Living in the age of technology, did you know that 3D character creator software is used in almost all works of art, including animation, movies, and video games? It has shown its amazing charm to the world? For example, it would be almost impossible to create complex monsters or sci-fi movie characters without this type of software.
3D character modeling is the process of creating three-dimensional representations of characters, such as people or D&D figures, usually for animation or video games. Models are usually created using specialized software such as SelfCAD. SelfCAD offers a variety of tools and features designed specifically for this task.
It is important to note that these days, 3D character creator software has become an important part of character design. From the gaming industry to animation, 3D characters are everywhere. These advanced 3D software facilitate complex character design for animation, video games, and advanced illustration.
Creating a 3D character is not difficult, as there is a surprising amount of 3D software available for character design on the market, and it does not require a lot of learning.
In this article, we will introduce you to the 10 best 3D character creator software designs. You can use it to start your 3D character design journey. But before that, let’s take a look at the best ways to create 3D characters.
Top 10 Best Paid And Free 3D Character Creators software in 2024
- SelfCAD
- MakeHuman
- Adobe Fuse CC
- Daz 3D
- Character Creator
- Autodesk Maya
- Poser
- Blender
- ZBrush
- Mixamo
1. SelfCAD
SelfCAD is one of the most popular and easy-to-use 3D character creator software programs. The easy-to-use interface allows you to quickly create any type of character you can imagine. In addition to a variety of tools for creating 3D models from scratch, there are also several shape generators that you can use as the basis for your design and modify it until you get the design you want. Various 3D
The software can be run online or on Windows and macOS, and it also has a hybrid version where the online and downloadable versions are synchronized.
Features
- Comprehensive modeling tools: SelfCAD provides a comprehensive set of character design tools that you can use to create all kinds of 3D characters. These tools include basic shapes, extrusion, and boolean operations, which can be combined to create complex models.
- Powerful sculpting tools: The software’s sculpting brushes are particularly powerful and can be used to create highly detailed characters.
- Animation tools: SelfCAD also includes simple animation tools that you can use to bring your characters to life.
- Built-in slicer: SelfCAD has a built-in online slicer that you can use to prepare your characters for 3D printing if needed. Compatible with most FDM printers. The video below shows you how to use SelfCAD to prepare your design for 3D printing in SelfCAD.
Users: Beginner and advanced users both can be used
Pricing: Free and paid both
Trial: Available for paid version
2. MakeHuman
With over 1170 morphs for effective parametric modeling, MakeHuman is one of the best free and open source 3D modeling software. With its beginner-friendly user interface, MakeHuman offers a wide range of possibilities even for those who have no experience in 3D character design.
MakeHuman combines human features in various ways to create unique 3D characters. It is free and was specifically designed to give beginners control over photorealistic human texture prototypes. It has the widest range of human character manipulation features and provides basic features to 3D characters.
Since it is free software, it is obviously not equipped with professional tools. As mentioned earlier, this open source 3D modeling software is suitable for beginners who want to try their hand at 3D character design.
Features
- MakeHuman is a free and open source 3D character modeling software. Available for Windows, Linux, and OS Operating System
- MakeHuman has a user-friendly interface that allows you to easily create realistic human figures.
- You can create your character by choosing from a variety of body types, faces, and hairstyles.
- MakeHuman also allows you to select from a variety of skin textures and colors, as well as add clothing and accessories to your character.
- MakeHuman supports rigged characters, so you can animate your characters.
- Characters can be exported in a variety of formats, including OBJ, FBX, Collada, and STL.
- This 3D character design software is compatible with a variety of 3D printers, so you can print your characters.
- MakeHuman 3D Character Maker is constantly updated with new features and improvements to ensure you have a bug-free version.
User: Beginner and advanced users can be used.
Price: Completely free
3. Adobe Fuse CC
If you want to improve your 3D character skills and want high-quality 3D design characters, use Adobe Fuse CC as the best 3D character design software. The best way to design your character smoothly is to first model your 3D character in Adobe Fuse CC and import your design into Adobe Photoshop. Adobe Fuse CC also offers customization for the body, clothes, hair, eyes, and more. It is a thesaurus for beginners, so it is not suitable for beginners.
These character design tools are of great benefit to highly skilled professionals. Equipped with an integrated cloud library, Adobe Fuse offers over 3,000 ready-made animations.
Features
- Adobe Fuse CC allows you to create highly detailed 3D characters. It can be used to create realistic 3D characters for use in movies, games, and other digital media.
- You can control every aspect of your character’s appearance, from hairstyles and clothing to facial features and expressions.
- This 3D character creator has a wide range of built-in assets that you can use to create your characters, and you can also create your own custom assets.
- Animate your characters and 3D shapes using keyframes and bring them to life using motion capture data.
- Adobe Fuse CC lets you export your characters in a variety of formats so they can be used in any 3D application.
- Tight integration with Photoshop and Creative Cloud allows you to create great character designs.
Pricing: It is free of cost.
User: Beginner and advanced users can be used.
4. Daz 3D
Daz 3D lets you design realistic 3D characters. It is used for character creation.
