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<!-- ## page was renamed from Tools -->
 
= Category Tools =
 
  
 
== Popularity ==
 
There are no accurate publicly-available data sources about which art software packages are the most popular for game development. There is only a loose consensus about which tools are used the most often. The choice of art software is usually very subjective, or is forced upon the artist by the studio pipeline. Expense is usually not a concern, given the ratio of cost vs. saved time and effort.
 
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|[[#Main_3D_Software_Packages|Main 3D Software Packages]]
 
|  3ds Max
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|[[#3D_Modeling_Software|3D Modeling Software]]
 
|  Modo
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|[[#3D_Animation_Software|3D Animation Software]]
 
|  MotionBuilder
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|[[#3D_Sculpting_Software|3D Sculpting Software]]
 
|  ZBrush
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|[[#Decimation_Software|Decimation Software]]
 
|  Meshlab
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|[[#Re-Topology_Software|Re-Topology Software]]
 
|  TopoGun
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|[[#3D_Paint_Software|3D Paint Software]]
 
|  BodyPaint 3D
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|[[#3D_Normal_Map_Software|3D Normal Map Software]]
 
|  Xnormal
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|[[#3D_Texture_Coordinate_Software|3D Texture Coordinate Software]]
 
|  UVLayout (?)
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|[[#Main_2D_Software|Main 2D Software]]
 
|  Photoshop
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|[[#2D_Concepting_Software|2D Concepting Software]]
 
|  Painter
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|[[#2D_Vector_Software|2D Vector Software]]
 
|  Illustrator
 
|}
 
 
== 3D Tools ==
 
<span id="Animation_And_Modeling_Complete_Software"></span>
 
=== Main 3D Software Packages ===
 
These are "complete" 3D packages with a wide variety of art tools. However external packages are often used in conjunction with the main package, since some of the included tools are often not quite as efficient or strong as external specialized packages.
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
 
|<#383838>|'''Package'''
 
|<#383838>|'''Company'''
 
|<#383838>|'''Supported OS'''
 
|<#383838>|'''Price'''
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|3ds Max [[#3ds_Max|Image:Category:Tools/attachments/icon-info.png]]
 
|  Autodesk
 
|  Windows
 
|  $3,495
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Animation:Master
 
|  Hash Inc.
 
|  Windows
 
|  $299
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Blender
 
|  Blender Foundation
 
|  Linux/Mac/Windows
 
|  Free
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Cinema 4D
 
|  MAXON
 
|  Windows
 
|  $995
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Houdini
 
|  Side Effects Software
 
|  Linux/Mac/Windows
 
|  $1,995
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|LightWave 3D
 
|  NewTek
 
|  Mac/Windows
 
|  $895
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Maya [[#Maya|Image:Category:Tools/attachments/icon-info.png]]
 
|  Autodesk
 
|  Linux/Mac/Windows
 
|  $3,495
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Softimage XSI [[#Softimage_XSI|Image:Category:Tools/attachments/icon-info.png]]
 
|  Autodesk
 
|  Windows
 
|  $2,995
 
|}
 
 
=== 3D Modeling Software ===
 
These packages are used mostly for 3D modeling, though they often have additional features as well.
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
 
|<#383838>|'''Package'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Company'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Supported OS'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Price'''
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Carrara
 
|  Daz3D
 
|  Mac/Windows
 
|  $74.98
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Hexagon
 
|  Daz3D
 
|  Mac/Windows
 
|  $150
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|metasequoia
 
|  N/A
 
|  Windows
 
|  Free
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Milkshape 3D
 
|  ChumbaLumSoft
 
|  Windows
 
|  $35
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Modo
 
|  Luxology
 
|  Mac/Windows
 
|  $995
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Rhino3D
 
|  N/A
 
|  Mac/Windows
 
|  $995
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Silo
 
|  Nevercenter
 
|  Mac/Windows
 
|  $109
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|SketchUp
 
|  Google
 
|  Mac/Windows
 
|  $495
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Wings3D
 
|  IZWare
 
|  Linux/Mac/Windows
 
|  Free
 
|}
 
 
=== 3D Animation Software ===
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
 
|<#383838>|'''Package'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Company'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Supported OS'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Price'''
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Anim8or
 
|  N/A
 
|  Windows
 
|  Free
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|CharacterFX
 
|  Insane Software
 
|  Windows
 
|  Free
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Messiah Studio
 
|  pmG Worldwide
 
|  Mac/Windows
 
|  $399
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|MotionBuilder
 
|  Autodesk
 
|  Windows
 
|  $3,995
 
|}
 
 
=== 3D Sculpting Software ===
 
[[DigitalSculpting|Digital sculpting]] is the process of creating a high-resolution 3D model with a series of painting strokes, using a pressure-sensitive tablet or screen. Usually the details from these models are baked into a [[NormalMap]] for a lower-resolution in-game model. Often these tools include 3D painting as well.
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
 
|<#383838>|'''Package'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Company'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Supported OS'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Price'''
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|3DCoat
 
|  Pilgway
 
|  Linux/Mac/Windows
 
|  $285
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Amorphium
 
 
 
