Why pay for an expensive 3D modeling software when there are plenty of excellent programs available for free? Selecting the right program can take time, as free software are often more limited. But by combining more than one software, one could have access to all the 3D modeling features needed. The program Blender ranks among the very best 3D modeling free software. This program has an open
. source, which means anyone can improve it or use the code to create something different. Blender allows its users to work with textures, non-linear editing and animation among many other features. This program is probably the most comprehensive free software available at this point in time. Files can be saved in different formats, most of them compatible with other modeling programs. This program is available at http://www.blender.org/ along with many resources and tutorials on 3D modeling. The software known as Art of Illusion allows users to work with skeleton structures. Blender is still better to work on textures when compared to this program, but Art of Illusion makes working with basic structures very easy. Perhaps one could start their project with Art of Illusion and finish it with Blender. Art of Illusion can be downloaded at http://www.artofillusion.org/index. For those who work exclusively on computer games, Zmodeler might be a better choice. This program does not have any features related to extruding or beveling but it makes the integration of 3D models within a game easier. The program can be found here: http://www.zmodeler2.com/. This website also has useful information about 3D modeling in general and computer games. Google SketchUp is the best option for inexperienced users. The programs mentioned above are amazing but they require a certain level of modeling skills. With Google SketchUp, users do not have to know anything about 3D modeling and can simply create 3-dimensional pictures through a simply interface. The program can be found at http://sketchup.google.com/product/gsu.html. More Reference Links: http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/25-free-3d-modelling-applications-you-should-not-miss/ http://www.3dvalley.com/