3D computer graphics software refers to packages used to create 3D computer-generated imagery.

General information

Current software

This table compares elements of notable software that is currently available, based on the raw software, with no added plug-ins.

ApplicationLatest release date and versionDeveloperPlatformsMain usesLicense
3ds Max2024-10-16 v 2025.3AutodeskWindowsModeling, animation (video games and films only), FX simulation, lighting, renderingProprietary
AC3D2022-04-27 v 9.0InivisLinux, macOS, WindowsModelingProprietary
Alibre Design2022-08-03 v 25Alibre, LLCWindowsComputer aided designProprietary
AutoCAD2022-03-28 v 2023AutodeskmacOS, Windows2D computer aided design, 3D modeling, basic rendering, rudimentary animation (of camera, not objects)Proprietary
Blender2024-08-20 v 4.2.1Blender FoundationWindows, macOS, Linux, BSD, Solaris, AmigaOS 4, MorphOS2D–3D cartoon animation, lighting, modeling, node based material creation, texturing, 3D texture painting, UV mapping, rendering (internal, external, 3D anaglyph and VR), 3D rigging and animation, sculpting, visual 3D effects, basic post-production video editing, motion tracking, Python scripting, fluid simulation, particles, physics, compositingGPL-2.0-or-later
Carrara2013-08-26 8.5.1.19Daz 3DWindows, macOSAnimation, modelingProprietary
Cheetah 3D2021-02-20 v 7.5.1Martin WengenmayermacOSAnimation, modeling, renderingProprietary
Cinema 4D2022-04-20 S26MaxonmacOS, Windows, Amiga OSAnimation, lighting, modeling, visual 3D effects, rendering, simulationProprietary
CityEngine2018-09-18 v 2018.1EsrimacOS, Windows, LinuxProcedural Modeling of 3D CitiesProprietary
Cobalt2020-02-04 v11Ashlar-VellummacOS, WindowsModeling, computer aided design, animationProprietary
DesignSpark Mechanical2020-07-20 v5.0SpaceClaim, RS ComponentsWindowsModeling, computer aided design, rapid prototyping, 3D printingProprietary
Electric Image Animation System2013-06 v9.1.0EIAS3DmacOS, WindowsAnimation, lighting, rendering, film, television, visual 3D effectsProprietary
FreeCAD2024-01-08 v 0.21.2Jürgen Riegel, Werner Mayer, Yorik van HavremacOS, Windows, unix, LinuxCAD, FEA with Calculix, Python scripting, parametric design, robot simulation, CAM, BIM, import and exportLGPL 2.0 or later
form-Z pro/jr/free2020-02-? 9.0.2Autodessys, Inc.macOS, WindowsAnimation, modeling, lighting, rendering, fabricating, set designProprietary
Hexagon2018-02-16 2.5.2.109Daz 3DWindows, macOSSubdivision modeling, UV mappingProprietary
HiCAD2017-02-13 v HiCAD 2017ISD Software und SystemeWindows2D/3D modeling, computer aided design, Automatic drawing generation, BIM, animation, HELiOS PDM integration, API scriptingProprietary
Houdini2024-05-31 v 20.5Side Effects SoftwareWindows, macOS, LinuxAnimation, lighting, modeling, visual 3D effectsProprietary
iClone2019-12-17 v 7.71.3626.1ReallusionWindowsAnimation, film and television previz, videogame asset creation, lighting, visual 3D effectsProprietary
Inventor2021-01 v 2021.2.1AutodeskWindowsModeling, computer aided design, rapid prototyping, 3D printingProprietary
LightWave 3D2020-08-07 v 2020.0.2LightWave DigitalmacOS, Windows, Amiga OSModeling, animation, lighting, rendering, film and television previz, videogame asset creationProprietary
MASSIVE? v 3.5Massive SoftwareWindows, LinuxArtificial intelligence in modelsProprietary
Maya2024-08-13 v 2025.2AutodeskWindows, macOS, LinuxModeling, NURBS modeling sculpting, rigging, skinning, retargeting, animation, lighting, rendering, Bifrost fluids, Python scripting, Bifrost ocean simulation system, UV mapping, MASH procedural effects, time and graph editor, Arnold renderer, color management polygon modeling, visual 3D effectsProprietary
Metasequoia2022-12-23 4.8.4btetraface Inc.Windows, macOSModelingProprietary
Mudbox2022-04-18 2023AutodeskmacOS, Windows, LinuxLighting, sculpting (the deformation of the model)Proprietary
OpenSCAD2021-01-31 v 2021.01Marius Kintel, Claire WolfmacOS, Windows, Unix, LinuxCAD, scripting, parametric design, CSGGPL-2.0-or-later
PTC Creo (former Pro/Engineer)2020 v 7.0PTCWindows, HP-UX, UnixModeling, computer aided designProprietary
Remo 3D2025-09-10 v 3.2.1RemographWindows, LinuxModeling, virtual reality, real-time modeling, video game creation, computer aided designProprietary
Rhinoceros 3D2020-12-08 v 7McNeelWindows, macOSModeling, computer aided design, scripting with Grasshopper, many plug-in for simulation, CAM, BIM, rendering, and moreProprietary
Salome2020-12-01 v 9.6Open Cascade EDF CEAWindows, Unix, LinuxCAD, scripting, parametric design, CSG, meshing, pre-post for CAELGPL 2.1 or later
Shade 3D2022-11-08 v 23.1FORUM 8[ja]macOS, WindowsModeling, computer aided design, rendering, animationProprietary
Silo2022-11-03 v 2023.0NevercentermacOS, WindowsModelingProprietary
Tekla Structures2024-09-13 v 2024 SR 4.1TeklaWindows3D modeling, reporting, 2D drawings, 3D drawings, CAD, CAM, BIMProprietary
SketchUp Pro2021-01-05 v 21.0.1 (Win64) v 16.1.1450 (Win32) v 20.0 (Mac64)Trimble NavigationmacOS, WindowsModeling, computer aided designProprietary
Solid Edge2020-06-? 2021 ST13Siemens Digital Industries SoftwareWindowsComputer aided designProprietary
SolidWorks2022-07-11 v SolidWorks 2022 SP3.1Dassault SystèmesWindowsComputer aided designProprietary
SpaceClaim2020-08-08 v 2020.R2AnsysWindowsComputer aided designProprietary
Verto Studio 3D2021-02-12 v2.5.0Michael L. FarrellmacOS, iOSMobile modeling, texture mapping, lightingProprietary
Wings 3D2020-12-20 v 2.2.6Dan Gudmundsson (maintainer)macOS, Windows, BSD, LinuxModeling, sculpting (the deformation of the model), UV mappingBSD
ZBrush2022-02-07 v 2022.0.5MaxonmacOS, WindowsModeling, texturing, lighting, sculpting (the deformation of the model), renderingProprietary