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Curvey3D
 
|  Aartform
 
|  Windows
 
|  $99
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Mudbox
 
|  Autodesk
 
|  Mac/Windows
 
|  $745
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Sculptris [[#Sculptris|Image:Category:Tools/attachments/icon-info.png]]
 
|  N/A
 
|  Windows
 
|  Free
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Silo
 
 
 
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|ZBrush
 
|  Pixologic
 
|  Mac/Windows
 
|  $595
 
|}
 
 
=== Decimation Software ===
 
Decimation means to reduce the triangle count of a highly-detailed model, often created via [[DigitalSculpting|digital sculpting]]. This makes the model easier to load, manipulate, and render in other applications. Decimation tools should preserve the model's essential form without degrading texture coordinates or material boundaries.
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
 
|<#383838>|'''Package'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Company'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Supported OS'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Price'''
 
|-
 
|<#000000>| Atangeo Balancer
 
 
 
 
|-
 
|<#000000>| Decimate Modifier (Blender)
 
 
 
 
|-
 
|<#000000>| Decimation Master (ZBrush)
 
 
 
 
|-
 
|<#000000>| Mesh Reduce (Maya)
 
 
 
 
|-
 
|<#000000>| Meshlab
 
 
 
 
|-
 
|<#000000>| MultiRes (3ds Max)
 
 
 
 
|-
 
|<#000000>| Optimize (3ds Max)
 
 
 
 
|-
 
|<#000000>| Polygon Cruncher
 
 
 
 
|-
 
|<#000000>| Polygon Reduction (Softimage XSI)
 
 
 
 
|-
 
|<#000000>| ProOptimizer (3ds Max)
 
 
 
 
|}
 
 
=== Re-Topology Software ===
 
Re-topology means creating a new mesh surface from scratch, that conforms to an existing "messy" mesh, often created via [[DigitalSculpting|digital sculpting]]. Messy meaning that it either has too much detail or has a [[Topology|topology]] that's not the best for texturing, shading, or animation. The details from the "messy" mesh are transferred to the new re-topologized mesh by baking a [[DisplacementMap]] or [[NormalMap]]. The new mesh can either be used directly in-game, or it can be used as the control cage for a [[Subdivision Surface Modeling|subdivision surface]].
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
 
|<#383838>|'''Package'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Company'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Supported OS'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Price'''
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|3D Coat
 
 
 
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Max_Retopo (for 3ds Max)
 
 
 
|  free
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|TopoGun
 
|  PixelMachine Srl.
 
|  Linux/Mac/Windows
 
|  $100
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Wrapit (for 3ds Max)
 
 
 
 
|}
 
 
=== 3D Paint Software ===
 
Many of the [[#Main_3D_Software_Packages|main packages]] include bare-bones 3D paint tools ([[PaintingAcrossSeams#Integrated_3D_Paint|partial list here]]), and most [[#3D_Sculpting_Software|sculpting software]] also has 3D paint. The Blender site has a [http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Dev:Ref/Competitor_Analysis/Texturing list of 3D paint programs here]. The following tools are dedicated to 3D paint:
 
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
 
|<#383838>|'''Package'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Company'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Supported OS'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Price'''
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Blacksmith3D Paint
 
|  BlackSmith3D
 
|  Mac/Windows
 
|  $99.95 CAD
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|BodyPaint 3D
 
|  MAXON
 
|  Windows
 
|  $995
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Deep Paint
 
|  Right Hemisphere
 
|  Windows
 
|  Discontinued
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Mari [[#Mari|Image:Category:Tools/attachments/icon-info.png]]
 
|  The Foundry
 
|  Linux/Mac/Windows
 
|  ???
 
|}
 
 
<span id="Other_3D_Software"></span>
 
=== 3D Normal Map Software ===
 
These packages are used specifically for creating [[NormalMap|normal maps]], either by converting 2D images or 3D meshes.
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
 
|<#383838>|'''Package'''
 
|<#383838>|'''Company'''
 
|<#383838>|'''Supported OS'''
 
|<#383838>|'''Price'''
 
|<#383838>|'''Website'''
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|CrazyBump
 
|  N/A
 
|  Windows
 
|  $299
 
|  http://www.crazybump.com/
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|ShaderMap Pro
 
|  Rendering Sytems Inc.
 
