Design Post Update

Sculptris provides an excellent gateway into the exciting world of 3D. Its features are easy to learn, navigate and use, even for someone with no experience in digital art or modeling yet robust enough for creating base models that can then be refined in other applications, such as ZBrush. It will dynamically divide the model, better handling your computer’s resources.
This is certainly an easy to use software but it is geared specifically toward one type of 3d modelling (sculpting) and therefore is restrictive for anyone who needs a software with multiple modelling approaches, animation tools or the accuracy of geometric modelling. In summary it's really only useful for mocking up character models or creating static models for 3D printing.

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Wings 3D

Wings 3D is an advanced sub-division modeler which offers a wide range of modeling tools and a customizable interface, along with a built-in autoUV mapping tool, vertex colors, materials, and Lighting as well as export facility for common 3D formats  like .obj.

However, despite more awesome features like support for virtual mirroring for symmetric modeling, Wings 3D provides no support for animation for its users. It is also solely a mesh/polygon modelling software so there are no options for sculpting like in Sculptris (above).

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PTC Creo

Ok, so first off this one is not totally free like the others but it is free for students and teachers while offering the usual 30 day free trial for everyone else. Creo is also a very use friendly software. It's good for handling assembly features and that's why its used in most of the engineering companies in the field of design, assembly and manufacturing.

Creo is a comprehensive system for mechanical engineers and product designers who create using the direct modeling approach of 3D CAD. Direct modeling allows the creation of designs by existing designs or fresh ideas. Hence, the changes to the geometry of an object can be made quickly and easily.

Not for architects, game developers, animators or hobby modelers.

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FreeCAD

FreeCAD is a parametric 3D modeler made primarily to design real-life objects of any size. Targeted at architects, engineers and product designers. The program is a multi-platform (Windows, Mac OS, and Linux) tool, and reads and writes various open file formats.

FreeCAD is easy to use with no previous CAD experience required and the online community will help you get the hang of it quickly if you do need help. If you use commercial CAD or BIM modeling software at work, you will find similar tools and workflow among the many workbenches.

Almost all of FreeCAD's functionality is accessible to Python s if you know Python you can extend FreeCAD's functionality, automatize it with scripts, build your own modules or even embed into your own application.

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Vectary

Vectary is an online 3D modeling tool with which you can create, share and customize 3D designs. It is a combination of standard mesh modeling, subdivision modeling and parametric plugins. It was built from scratch to make 3D modeling easy-to-use for beginners, and is also useful to pros. You can export your models to standard 3D files, print them or continue your work in a compatible software. You can also choose from a growing list of parametric plugins that do the work for you.

The user interface is beautifully simple with integrated tutorials for beginners which speed up the learning process. Being an online editor is both an advantage and disadvantage as you can acces files from your account anywhere while also meaning you can't use it if you don't have internet access.

There is currently no animation functionality but it seems to be a fast evolving software so we may see some animation features added in future.

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Daz Studio

Daz 3D is a versatile and feature-rich suite of 3D figure posing, animation, and rendering applications designed for 3D animators, designers, and illustrators. It is comprised of graphic design software solutions, platforms, and add-ons that enable them to create rigged 3D human models and stunning digital illustrations, animations, and environments. Additionally, the suite provides a user-friendly modeling software that helps in modeling, posing, animating, morphing, and rendering 3D content. It comes with a 3D creation software tool that is equipped with GPU-accelerated real-time rendering capabilities.

The software's animation and rendering tool-set is fairly robust, and in the right hands users can create impressive shots. However, without a full range of modeling, surfacing, or sculpting tools built in, your content can become limited unless you're willing to buy 3D assets in the Daz marketplace or create them yourself with a 3rd party modeling package.

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Rating 

According to Microsoft "Paint is absolutely the best image editor on the market. Paint allows you to edit existing images and draw your own. Forget about complicated layers and tons of useless effects. 'Paint' contains only tools you really need!". The reality is that unless you're a 9 year old child, that statement is simply not true. As nostalgic as I am about paint, having grown up without the internet, I just can't give it a better rating. In fact 'Paint' is probably what gives free image editors a bad name.
In better news for paint lovers, Microsoft Paint 3D is no available on windows 10 as a free app download. It is the classic Paint reimagined, with an updated look and feel and a ton of new brushes and tools. You can make 2D masterpieces or 3D models that you can play with from all angles.