Inactive software

There are many discontinued software applications.

ApplicationLatest release date and versionDeveloperPlatformsMain usesLicense
Bryce2010-12-23 7.1.0.109Daz 3DWindows (32-bit), macOS (10.7 and above)Animation, landscape modeling, fractal geometryProprietary
Clara.ioredesigned in 2015-03-31ExocortexMozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet ExplorerModeling, animation, renderingProprietary
E-on Vue2021-12-09 v 2021.2E-on Software (part of Bentley Systems)macOS, WindowsAnimation, landscape modeling, lightingProprietary
Modo2022-06-21 16v2The FoundrymacOS, Windows, LinuxModeling, animation, renderingProprietary
POV-Ray2013-11-09 v3.7.0The POV-TeammacOS, Windows, Linux, AmigaOSLighting, visual 3D effectsAGPL-3.0-or-later
SketchUp Make2017-11-14 v 18.0.16975 (Win64) v 18.0.16976 (Mac64)Trimble NavigationmacOS, WindowsModeling, computer aided designProprietary
Softimage2014-04-14 "2015" (final release)AutodeskWindows, LinuxModeling, animation, video game creation, lighting, rendering, visual 3D effectsProprietary
solidThinking Evolve (predecessor of Altair Inspire Studio)?-? v 9.0Altair EngineeringmacOS, WindowsModelingProprietary
trueSpace2009-05-25 v 7.61Caligari CorporationWindows, AmigaOSAnimation, modelingProprietary
VistaPro2005 v 4.2Hypercube Engineering, Monkey Byte DevelopmentWindowsLandscape modelingProprietary

Operating system support

The operating systems on which the editors can run natively (without emulation or compatibility layers), meaning which operating systems have which editors specifically coded for them (not, for example, Wings 3D for Windows running on Linux with Wine).