|  Windows
 
|  $29.95
 
|  http://shadermap.com/
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Xnormal
 
|  N/A
 
|  Windows
 
|  Free
 
|  http://www.xnormal.net/
 
|}
 
 
=== 3D Texture Coordinate Software ===
 
These packages are specifically for creating [[Category:TextureCoordinates|UV texture coordinates]] for a 3D mesh.
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
 
|<#383838>|'''Package'''
 
|<#383838>|'''Company'''
 
|<#383838>|'''Supported OS'''
 
|<#383838>|'''Price'''
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Headus UVLayout
 
|  Headus Ltd.
 
|  Linux/Mac/Windows
 
|  $200
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Roadkill UV
 
|  Pullin Shapes
 
|  Windows
 
|  Free
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Unfold 3D
 
|  Polygonal Design
 
|  Windows
 
|  299.00€
 
|}
 
 
== 2D Tools ==
 
<span id="Main_Concepting_And_Texturing_Software"></span>
 
=== Main 2D Software ===
 
These are "complete" 2D packages with a wide variety of art tools for photo manipulation, texturing, concepting, etc.
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
 
|<#383838>|'''Package'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Company'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Supported OS'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Price'''
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|GIMP
 
|  GNOME Foundation
 
|  Linux/Mac/Windows
 
|  Free
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Paint.NET
 
|  dotPDN LLC
 
|  Windows(XP+)
 
|  Free
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|PaintShop Pro
 
|  Corel
 
|  Windows(XP+)
 
|  $70
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Photoshop [[#Photoshop|Image:Category:Tools/attachments/icon-info.png]]
 
|  Adobe
 
|  Mac/Windows
 
|  $699
 
|}
 
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_raster_graphics_editors#Features Wikipedia has a nice table] comparing the features of multiple 2D editing packages.
 
 
<span id="Concepting_Software"></span>
 
=== 2D Concepting Software ===
 
These packages are most often used for painting concepts and illustrations.
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
 
|<#383838>|'''Package'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Company'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Supported OS'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Price'''
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Alchemy [[#Alchemy|Image:Category:Tools/attachments/icon-info.png]]
 
|  N/A
 
|  Linux/Mac/Windows
 
|  Free
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Art Rage
 
|  Ambient Design Ltd.
 
|  Mac/Windows
 
|  $40
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Illust Studio [[#Illust_Studio|Image:Category:Tools/attachments/icon-info.png]]
 
|  CEL SYS
 
|  Windows
 
|  ???
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Open Canvas [[#Open_Canvas|Image:Category:Tools/attachments/icon-info.png]]
 
|  PortalGraphics
 
|  Windows
 
|  6,800 JPY
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Paint Tool Sai
 
|  Systemax
 
|  Windows
 
|  5250 JPY
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Painter
 
|  Corel
 
|  Mac/Windows
 
|  £ 199.00
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|SketchBook Pro
 
|  Autodesk
 
|  Mac/Windows
 
|  $100
 
|}
 
 
<span id="Vector_Software"></span>
 
=== 2D Vector Software ===
 
These packages are used for creating vector graphics, commonly used for [[Category:UserInterface|user interfaces]] or print media.
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
 
|<#383838>|'''Package'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Company'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Supported OS'''
 
|<#383838>| '''Price'''
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Flash
 
 
 
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Inkscape
 
|  N/A
 
|  Linux/Mac/Windows
 
|  Free
 
|-
 
|<#000000>|Illustrator
 
 
 
 
|}
 
 
== 3D Tool Information ==
 
 
=== 3ds Max ===
 
Best known for: the power of its modifier stack for modeling. Features powerful viewport shaders such as Xoliul's Shader and the 3Point Shader. [[Category:Shaders]] lists some popular shaders and has articles about how to make new ones.
 
 
* [http://www.paulneale.com/tutorials/MaxMaya/maxMaya.htm Max and Maya: Similarities and Differences] - by Paul Neale
 
* [http://www.scriptspot.com/bobo/mel2mxs/mel2mxs.htm MAXScript for MEL users] - by Borislav Petrov
 
* [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34439 Max plugins] archive Polycount thread
 
 
=== Mari ===
 
Best known for: being used in the production of Avatar film, and can handle multiple 32k resolution textures. Mari is an unreleased 3D painting app that is expected to retail for $800 and may have technical capabilities far surpassing its competition.
 
 
* Mari thread on Polycount: http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71484
 
* Mari video: http://media.fxguide.com/fxguidetv/fxguidetv-ep078.mov
 
 
=== Maya ===
 
Best known for: the speed of its marking menus while modeling, and ease of animation due to the versatility of attributes.
 
 
* [http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=11876683&linkID=9242258 Guides for Transitioning to Maya] - by Autodesk. Four guides to transitioning to Maya from: 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, Lightwave, or Softimage XSI.
 
