Creating 3D shapes is very useful in drawing plans, designing pieces of equipment, and so on. Nevertheless, this can be much more difficult than drawing in 2D.
Unlike other more complex programs, 3D Crafter is fairly easy to use. At first, you only need to choose the shape you want to use and click on the main window. The shape will then appear, and you can control its size, level of detail, and so on. Then, you can add more shapes interlinked among them and modify them to form objects, furniture, and even animals and other living beings. The program gives you many interesting tools that allow you to create objects much more complex than simply the basic shapes (sphere, cube, cone, and more), such as the Extrude and Smooth tools, that allow you to modify the original shapes to develop more sophisticated forms. Once you have drawn the object you need, you can add a color and/or a texture, and even animate it. Then, you can export the object to different 3D programs.
Albeit it is not as complex to use as other more specialized programs, this one requires some time to get familiarized with all its functions. Nevertheless, it has several tutorials that will help you learn how to use the program. Thus if you want to start drawing 3D images easily, then you may want to give this free program a try.
v9.1 [Jul 20, 2011]
New View Options
Each scene view now provides quick access to common view options via auto-expanding option buttons. Immediate previews of the options are applied to the scene via hover-over previews.
View Options Saved
Options for a particular view are now saved to allow swapping back and forth between view modes without losing view position, orientation, grid mode, or view mode.
Auto-Aligning Edit Control
The Edit Control can now be aligned to the current selection, to reduce the amount of mouse movement required to complete common tasks.
Enhanced Selection Box
The selection box that outlines shapes, now includes a color-coded direction indicator to show what direction each of the Edit Control functions will affect.
In-View Quick Access Operation Buttons
Quick access to operations can now be displayed in-view.
Improved World and Component Coordinate Modes
These modes now take into consideration the current viewpoint to simplify the use of the Edit Control.
Context Sensitive Navigation
When a shape is selected, rotation will be around the selected shape. If a shape is selected, zooming (including mouse-wheel zooming) will be directed towards the selection.
Compact Controls
The Navigation and Edit controls can now be displayed in a more compact form, to provide more viewable space.
Redesigned Group/Pivot Point Indicator
The Group/Pivot Point indicator has been redesigned to be more visible and now displays x, y and z to give a better indication of direction.
New Link Child Groups Option
A new option is available to link the movement of child groups to their parents
Review 2D and 3D designs without using the application they were created in
Create a floor plan for your home and start adding walls and textures