NameWindowsmacOSLinuxUnixBSDiOSAndroidOther
3ds MaxYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
AC3DYesYesYesNoNoNoNo
Art of Illusion—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/a—N/aJava virtual machine
AutoCADYesYesNoNoNoPartial
BlenderYesYesYesYesYesNounofficial
CarraraYesYesNoNoNoNoNo
Cheetah 3DNoYesNoNoNoNoNo
Cinema 4DYesYesNoNoNoNoNoAmiga OS
Clara.ioYesYesYesYesYes?YesChromeOS
DesignSpark MechanicalYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
Electric Image Animation SystemYesYesNoNoNoNoNo
form-ZYesYesNoNoNoNoNo
HiCADYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
HoudiniYesYesYesNoNoNoNo
ICloneYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
LightWave 3DYesYesNoNoNoNoNo
MakeHumanYesYesYesNoNoNoNo
MassiveYesNoYesNoNoNoNo
MayaYesYesYesdroppedNoNoNo
MetasequoiaYesYesNoNoNoNoNo
ModoYesYesYesNoNoNoNo
POV-RayYesYesYesNoNoNoNo
Remo 3DYesNoYesNoNoNoNo
ShadeYesYesNoNoNoNoNo
SiloYesYesdropped in 2.5NoNoNoNo
SketchUpYesYesSketchUp for Web??YesViewer only
Tekla StructuresYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
SoftimageYesNoXSI 2.0 and laterdroppedNoNoNo
Solid EdgeYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
solidWorksYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
solidThinkingYesYesNoNoNoNoNo
SpaceClaimYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
trueSpaceYesNoNoNoNoNoNoAmiga OS}
Verto Studio 3DNoYesNoNoNoYesNo
E-on VueYesYesNoNoNoNoNo
Wings 3DYesYesYesNoNoNoNo
ZBrushYesYesNoNoNoYesNo

Features

Modeling3D PaintingAnimationRendering3D TrackingCompositing
3ds MaxYesYesYesYesNoSome
AC3DYes??NoNoNo
BlenderYesYesYesYesYesYes
Electric Image Animation Systemdropped?YesYesNo?
Cinema 4DYesYesYesYesR16 or laterNo
Clara.ioYes?YesYesNo?
CobaltYes?YesYesNo?
HiCADYesYesYesYesNoNo
HoudiniYesYesYesYesNoYes
ICloneYes?YesYes??
Lightwave 3DYesNoYesYesNoYes
MakeHumanparameter-basedNoNoNoNoNo
MayaYesYesYesYesdropped (Maya Live)dropped (Maya Composer, Maya Fusion, and Maya Composite)
MetasequoiaYesNoNoYesNoNo
ModoYesYesYesYesNoNo
Remo 3DYesNoYesYesNoNo
ShadeYesNoYesYesNoNo
SoftimageYes3.7 or laterYesYesNoYes
Solid EdgeYes?YesYesNo?
SketchUp MakeYes?YesYesNoNo
SketchUp ProYes?YesYesNoNo
Wings3DYes?NoYesNo?

