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FAQ

3DCrafter™

3DCrafter is a real-time 3D modeling and animation tool that incorporates an intuitive drag-and-drop approach to 3D modeling.

Complex models can be constructed from simple 3D primitives, or created using 3DCrafter's Shape Building Tools. Modeling tools are provided to deform, sculpt, and paint 3D shapes.

Creating an animated scene is as simple as positioning the shapes within your scene for each point in time in your animation. 3DCrafter will ensure that the resulting animation runs smoothly. Your animation can be stepped through a frame at a time, viewed in real-time, or recorded to a Video (AVI) file so that you can distribute your creation.

Tool roll-up groups allow you to customize the 3DCrafter interface so that only those items you use most frequently are visible. And if you need access to a less frequently used feature, the tool roll-up is always one click away.

The standard version of 3DCrafter is a fully functional product provided as freeware. Upgrades are available for those who require additional features either for game development or for rendering photo-realistic images.

Feature Comparison

Product	3DCrafter	3DCrafter Plus		3DCrafter Pro
Price	Free	$34.95 US		$69.95 US
Who is it for?	Those wanting an introduction to 3D modeling and animation	Those interested in creating detailed models or creating low-polygon models for game development		Those wanting a full-fledged 3D modeling and animation package with the ability to create photo-realistic images4
3DCrafter Standard Modelling features	Yes	Yes		Yes
Import Formats1	3D Studio (3ds) 3D Studio (asc) AC3D (ac) AutoCAD (dxf)2 DirectX (x) Imagine (iob) Lightscape (lp) LightWave (lwo) Maya (rtg) Quicktime 3D  (3dmf) Rail Simulator (igs/ia) Raw Triangles (raw) RealiMation (rbs) RenderWare (rwx) StereoLithography (stl) TrainSim Modeler (dst) trueSpace (cob) VideoScape (geo) VRML 2.0 (wrl) Wavefront (obj) WorldToolKit (nff) XGL XYZ ZGL	3D Studio (3ds) 3D Studio (asc) AC3D (ac) AutoCAD (dxf)2 DirectX (x) Imagine (iob) Lightscape (lp) LightWave (lwo) Maya (rtg) Quicktime 3D  (3dmf) Rail Simulator (igs/ia) Raw Triangles (raw) RealiMation (rbs) RenderWare (rwx) StereoLithography (stl) TrainSim Modeler (dst) trueSpace (cob) VideoScape (geo) VRML 2.0 (wrl) Wavefront (obj) WorldToolKit (nff) XGL XYZ ZGL		3D Studio (3ds) 3D Studio (asc) AC3D (ac) AutoCAD (dxf)2 DirectX (x) Imagine (iob) Lightscape (lp) LightWave (lwo) Maya (rtg) Quicktime 3D  (3dmf) Rail Simulator (igs/ia) Raw Triangles (raw) RealiMation (rbs) RenderWare (rwx) StereoLithography (stl) TrainSim Modeler (dst) trueSpace (cob) VideoScape (geo) VRML 2.0 (wrl) Wavefront (obj) WorldToolKit (nff) XGL XYZ ZGL
Export Formats	POV-Ray (pov)	POV-Ray (pov) 3D Studio (3ds) DirectX (x) MS Train Simulator (s) MS Flight Simulator 2002		POV-Ray (pov) 3D Studio (3ds) DirectX (x) MS Train Simulator (s) MS Flight Simulator 2002 3D Studio (asc) AutoCAD (dxf) BVE (csv) Collada (dae) Imagine (iob) Lightscape (lp) LightWave (lwo) Maya (ma) Open Inventor (iv) Quicktime 3D (3dmf) Rail3D (stk/stc/sig) Rail Simulator (igs/ia) Raw Triangles (raw) RealiMation 4.1 (rbs) RenderMan (rib) RenderWare (rwx) Softimage 3.5  (xsi) SteroeLithography (stl) Trainz Railroad Sim. (im) trueSpace (cob) TurboSilver (ts) VideoScape (geo) VRML (wrl) Wavefront (obj) WorldToolKit (nff) X3D XGL ZGL
Skeletal Animation Bones	Standard	Standard		Standard Rounded Cylindrical Spherical
Animation	Yes	Yes		Yes
Animation Key-Frame Manipulation	Yes	Yes		Yes
Extended Modelling Operations		Yes		Yes
Additional Functions		Crease All Create Face Duplicate Normalize Groups Pipe Engineer Reset Animation Positions Scene Details Shift Center on Selection Weld to Range		Crease All Duplicate Normalize Groups Pipe Engineer Reset Animation Positions Scene Details Shift Center on Selection Weld to Range Auto Mirroring Bridge Engineer Butt shapes Clone Consolidate Count Triangles Create Unique Names Fill Untextured Foundry Piper Print Hierarchy Show Untextured Split Faces Swap Texture Files Update Material Remove Empty Groups
Extensible with Third Party and User created Plug-Ins				Yes
Scripting				Yes
Boolean Operations				Yes
Animation Operations				Yes
Animation Timeline				Yes
Named Animation Sequences				Yes
NURBS Surfaces				Yes
Terrain Building Tool				Yes
Anti-Aliased rendering of Videos and Snapshots				Yes
Export of a animations as a series of images allowing for the creation of animated GIFs using a third-party program				Yes
Motion blur in recorded animations				Yes
Photo-realistic Rendering3				Yes
Radiosity Lighting3				Yes
Atmospheric Effects3				Yes
Additional raytracing material attributes3				Yes
Refraction3				Yes
Focal Blur3				Yes
Train Simulator Functions		Train Simulator Wizard		Train Simulator Wizard Train Simulator Engineer Cab Engineer Buffer Engineer Handrail Engineer Animate Rods/Pistons Fit Boiler Curve Trainz Attachment Points

3DCrafter Pro @ $69.95. Secure ordering is provided by swreg.org.

3DCrafter Plus @ $34.95. Secure ordering is provided by swreg.org.

3DCrafter 9 is a free upgrade for anyone who purchased July 1st, 2010 or later. If you are entitled to a free upgrade, your license code for 3DCrafter 8 will also work with 3DCrafter 9. If you purchased before that date, or would like to upgrade from 3DCrafter Plus to 3DCrafter Pro 9.x, you can purchase an upgrade here for $34.95.

Multi-User licenses for 3DCrafter Pro can be purchased here.

Entering License Codes

Once you have purchased 3DCrafter Plus or 3DCrafter Pro you will receive a License Code via Email.

To enter this License Code, run 3DCrafter, and select Enter License Code from the Help menu.
 

3DCrafter has been selected an Editors' Pick by ZDNet.