This tool includes attractive characters that you can customize to your liking. Michael and Victoria, two attractive models, have become the most used 3D characters in the world.
Daz 3D offers a basic version of its software for free, and each week the studio releases free collections for users to download. Daz 3D character creation software allows you to change various parts of your 3D character model, including body shape, character pose, body accessories and details, and clothing. The free version of this tool is perfect for anyone looking to experiment with 3D character design. Additionally, weekly freebies provide additional resources to help you create unique and attractive character models.
If the free content doesn’t offer enough versatility and you’re not satisfied with the free poseable models, you can purchase premium 3D characters and packaging from Daz 3D’s vast collection.
Features
- A powerful 3D character modeling software, this 3D figure creator offers users many professional features to create high-quality 3D characters.
- Comprehensive tool set: Daz 3D offers a complete set of tools for creating 3D characters, from body shaping and posing to clothing and accessories.
- High-quality models: Daz 3D models are of very high quality, making them suitable for professional production.
- User-friendly interface: The interface of Daz 3D is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy to learn and use the software.
User: Beginner and advanced users can be used.
Price: Price will be available on the website, and the price range is based on requirements.
5. Character Creator
Character Creator is a web-based 3D character design software designed and developed by Autodesk. Character Creator software makes it easy to work with rigid models, especially for animation and video games.
Character Creator allows you to create, customize, and download characters using the character generator. Perform 3D character design services efficiently with a beginner-friendly interface. You don’t need to go through a difficult learning process to get the most out of it.
Features
- Character Creator offers a wide range of 3D character modeling features, making it a powerful tool for creating realistic, high-quality 3D characters.
- Character Creator’s powerful morphing and positioning tools make it easy to create unique 3D characters with a variety of physical features and facial expressions.
- Character Creator’s built-in UV mapping and texture painting tools allow you to quickly create detailed textures for 3D characters.
- Character Creator’s animation tools allow you to create smooth, realistic animations for 3D characters.
- Character Creator’s advanced rendering options allow you to create high-quality renderings of 3D characters suitable for print or digital media.
Pricing: Free and paid version available
6. Autodesk Maya
Maya Autodesk was developed for interactive 3D rendering in video games and animated films. Since its first release in 1998, it has become the industry’s favorite software for character development. It has been used in Game of Thrones, Spider-Man, Halo, and various Pixar cartoons. Maya has set the gold standard for character development, mainly due to its wide range of features.
When it comes to character design, Maya has it all covered. Manage visual effects, 3D animation, rigging, 3D rendering and shading, 3D modeling, and motion graphics.
Maya’s extensive features make it the best 3D model character creator on the market. However, the functionality and customizability of this software come at the cost of two limitations that may influence your decisions.
- High cost: Maya, like other Autodesk products, is not very affordable. The price is $215 per month, $1,700 per year, or $4,590 for three years of access, depending on your billing plan. Such fees can be prohibitive for small independent businesses and completely out of reach for aspiring designers.
- Complexity: Maya is a powerful tool, but it can be difficult for new users to use. The learning path is extensive, and mastering all the features will take a lot of time and effort.
This amazing tool helps you sculpt and paint your characters in a way that other tools can’t even dream of. Additionally, if you need an effective character creation and animation software, Maya is the way to go.
Keep in mind that this software is a big investment and will likely take some time for beginners to get used to.
Features
- Autodesk Maya is powerful 3D character modeling software with a wide range of features and options.
- It provides a comprehensive set of tools for creating highly detailed 3D characters.
- Maya’s advanced subdivision surface algorithms allow you to create extremely high-quality character models quickly and easily.
- The software also includes a comprehensive set of tools for manipulating and animating characters and creating clothing and other accessories.
- Additionally, Maya provides users with the ability to create highly realistic environments and lighting conditions, making it ideal for creating realistic 3D worlds.
7. Poser
Poser is a tool used to create 3D polymesh human figures. They are often featured in popular media, documentaries, and talk shows like The Colbert Report and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Poser’s user interface may not be as advanced as some of the other programs mentioned in this article, but its features are far superior to those of its competitors. One of the most valuable benefits is the vast collection of ready-made content that you can use for your projects.
Poser’s extensive library is filled with countless character models, including humans, cartoon characters, skeletons, and more. Plus, choose from countless facial expressions, hairstyles, body postures, and hand types. The library also offers 3D scenarios to help you create intense and engaging scenes.
Apart from realistic polymer figures, you can also use Poser to create sci-fi characters. Additionally, this software allows you to create human figures that walk, dance, and move like real people.
Features
- Poser is a 3D character modeling software that lets you create high-quality, realistic 3D characters for illustration, animation, comics, and more.
- Poser’s MORPH dial gives you great control over your character’s appearance.
- Poser’s rigging system makes it easy to render and animate your characters.
- Poser comes with a library of pre-made 3D characters and assets.
- Poser is compatible with popular 3D applications such as Maya and 3Ds Max.
- Poser’s rendering engine produces high-quality images and animations.