I/O

Image, video, and audio files

ImportsExports
EXRDDSKTXothersEXRDDSKTXothers
3ds MaxYesYes?BMP, Cineon, TGA, JPG, PNG, Cineon, Radiance HDR, SGI, RLA, RPF, AVI, MPEG and QuickTime, GIF, TIFF, PSD, MOV, YUV????
Art of IllusionNoNoNoGIF, JPG, PNG, BMP, HDR, SVG???JPG, PNG, BMP, TIFF, HDR, QuickTime
AC3D?Yes?GIF, JPG, PNG, BMP, PPM, Targa, TIFF?Yes?GIF, JPG, PNG, BMP, PPM, Targa, TIFF
BlenderYesYes?TGA, JPG, PNG, DPX, Cineon, Radiance HDR, Iris, SGI Movie, IFF, AVIF, AVI and QuickTime, GIF, TIFF, PSD, MOVYes??TGA, JPG, PNG, DPX, Cineon, Radiance HDR, Iris, SGI Movie, IFF, AVIF, AVI and QuickTime, GIF, TIFF, PSD, MOV
Electric Image Animation System???TGA, JPG, PNG, BMP, Radiance HDR, AVI and QuickTime, TIFF, PSD, MOV???PNG, BMP, AVI and QuickTime GIF, TIFF, MOV
Cinema 4DYesYes?Radiance HDR, BodyPaint 3D, TIFF, PSDYesYes?Radiance HDR, BodyPaint 3D, TIFF, PSD
Clara.ioYesYes?PNG, JPG????
Cobalt???BMP, GIF, JPEG, PICT, PNG, PPM, XBM, XPM???BMP, GIF, JPEG, PICT, PNG, PPM, XBM, XPM
HoudiniYesYes??YesNo??
IClone???JPG, BMP, GIF, TGA, PNG, AVI, WMV, MP3, WAV, popVideo???JPG, BMP, GIF, TGA, PNG, WMV, AVI, MP4, popVideo, FLV, iWidget
Lightwave 3DYes??TGA, JPG, PNG, AI, EPS, BMP, IFF, Radiance HDR, AVI and QuickTime, GIF, TIFF, PSD, MOVYes??TGA, JPG, PNG, BMP, Radiance HDR, IFF, AVI and QuickTime, GIF, TIFF, PSD, MOV
MakeHuman????????
MayaYesYes?Ai, Aiff, Pix, AVI, Cineon, EPS, GIF, Jpeg, Swf, Maya IFF, Maya16 IFF, MacPaint, PSD, PNG, Quantel, Quickdraw, MOV, RLA, SVG, SGI, SGI16, SGI Movie, TGA, TIF, BMP, HDRYesYes?Maya IFF, AVI, QT, GIF, Softimage, RLA, BMP, TIF, SGI RGB, Alias PIX, Jpeg, EPS, Cineon, Quantel, TGA, Macpaint, PSD, PNG, Quickdraw
MetasequoiaEX version onlyYesNoBMP, JPG, PNG, IFF, TGA, PPM, TIFF, PSD, Radiance HDR????
ModoYes??TGA, BMP, FLX, GIF, HDR, HDR, JP2, JPG, JPEG, PNG, SGI, EPS, AI, PSDYes??TGA, BMP, FLX, GIF, HDR, JP2, JPG, JPEG, PNG, TIF, MOV, MWV, PSD
Remo 3D?Yes?BMP, GIF, JPG, PNG, PNM, SGI (RGB), TGA, TIF???JPG, PNG, SGI (RGB), TIF, XPM
ShadeYesYesYes?YesYesYesQuickTime VR, Piranesi EPix
Softimage????????
Solid Edge????????
SketchUp Make???JPG, PNG, TIF, TGA, BMP???JPG, PNG, TIF, BMP
SketchUp Pro???JPG, PNG, TIF, TGA, BMP???JPG, PNG, TIF, BMP, MOV(on Mac), AVI (on Windows)
E-on Vue????????
Wings3D????????

