3DCrafter

There is a number of 3D modeling software out there, some better than others, but they are either expensive or too difficult to use. A good alternative is 3D Crafter. It allows for real time modeling and animation in a fully interactive 3D environment. You can create and customize any shape, making it look however you want, on a simple drag and drop basis. Its advantages over other similar programs include the following: you can simply download it from the Internet, it is easier to use and it's free.

Like previously stated, you can simply download the software from the Internet. The setup package is 23 Mb, so you can get it even with a slower connection if you have a little patience. There is no need for a state of the art computer to run 3D Crafter. You can run it smoothly even on an average machine.

The main area of the interface features a 3D environment, a tool bar, beneath the top menus and on the right edge of the window, and a broader tool panel on the left side of the window. You can customize the interface by moving the tool panel to a different position or adding other ones. When running the program for the first time, it is recommended that you leave everything the way you find it because you can still get lost. Tips will be displayed every time you launch the program and you can enable a whole panel with step by step instructions by clicking the Tutorial viewer option in the Help menu.

To create and edit simple shapes, you can make use of the panel on the left side of the window. It contains different navigation tabs, for switching between various sets of tools. You can find a series of pre set shapes, like cubes, cylinders, spheres and others, in the Component section of the panel. These shapes can be added in the 3D environment with simple click and drag actions. It is also possible to create custom shapes by clicking and dragging an option, beneath the presets. This will bring up a window where you can draw a shape by adding anchor points, just like with a pen tool. If you switch to the Material view on the tool panel, you can find options for adding colors or textures to a shape. This is done easily by selecting a shape in the 3D environment and clicking on a color or texture on the tool panel. Textures can be added from a list of presets or from a file on your hard drive.

The shape of an added object can be modified at any time by clicking and dragging one of its faces, edges or corners. To do this, you must select the appropriate tool from the right edge of the interface. When you hover with this tool over one of the object's edges, faces or corners, it will be highlighted. This way, you can be sure of what you are dragging. Another way to reshape an object is to use a deform tool. It works like a magic wand, meaning that it will detect all the points which you can grab and drag.

A 3D environment means that there is some zooming, rotating or panning involved. The view can be orientated in a certain direction or you can set a zoom level by simply moving the mouse while holding down the middle button. To rotate the view around an object, you must perform the same action while the cursor is placed over it. This will come in useful if you want to make sure that an object is placed or reshaped precisely. In some cases, the 3D view can be more hindering than helpful. That is why you can also view your objects in a 2D perspective, from an angle of your choosing. The easiest way to change the view mode is to hover with the cursor over an icon, in the upper right corner, and choose one of the options which will pop out. You can also set the objects or the "floor" in the 3D environment to look different with the aid of the same icon.