3D Modelling Salaries and Rates in 2024

3D Modelling

What is 3D modeling used for?

It can be used in architecture or sciences, in mechanical engineering or fashion wear, even in the medical corps. Everywhere, 3D modeling is getting to its maximum performance.
3D modeling could be very useful in many different ways.

This is an important tool for animation, either for a film or a video game, 3D modeling software allows you to model everything by character, landscape, light, texture, and color.

However, the same 3D modeling can be used for visualization or rendering – which could end up becoming a very important asset for your business. For engineers and architects, this could be a very good way to plan and design their work. Photo-realistic renders could prove very useful for real-estate purposes. Truly, this might be the best way possible to show off a project to a potential buyer. For more technical applications, the same principle of rendering a virtual scene could be used for testing technical parts, without even having to manufacture them. Some software is so powerful that it can predict how you will react if you are put in very precise conditions.

Finally, 3D modeling is now part of the manufacturing processes, as additive manufacturing is increasingly used for production. After all, 3D printing requires an STL file. From prototyping to production, these programs will bring new dimensions to your production processes by saving you dollars and time, while you improve your products and processes. 3D prototyping can be done in less than a day with the help of programs.

What does the 3D modeling process look like?

In order to create your three-dimensional model of an object, you effectively take apart the object, divide the physical matter of the object into pieces, or polygons – each of which is glued on to its neighbours (in the software, they are numbered to identify each other as neighbours) so that, together, they produce the flat image on your computer monitor representing a three-dimensional world you look into and move around in using your mouse, or whatever. A polygon is a collection of two-dimensional surfaces making up a three-dimensional object.

A 3D model is made up of vertices (points), edges (lines), and faces (surfaces). Vertices are the points that define every triangle in the model. Edges are the lines that define the connection between polygons.

By the mid-1990s, this process – polygonal modeling – had become the de facto method of producing digital 3D models by hundreds of film industry companies for animation, gaming, broadcast design, and visual effects work.

But with polygonal modeling, you ‘build’ 3D things by adding more polygons on top of your base mesh (the base mesh – your bottom-most polygon – is a flat plane: it has no depth.) You add more and more polygons until you have enough to make your object look like it’s made of real material, then you can add shadowing and stuff.

The reason polygonal modeling is so efficient is that it takes up a fraction of the memory of more sophisticated methods of constructing 3D objects. If you don’t have powerful computers, such as those used in the movie business, it’s the only way to build them.

What 3D modeling software should you use?

Depending on the industry and the nature of your projects, you will most likely want to choose software that fits these needs. While some software packages are polyvalent and can be used for multiple applications, others will be more specific to mechanical engineering, architecture, education, game design, etc.

Your expertise will be another of the main criteria you will have to take into account when making your choice, but is certainly not the only one, since the budget is also a parameter you have to consider: there are softwares that can be really expensive, and if you are not an expert, you should really choose a free CAD software to start.

To choose your 3D modeling software program is not easy. There are many sophisticated programs on the market. Have a look at some of an interesting software:

• AutoCAD: For sure, you have heard about AutoCAD, the 3D modeling software developed by Autodesk that has become the benchmark for many designers in 2D and 3D CAD.
• Meshmixer: Meshmixer is very helpful when it comes to 3D software for 3D printing or just to play with some original designs for your products, there are plenty of 3D tools like 3D sculpting tools and remeshing or mesh smoothing feature. Meshmixer is more advanced 3D modeling software.
• Inventor: Designed 20 years ago, Autodesk Inventor CAD software package is aimed at mechanical and engineering professionals. It is 3d modeling software for professionals which can make very complex models with up to thousand of parts, like cars models. It is very stable software, its always work even on old PC. I like the fact that is possible to get free custom tools.
• ZBrush: Pixologic’s professional-level software, ZBrush, also allows the use of techniques from clay sculpting – though several hours’ work can be involved. Interestingly, the same company that makes ZBrush developed an app that is a simplified, free 3D modeller called Sculptris, which I suppose is a good app for beginners to play around with before buying ZBrush.
• 3DS Max: In addition, 3DS Max is also well-suited for professionals working on video-games and film production as Cinema4D. The software is compatible with Windows, but it is a software designed for an advance 3D modeler rather than a digital artist or beginner.
• SketchUp: Sketchup is a professional-grade software which enables its users to create a 3D model with plenty of features and very high-level imprinting tools. Sketchup is very suitable for architecture, interior design, or engineering projects. In the open-source library, they provide with a vast number of a 3D design so that people can use it for reuse it in their projects.
• Blender: Blender is very well-known, as it’s one of the acclaimed computer-aided design softwares, and even if it is a direct modeling software, it’s not parametric. Blender is also used by professionals, to develop video games or animation. It is like Mudbox or ZBrush. It is not really for beginners. This program is amazing for artistic use but not only! With special software tools – sculpting, rendering, or even fast modeling – this program can be used for many applications. This program is really perfect if you need to create 3D printable 3D models, as it contains several CAD features to help you repair your meshes so you won’t have any bad surprises when parts come out of 3D printers.