General 3D files

ImportsExports
FBXOther formatsWeb, mobile, and VRFBXOther formatsglTFWeb, mobile, and VR
3ds MaxYes3DS, PRJ, AI, COLLADA, HTR, OBJ, SHP, SKP, TRCVRMLYes3DS, AI, ASE, COLLADA, HTR, OBJYesM3G, VRML97
AC3DYes3DS, AC3D, COLLADA, Lightwave, Massive, Milkshape Ascii, OBJ, OFF, Pointfield, Points, Terragen, Triangle, VectorVRML 1.0, glTF?3DS, 3D Studio ASE, AC3D, Dive, DVS, DXF, COLLADA, Lightwave, Massive, Milkshape Ascii, OBJ, Triangle?VRML 1.0, VRML 2.0, X3D
BlenderYesCOLLADA, 3DS, PLY, OBJ, SVGX3D, glTFYesCOLLADA, PLY, OBJ, SVG, PC2YesX3D
Electric Image Animation SystemYes3DS, OBJ, LWO, MDD?3DS, OBJ, LWONo
Cinema 4DYesOBJ, 3DS, QD3D, LWO/LWSVRML 1, VRML 2YesOBJ, 3DS, QD3D, W3DYesVRML 1, VRML 2
Clara.ioYesOBJ, Collada, 3DS, LWO, GEO, PLY, SHP, XGL, ZGL, AC, BLEND, CSM, LWSVRML, Three.jsYesOBJ, ColladaYesThree.js, Babylon.js
Cobalt?3DS, AI, ASCII TextVRML?AI, ASCII Text, RAW Triangle?Shockwave 3D, VRML
HoudiniYes?Yes?Yes
ICloneYesOBJ, SKP (via 3DXChange)YesOBJ (via 3DXChange)?
Lightwave 3DYes3DS, COLLADA, OBJ, LWO, VideoScapeVRML, VRML97Yes3DS, COLLADA, OBJ, LWOYesVRML, VRML97
MakeHumanNoN/AYesCOLLADA, MHX, OBJ, STL?
MayaYesMaya Ascii, Maya Binary, MEL, OBJVRML2YesMaya Ascii, Maya Binary, Mel, OBJ, GE2, RTG?VRML2
MetasequoiaEX version only3DS, COB, LWO, OBJ, ROK (Rokkaku Daiō), SUF (DoGA CGA System)glTFEX version only3DS, PMD, OBJ, COLLADAYes
ModoYesLXO, LWO2, LWOB, 3DS, GEO, OBJ, COLLADAYesLXO, LWO, PLT, GEO, OBJ, COLLADAYesX3D
Remo 3DYes3DC, 3DS, AC, Collada, OpenFlight, LWO, LWS, OBJ, P3D, PLY, STA, SHPOSGYes3DS, AC, Collada, DOT, OpenFlight, OBJ, P3D, STL?OSG
ShadeYesOBJ, SketchUp, XML; (Pro) 3DS, COLLADA, LWOYesCOLLADA, DXF, OBJ, XML; (Pro) 3DS, LWOYesVRML 2.0, Flash (SWF)
SoftimageYes?Yes?No
Solid Edge???PDF
SketchUp Make?SKP, 3DS?COLLADA, SKP?
SketchUp Pro?SKP, 3DSYesCOLLADA, SKP, EPS, EPX (removed v16+), 3DS, OBJ?PDF, VRML
E-on Vue???????
Wings3D?3DS, AI, EPS, LWO, LXO, Nendo, OBJ, SVG, Wings3Ddropped in 1.3.13DS, COLLADA, LWO, LXO, Nendo, OBJ, SVG, Wings3D?VRML 2.0

Game and renderer files

ImportsExports
OpenFlight (FLT)other 3D game files3D renderer filesOpenFlight (FLT)OGREother 3D game files3D renderer files
3ds MaxYesYesNo
AC3DNoQuake III BSP, Quake II (MD2), Quake III Mesh (MD3), Irrlicht irrmesh, Renderware, SMFNoYesDirectX X, Second Life Sculpted Prim, Quake II (MD2), Quake Map, SMF, Unreal TournamentPOV-Ray POV, RenderMan RIB
Blenderdroppeddropped(blender2ogre addon)POV-Ray POV
Electric Image Animation System???
Cinema 4D???
Clara.io?DirectX X, Irrlicht irrmeshPOV-Ray POV??Quake II (MD2), Quake III Mesh (MD3), Doom 3 (MD5)
Cobalt???
Houdini???
IClone???
Lightwave 3D?Quake II (MD2)??Quake II (MD2)
MakeHumanNo?YesDoom 3 (MD5)
MayaYesYesNoMental Ray MI, RenderMan RIB
MetasequoiaNoNoNoDirectX XRenderMan RIB
Modo???
Remo 3D?DirectX X, Quake II (MD2)?
Shade???DirectX X, Second Life Sculpted Prim, Blue MarsRenderMan RIB
Softimage???
Solid Edge???
SketchUp Make???
SketchUp Pro???dotXSI
E-on Vue???????
Wings3D???BZFlag, DirectX X, RenderwareKerkythea, POV-Ray POV