User: Both beginner and advanced
Pricing: $249
Free trial: Available
8. Blender
Blender is another great 3D character modeling software. It is open source and can be used to create 3D characters, animated movies, video games, and more.
Can be used for both automatic and manual tracking. The user interface is built using OpenGL, which ensures flawless operation.
It has a powerful and unbiased rendering engine that delivers stunningly realistic results. Real-time viewport preview, GPU and CPU rendering, VR rendering, HDR lighting, and PBR shaders are all supported.
It also includes a number of modeling tools that make it easy to design, modify, sculpt, and update your models.
Additionally, results that would normally take too much time to alter manually can be automated using modifiers without affecting the original shape of the item.
Digital sculpting tools provide the flexibility and power needed at various points in the digital creation pipeline. This tool combines sculpting and polygon modeling toolsets to streamline the process from conceptual research to final model creation.
Blender includes object tracking options such as manual, automatic, and planar tracking, as well as a camera out of the box. Rigging and animation are easy with this application.
If you’re having trouble using the application, you can watch free tutorial videos or join forum discussions to ask other users for help. Once you’ve mastered the software and improved your ability to create 3D video game characters, you can sell your creations on the vrstyler.com marketplace and make money from them.
Features
- Blender is free, open-source software that is backed by a strong community.
- This 3D character software has a very user-friendly interface, making it easy to get started with 3D character modeling.
- Blender offers a variety of tools for creating 3D characters, including modeling, rigging, animation, and rendering.
- Blender can be used for both low-poly and high-poly models, making it versatile for many different types of projects.
- Blender supports many common file formats for exporting 3D characters, making them easy to use in other software packages and share with others.
Price: Free of cost
9. ZBrush
Featuring the unique “Pixole” technology, ZBrush is a great alternative to Autodesk apps for modeling, texturing, and painting high-resolution 3D game character models.
More than just a sketching program, it’s also a useful sculpting tool that isn’t as processor-intensive as other 3D character creators.
Features
ZBrush has several unique features that set it apart from its competitors, including:
- 2.5D Tools: In addition to 3D modeling, this software includes 2.5D tools that add 3D rendering to your 2D canvas. As a result, you can create artwork and textures with the effect of depth.
- ZSpheres: This feature has led many to refer to ZBrush as a sculpting tool rather than a 3D modeling tool. Quickly create, build, and animate 3D models from a single sphere, just like a piece of clay.
- PolyPaint: PolyPaint acts like a supercharged paint brush. Color and texture your 3D model using a variety of brushes and patterns. The main advantage is that you can not only add color and texture overlays but also change the texture color of each polygon in your model. This allows you to achieve a seamless and natural look.
- User-friendly interface
- ZBrush has powerful 3D sculpting brushes that help you create realistic designs.
- Very low price compared to other 3D character software.
ZBrush has performed well in creating 3D characters for popular video games like Assassin’s Creed and Gears of War. So, you will definitely have fun creating your video games using this 3D character creator.
User: Both beginners and advanced
Pricing: Starts at $39.95 per month
Free trial: No
10. Mixamo
Mixamo is a web-based 3D character generator that also includes a 3D model builder and animation creation features. The main goal is to provide a rich set of ready-to-use motion capture files. This software is designed for beginners with an intuitive user interface and step-by-step tutorials. You can upload your own custom character and attach a fully-fledged human skeleton ready for animation to your model. Additionally, Mixamo offers a vast collection of high-quality 3D models, providing users with complete flexibility.
Mixamo is a powerful platform that offers a variety of features for digital asset management and is a useful tool for creating 3D animations. With the ability to import media and access a vast library of content, Mixamo offers users a ton of options. Additionally, the platform offers a variety of transitions and animations that can be easily applied to your characters, making the animation process more efficient. Mixamo’s feature-rich environment provides a comprehensive solution for both 3D animators and game developers.
Features
- Mixamo offers a variety of 3D characters to choose from.
- Mixamo’s powerful editing tools make it easy to customize your character’s appearance.
- Mixamo’s animation capabilities are top-notch, allowing you to create realistic and lifelike movements for your characters.
- This software is very user-friendly and allows you to easily get started with 3D character modeling.
Price: $150 per month
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best 3D character creator?
Daz3D is a popular software for creating 3D characters. It is widely used by everyone, from beginners to professionals. Daz3D has a library of pre-made assets such as characters, clothing, and props. It allows users to quickly assemble and customize 3D models.
What is the best 3D model AI generator?
- Masterpiece X: Best in terms of ease of use.
- Rococo Vision: Ideal for full-body motion capture in real-time.
- Spline: Perfect for collaboration and team projects.
- Sloyd: Great for customization.
- 3DFY AI: Perfect for games and architecture.
- Luma AI: Perfect for artistic video creation.
What is the best 3D model creator?
Autodesk Maya
Maya is one of the primary tools used by 3D artists to create 3D models ranging from simple geometric shapes to environments and characters. Maya’s various features include modeling tools for shaping 3D objects using polygons and NURBS modeling.
Top 10: Best free AI 3D model generator websites
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