* How to switch UI styles in Maya 2011: [http://www.toxik.sk/?p=56 Autodesk Maya 2011 Qt style switch]
 
* How to Inset faces like in 3DS Max: http://www.polycount.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1168816&postcount=14
 
* How to Push like the 3DS Max modifier: http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74491
 
 
=== Sculptris ===
 
Best known for: adding geometry to a mesh dynamically, avoiding worries about topology while sculpting. Sculptris is a powerful, easy to use, and lightweight sculpting app. Because you don't have to worry about geometry or using a base mesh, it is quickly becoming popular for roughing out and concepting ideas. Afterwords artists will retopologize their concept sculpt and take it into ZBrush or Mudbox for refinement. There are also painting tools for color and bump, but as of v1.01 their is no way to preserve the paint if one decides to go back into sculpt mode.
 
 
For v1.01 :
 
* Unofficial Mac port: http://drpetter.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=sculptris&action=display&thread=661
 
* French translation: http://drpetter.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=tech&action=display&thread=316
 
 
=== Softimage XSI ===
 
Best known for: the modeling toolset, and ICE (used for creating effects) is considered very powerful, plus tight Mental Ray integration. Even though Softimage XSI isn't as commonly used as in the games industry, there are big studios that use it as their primary 3D software. Some notable examples are Ubisoft (Assassins Creed), Lionhead (Fable series), Konami (Metal Gear Solid 4), Valve (Half life 2).
 
 
* [http://www.stefandidak.com/pub/xsi1.php 3ds Max to Softimage XSI Transition Tips] - by Stefan Didak
 
* [http://www.xsibase.com/users/max2xsi/MAX2XSI.htm Max to XSI Jumpstart] - by 'Vmpre'
 
 
== 2D Tool Information ==
 
 
=== Alchemy ===
 
* [http://boards.polycount.net/showthread.php?t=52370 Alchemy thread] on Polycount
 
 
=== Illust Studio ===
 
* [http://denkikoiji.deviantart.com/art/Illust-Studio-1-0-9-eng-patch-141766399 English language patch (unofficial)]
 
 
=== Open Canvas ===
 
Best known for: The 'Network Canvas' feature that was present in its free pre-commercial version, which allowed multiple users to paint on a single canvas over the net or LAN (This feature was removed once Open Canvas became commercial software, but the free version despite its limitations and age remains popular to this day because of it).
 
 
* Download the free version [http://wistinga.online.fr/opencanvas/ here].
 
 
=== Photoshop ===
 
Plugins and tools:
 
 
* [http://www.groovypost.com/howto/groovytip/enable-color-picker-shortcut-key-photoshop-cs3-cs4/ Color Picker Shortcut In Photoshop CS3 and CS4] - by ''[http://matthiasschuetz.com/ Mathias Scheutz]''<<BR>>This setup allows you to set up a hotkey for the Color Picker in CS3/CS4 (CS5 supports it natively).<<BR>><<BR>>
 
* [http://nerdchallenge.com/lenwhite/ Painter's Wheel an HSV Color Picker for Photoshop CS4+] - by ''Len White''<<BR>>Using a Flash widget that customizes the color picker into a Painter-style color wheel.<<BR>><<BR>>
 
* [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=73579 d1v save archive] - by ''[http://d1v.daportfolio.com/ Andrew 'd1ver' Maximov]'' <<BR>> Two scripts export multiple TGA files from a single PSD, using Group naming conventions, saving either in TGA or JPG format. To download the scripts, open the JPG attachment with an archive program like Winrar.<<BR>><<BR>>
 
* [http://www.markverkerk.nl/index.php/photoshop-scripts/ Photoshop Scripts] - by ''[http://www.markverkerk.nl Mark Verkerk]'' <<BR>> These scripts export multiple TGA files from a single PSD, using Group naming conventions, with an optional resize amount for each Group. See the [http://boards.polycount.net/showthread.php?t=72117 Polycount thread].<<BR>><<BR>>
 
* [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68118 qSave] - by ''[http://www.svartberg.com/ Ariel Chai]'' <<BR>> A set of scripts that each save the visible layers to a single image file. Each script allows a custom output filename, can save TGA or PNG, and can be bound to its own hotkey. <<BR>><<BR>>
 
* [http://home.insightbb.com/~jamestaylor/ vTools: Scripts for Photoshop] - by ''[http://boards.polycount.net/member.php?u=13787 James 'HarlequiN' Taylor]'' <<BR>> A set of scripts, including TGA export from named Groups, cavity mapping from a normal map, create hexagonal and plasma patterns, etc. See the [http://boards.polycount.net/showthread.php?t=49192 Polycount thread].<<BR>><<BR>>
 
 
/!\ Note: prices are accurate as of June 27, 2010
 

Latest revision as of 19:17, 27 May 2016

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