Cache and animation files

ImportsExports
Geometry CachePoint CacheParticle CacheAnimation
Alembic (*.abc)Maya Cache (*.mc)3ds Max PC2LightWave MDDMaya Particle Data (*.pda, *.pdb)Houdini BGEORealFlow BINKrakatoa PRTBiovision Hierarchy (*.bvh)Alembic (*.abc)others
3ds MaxYesYesYes??????Yes
AC3D??????????
BlenderYesNoMesh Cache Modifier(BlenderPartioTools)YesYesBVH
Electric Image Animation System??????????
Cinema 4DYes????????Yes
Clara.io????????Yes?BVH
Cobalt??????????
HoudiniYesvia FBX importer??Yes???Yes
IClone????????Yes?BVH
Lightwave 3DYes??YesPartio NodeNo???Yes
MakeHuman??????????
MayaYesYes??Yes(MayaPartioTools)?Yes
Metasequoia??????????
ModoYes??MDD Deformer?????Yes
Remo 3D??????????
Shade??????????BVH
Softimage(Exocortex Crate)??Point Oven?????(Exocortex Crate)
Solid Edge??????????
SketchUp Make??????????
SketchUp Pro??????????
E-on Vue??????????
Wings3D??????????

CAD files

ImportsExports
STLDXFDWGothersSTLDXFDWGothers
3ds MaxYesYesYesIGE, IGS, IGES, IPT, WIRE, IAM, LS, VW, LP, SAT, Catia V4/V5, JT, ProE, RVT, PRT, SolidWorks, STEP, WIREYesYesYesATR, BLK, DF, IGS, LAY, LP, SAT, VW
AC3DYesYesNoLDraw (Lego), SOF AirfoilYesYesNoInventor, LDraw (Lego)
BlenderYesYesNoYesYesNo
Electric Image Animation System?Yes??Yes?
Cinema 4DYesYesYesYesYes?
Clara.ioYesYes?Yes??
Cobalt?YesYesACIS SAT, CATIA v4, CCAD, CGM, CO (native), Drawing board, Facet, Grid Surface, IGS (IGES), Parasolid XT, Pro/E, Rhino 3DM, Spline, STP (STEP)?YesYesACIS SAT, CATIA v4, CGM, CO (native), Drawing board, Facet, Grid Surface, IGS (IGES), Parasolid XT, PDF, Pro/E, STP (STEP)
HoudiniExternalNoExternalNo
IClone??????
Lightwave 3DYesYesNoYesYesNo
MayaWindows and Mac onlyWindows onlyIGES, StudioTools WireWindows and Mac onlyWindows onlyIGES, StudioTools Wire, Open Inventor2
MetasequoiaYesYesNoYesYesNo
ModoYesYesNoSolidWorksYesYesNo
Remo 3DYesYesNoDW (Designer Workshop)YesNoNo
ShadeYesYesNoYesYesNo
Solid EdgeYesYesYesIGES, STEP, JT, ACIS (SAT), ProE, SolidWorks, NX, SDRC, Microstation, Inventor, CATIA (V4/V5), Parasolid, XML, MDSYesYesYesIGES, STEP, EMS, JT, XGL, XML, Parasolid, CATIA (V4/V5), ACIS (SAT), Microstation
SketchUp Make??????
SketchUp ProYesYesYesYesYesYes
E-on Vue??????
Wings3DYes??Yes??

