Most of the 3d cg software comes with built-in renderer, but built-in renderer always not good choice for every project. There are dozens of different renderer available across the web, and artist needs to choose right renderer as per project requirements.
This is the collection of 25 best 3d rendering software available across the web. It contains GPU / CPU based, biased / unbiased, physically based, photo-realistic, real-time, fastest, easy and production quality rendering software.
So why you waiting for, Light, Camera, Render!
Note – Please check the hardware requirements of respective renderer.
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3 Twilight Render. Twilight Render is a visualization tool for professionals and hobbyists alike. In fact, that’s exactly how it’s marketed, and with good reason. It presents the user-friendly interface SketchUp users appreciate, with a powerful rendering engine that can produce photorealistic images for even the greenest of amateurs. Jun 30, 2019 Lumion Photorealistic Rendering from SketchUp Model (EP 1) - Modeling and Importing from SketchUp - Duration: 13:05. The Rendering Essentials 251,469 views 13:05.
A feature rich, high performance 3D rendering software that creates images of outstanding quality and unsurpassed realism based on advanced ray tracing techniques.
Developers: Nvidia
Standalone: Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows
Plug-ins: AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor, 3ds Max, Maya, Softimage, CATIA, Creo Elements/Pro, Cinema 4D, FreeForm, Domus3D, ViSoft
License: Proprietary software
The world’s first GPU accelerated and physically correct, photo-realistic rendering solution.
Developer: NVIDIA
Plug-ins: CATIA, 3ds Max, Bunkspeed, Maya, Cinema 4D
License: Commercial software
A rendering engine that uses advanced techniques, for example global illumination algorithms such as path tracing, photon mapping, irradiance maps and directly computed global illumination.
Developer: Chaos Group
Standalone: Linux, Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows
Plug-ins: 3ds Max, Blender, Cinema 4D, Maya, Modo, Nuke, Rhinoceros, Sketchup, Softimage
License: Proprietary commercial software
Today, RenderMan has been completely modernized, with a state-of-the-art ray tracing architecture that’s setting new standards for speed and memory efficiency.
Developer: Pixar
Standalone: Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows
Plug-ins: Maya and Katana
License: Proprietary commercial software
It uses the video card in your computer to render photorealistic results fast…really fast. This allows the user to create stunning works in a fraction of the time of traditional CPU based renderers.
Developers: OTOY (present), Refractive Software
Standalone: Windows XP and later, Mac OS X Lion or later, Linux
Plug-ins: ArchiCAD, AutoCAD, 3ds Max, Maya, Revit, Inventor, Softimage, Blender, Carrara, Cinema 4D, Lightwave 3D, Modo, Daz Studio, Poser, Rhinoceros 3D, SketchUp
License: Proprietary commercial software
The fastest and easiest to use 3D rendering software available. In just a few steps you can create amazing visuals straight from your 3D models.
Developer: Luxion, Inc.
Standalone: Windows and Mac (32-bit and 64-bit)
License: Proprietary commercial software
Corona Renderer is a new high-performance (un)biased photorealistic renderer.
Developer: Render Legion s.r.o.
Standalone: 64-bit Microsoft Windows (Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or newer)
Plug-ins: 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, Maya
License: Commercial software
The technology behind Maxwell Render enables users to render 3D scenes in a stunningly realistic and predictable way, resulting in images that are indistinguishable from photographs.
Developer: Next Limit Technologies
Standalone: Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows
Plug-ins: 3ds Max, ArchiCAD, Softimage, Bonzai3d, Cinema 4D, FormZ, Houdini, Lightwave, Maya, Modo, Revit, Rhinoceros, Sketchup, SolidWorks
License: Proprietary commercial software
Ease of use combined with ultra fast rendering and excellent quality is what makes Lumion the ideal solution for your rendering projects.
Developers: Act-3D
Standalone: 64-bit Windows Vista, 7 or 8
License: Commercial software
An unbiased, physically based and photorealistic renderer which simulates the physics of light to achieve near-perfect image realism.
Developer: Glare Technologies
Standalone: Linux, Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows
Plug-ins: SketchUp, Blender, Revit, Cinema 4D, 3DS Max, Maya
License: Proprietary commercial software
A physically based and unbiased rendering engine. Based on state of the art algorithms, LuxRender simulates the flow of light according to physical equations, thus producing realistic images of photographic quality.
Developers: A small group of programmers
Standalone: Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows
Plug-ins: Blender, 3DS Max, SketchUp, C4D, DAZ Studio, XSI, Poser, Carrara, Maya
License: Free and open-source
Our flagship product, Toolbag 2 is a powerful, standalone real-time renderer bundled in a tidy package. GPU-powered. Physically accurate.
Developer: Marmoset
Standalone: Windows Vista SP2 (64-bit) and OS X 10.9 “Mavericks”
License: Proprietary commercial software
For photorealistic rendering of 3D images and videos, 3D rendering software is a must have. Most 3D modeling and animation tools have their own internal renderer. At times the capacity for internal renderers to produce high-quality, photorealistic images and video is limited. In such cases, an external renderer can be used; one that will improve the quality of the render. Here are some of the top 3D rendering tools for the creation of amazing projects.
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Lumion 3D
Capture your audience’s attention by making great presentations using Lumion 3D. You can create flythrough videos and fantastic images using this tool. Lumion is used by 61 of the top global architectural firms. It has a simple workflow, allowing users to get started within a short period. The render engine is one of the fastest in its caliber.