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Rating 

Easl.ly is a free info-graphic oriented web app with a plethora of templates to choose from. If you want to turn your photo into a chart or include it in a report, this is the best free option you’ll find. The blank template allows you to add a number of objects and effects if you aren’t interested in an infographic but still want to spruce up your photo and have a little fun with it before posting online.

It is free to register but some options and functions are reserved for premium users only. However at $3 per month it is a much cheaper option than it's main rival Canva ($12.95 monthly)

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Rating 

PicMonkey is a free editing tool for amateur photographers who want to quickly edit their images and turn them into mini-masterpieces. There are four primary tools in the PicMonkey holster: Editing, Touch Up, Design, and Collage. Editing probably provides the most functionality, allowing you to apply effects, advanced filters, spot correction, and so on. However, Touch Up is also a popular choice for selfies, profile pics, event photos, and so on.

This suite is designed more for the average person, or those who want the best picture possible for social media or sharing, and aren’t afraid to work on it with more advanced tools. PicMonkey also offers a premium version app which offers added functionality, templates etc. Premium option starts from €7.49 a month with the option to trial for free for a seven-day period.

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BeFunky

BeFunky is another online photo editor that's really easy to work with. Similar to PicMOnkey it offers multiple tools including Photo Editor, Designer and Collage. There are labels, emoticons, tons of textures and frames, a text tool, several effects like oil painting and cartoonizer, as well as all the basic editing and touch up tools. There's also a Facebook Cover crop tool that crops the image to the exact size required to use as a cover image on Facebook.

Many of the effects, borders, etc. unfortunately require you to upgrade to a paid version of BeFunky to use them. This is a real downside but with premium prices starting at just $2.91 per month it is a very affordable premium option.

iPiccy

Rating 

This is an online editor with multiple tools just like PicMonkey and BeFunky but without the restrictions of premium membership for some features. So it's totally free and although some features require you sign up, there is no charge and no hidden strings attached.There are tons of useful tools and the interface couldn't be easier to work with.

The built-in designer editor is a very capable vector editing system with all the main tools you can think of and the collage maker has lots of interesting and useful layouts and templates for you to use when making a collage.

On the downside there are only two file format options when saving and only one sharing option available. Also, the images can't be resized within the collage editor and you are unable to create your own custom collage layout only being able to choose from the set options.

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Rating 

SumoPaint is one of those “Photoshop lite” image editors that have sprung up in recent years, but it stands out from the rest. There is a web-based editor and a downloadable option as well which is great for those with limited or no internet access. You get 30 days free for the downloadable editor before you need to upgrade to pro but it is so cheap and gives you a load of added features so you'll hardly mind.

You will find plenty of the standard, basic image editing tools in the free version of Sumo Paint plus many fun and whacky paint tool features. Using a menu bar that is similar to Photoshop's, you will find the familiar blur, smudge, gradient fill, line tools, clone, and more. But you will also get other cool features, including a bulky star tool, and symmetry and custom shape tools. Sumo's text tool (for adding text to images) is so simple to use it makes you wonder why other programs often lack in this area of software development.

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Pixlr

Rating 

Pixlr is an online photo editing tool. Fast, simple and enough features to make this a great find for moderate-level photo editing. You can create a new image, upload an image, or grab one directly from a URL location. With Pixlr Editor you have full control over your images including layers and effects. I would class it as the best of the in browser image editors.

If you are already familiar with Photoshop, you will find the Pixlr Editor menu options familiar both in layout and in how they work. The website is short on tutorials, however, but if you read Pixlr's blog you will find more information about how to get the most out of Pixlr. If you are new to image editing and do not like to play around in software, KT Forlaget has produced 30 video tutorials in English to help you quickly master all the important basic features and tools Pixlr offers.

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Inkscape

Krita

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