.
- Graphtoy. Mathematical function grapher by Inigo Quilez.
- HDRI To Cube Map. A tool to convert your HDRI file into a Cube map.
- Jsplacement. Procedural displacement map generator.
- Kiko. DCC-agnostic animation-curve interchange. Transfers curves between Maya and Nuke.
- Math for Motion. Interactive math concepts for motion graphics.
- Palladio. CityEngine Plugin for Houdini
- Penzil. A web application to sketch in 3d made in three.js and Vue.
- RedKetchup Twitter Downloader. Save MP4 and GIF video from Twitter posts.
- Sorcar. A procedural modeling node-based system which uses Blender and its Python API to create a visual programming environment for artists and developers
- Sprite Stacker. Create pseudo-3D sprite stacks from pixel art with integrated voxel editor (Godot-based, pre-1.0).
- SunCalc. Sun position, golden hour, and shadow visualization for any location and time.
- Tangram Heightmapper. Interactive grayscale heightmap browser, which can generate heightmaps for use in 3D applications.
- Texture Extractor. Extract textures and materials from photos (Godot-based, pre-1.0).
- VFX Camera Database. Reference database of camera sensor sizes, formats, and specs for matchmoving and lens setup.
See also: Tools, Pipeline & Utilities → Matchmoving & Camera Tracking - WebGL Texture Tester. Attempts to load one of every texture format supported by WebGL, intended to quickly show which formats your browser/device supports.
- Wumbo Math Glossary. Visual glossary of math concepts useful for technical art.