AutoDesk 3D
This is a design, visualization and rendering tool that is used in the design of motor vehicles, building, and a host of other products. The render tool can be used to bring videos, still images and even abstract designs to life. The real-time render engine allows you to view your project as you proceed, allowing for faster realization of ideas.
KeyShot
For an awesome, accurate and fast realization of your 3D creations, KeyShot is the perfect render engine to use. It has a real-time render workflow that allows you to see your animations and images become real as you create them. The time required to complete projects is reduced by the inbuilt environments and materials, which you can assign with a click of your mouse.
Indigo renderer
This is an unbiased, physically based 3D rendering tool that uses physical calculations of light to give you the best photorealistic renders ever. The tool comes with plugins that can be used by several 3D modeling software, across many platforms. The application of this render engine has produced some of the most breathtaking videos and images ever seen.
3DS Max
3D design, modeling and animation software, used for a wide range of creative projects. Whether you are creating a cartoon or a realistic scene for a commercial, this software gives you the tools to accomplish this with ease. It is also used for the creation of architectural designs and flythroughs.
Blender 3D
This is an open source, free tool that is used for fantastic 3D creations. You can create cartoons and photorealistic images and videos using this tool. It comes with two inbuilt render engines, namely Blender internal and Cycles. The tool also works with several external render engines such as Yafray and LuxRender.
Maxwell Render
Create plains, trees and grass that looks like it was shot with a high-definition camera, using the internal libraries of this versatile 3D rendering software. The render engine works well with other 3D design tools such as Sketchup and Modo. Create fantasy images and breathe life into them with this versatile tool.
Sketchup
Create 3D models and renders by simply drawing. With Sketchup, you only need to draw lines and shapes, and then stretch and pull the surfaces to turn them into 3D designs. You can make anything that your mind can imagine. This is a 3D rendering tool that has been dubbed as one of the easiest to use in the industry.
Shaderlight
Free Rendering Software For Sketchup
A 3D rendering tool for Sketchup that uses cloud computing in its workflow. You now have access to unlimited computing power to bring the most resource-intensive creations to life, within a short period. The render engine allows you to buy a full license, or one that you can use as you go, starting from as little as $50.
Other 3D rendering Software for different platforms
Oddly, most of the 3D render tools are designed for Windows and Mac. However, due to the high demand for mobile solutions, there has been an increase in the development of 3D tools for other platforms including iOS, Android, Ubuntu amongst others. Here is a list of these 3D tools.
Wings 3D
This is a free 3D rendering tool for Windows with advanced sub-division modeling for the creations of lifelike images and videos. It comes with a built-in AutoUV mapping tool for easy assignment of the most complex textures. It exports to the most common 3D formats. NOTE: you cannot animate the models in this tool.
Clara.io
Clara.io is a free 3D rendering software that can be used on an Android system. The tool runs on a web browser and unleashes some powerful tools to help you realize your 3D creations. The material library is vast and allows for photo-realistic texture application. The tool is quite fast and great for the creation of quick visualizations and animations.
Autodesk 123D
This is a free 3D rendering software for Mac OSX, among other operating systems. The various tools allow you to design, create and render 3D models with power and speed. The program supports 3D printing and you can bring your creations out of your computer and into your real world environment. There are thousands of free models that you can use for your projects.
Houdini Apprentice
The free version of the professional Houdini FX, used on Linux. It is great for hobbyists, Students and Artists to create their designs, before moving on to the commercial version. You get watermarks on your renderings and there is a limited render size. Otherwise comes with a lot of powerful features built-in for your creative projects.
LuxRender – The best 3D rendering software for 2016
This is an unbiased, physically based 3D rendering engine. It comes with advanced, state-of-the-art algorithms that calculate light flow based on physical equations. These calculations allow for the most photorealistic renders that you have ever seen. It will be hard to believe that the image or video that you are watching was not created using a real-life camera.
What is 3D rendering Software?
These are tools that are used to bring 3D models to life. Whether you are creating cartoons or realistic scenes, you can achieve all these using these versatile tools. They read the texture characteristics, and the lighting to create the images and videos that you want. Some 3D rendering tools are free while others are commercial; some come inbuilt into the modeling software, while others are external. The choice of your 3d rendering tools should be dictated by the project that you have. Some scenes are simple and do not use a lot of system resources, making it ideal to use the inbuilt render engines. Other complex scenes may require the use of external, cloud-based, 3D rendering engines.
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How to install 3D rendering software
Some of the 3D render engines come pre-built into the modeling and animation software. By simply clicking the installer, you not only install the modeling tool but the render engine too. However, in the case of external render engines, you may have to install plugins, which will allow them to work within your modeling tool. If you want to export to a format that can be used by the render engine, then you can do so, directly from the modeling tool, or look for export plugins. In some cases, you may have to go through a complex installation process where you change file paths in your system tools, but these cases are few.
Basically, 3D rendering tools are ideal for people who want to impress their audience through imagery. Just like the musician uses instruments to enthrall their listeners, 3D modeling artists depend on the render tools to bring their creations to life. What good would a 3D modeling and animation tool be, if it could not render the designs into captivating images and videos? The tools have several features and you should go through each carefully before deciding on which render engine to use.