Point clouds and photogrammetry files

Imports
ASTM E57LASer (LAS)Leica Cyclone PTS/PTX/PTGAutodesk ReCap RCS/RCPVisualSFM NVM
3ds Max???Yes?
Blender?(Blender LiDAR Importer addon, Blender-Photogrammetry-Importer addon)??(Blender-Photogrammetry-Importer addon)
HoudiniLidar Import geometry node???

GIS and DEM files

ImportsExports
USGS DEMUSGS SDTS (DDF)LandXMLGeoTIFFShapefileOSMothers
3ds MaxYesYesYes???
AC3D??????
Blender???(Blender GIS addon)
BryceYesYes????VistaPro DEMUSDS DEM
Electric Image Animation System??????
Cinema 4DYes?????VistaPro DEM
Clara.io??????
Cobalt??????
Houdini?????Yes
IClone??????
Lightwave 3D(Ground Control plugin)?????
MakeHuman??????
Maya??????
Metasequoia??????
Modo??????
Remo 3D??????
Shade??????
Solid Edge??????
SketchUp MakeYesYes????SKP+KMZSKP+KMZ
SketchUp ProYesYes????SKP+KMZSKP+KMZ
E-on VueYesYes?Yes??DTED
Wings3D??????

Supported primitives

ApplicationPolygonSpline/Bézier SurfaceVoxel, VolumeMetaballPoint CloudsParticles
TrianglesQuadsN-gonswith holesNURBS regular patchNURBS trimmed surfaceBicubic Bézier patch
BlenderYesYesYesNoYessoc-2014-nurbs branchNo2.83 and laterYes3.1 and laterYes
MayaYesYesYesYesYesYesNo3D TextureYesNoYes
3ds MaxYesYesYes?YesYesPatch ObjectsNoYesYesYes
Cinema 4DYesYesYes????R20 and laterYes?Yes
LightWaveYesYesYesYes(LWCAD plugin)NoOpenVDB primitivesYesNoYes
RhinocerosYesYesYesYesYesYesYesGrasshopperGrasshopperGrasshopperGrasshopper
Shade 3DYesYesYes?CAD modeYesNoYesNoYes
ApplicationCurvesBoneTextCameraLightSpeaker
LinearQuadratic BézierCubic BézierB-splineCardinal splineHermite splineTCB splineSmoothstepAkima splineNURBS
BlenderBézier curve without subdivisionNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYes
MayaYes?????NoNoNoYesYesYesYesYesNo
3ds MaxYes?YesYesNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesYesYesNo
Cinema 4DYesNoYesYesNo?NoNoYes?YesYesYesYesdropped in R23
LightWave???Yes?only in Graph Editoronly in Graph Editor?No?YesYesYesYes?
Shade 3D??Yes?NoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesYesYesSound Object

Modeling

ApplicationHard surface ModelingSculpt ModelingNon-destructive Modeling
Polygon ModelingSubdivision ModelingBase-mesh CreationSketch ModelingSculptingCloth SculptingHand RetopologyAutomatic RetopologyBooleanBevelModifierProcedural
MayaYesYes(SOuP BMesh)NoYesNoYes2020 and laterYesYes?Yes
3ds MaxYesYes(Form)NoPaint DeformNoYes2021.3 and laterYesYesYesMax Creation Graph
BlenderYesYesSkin ModifierTrim Brush with Union/Join modeYes2.83 and laterYesYesYesYesYesGeometry Nodes
ZBrushZModelerZModelerZSphere and ZSketchMeshBalloonYes2021 and laterYesZRemesher4R8 and later?NoNo
Curvy 3DNoNoNoYesYesNo????NoNo

Lookdev, Shader writing

ApplicationPBR viewportViewport effectsInteractive GI RenderingIntegrated CompositingText editor for shader writingMaterial NodesTurntable Rendering
MayaYesSomeArnoldNo?Hypershade, Node Editor, ShaderFXYes
3ds MaxYesSomeArnold(State Set)OSL MapSlate Material Editor, ShaderFXEasy Turntable script
MODOYes?YesNo?Nodal ShadingRender Turntable
BlenderEevee (2.80 and later)CyclesYesText EditorYesTurnaround Camera addon
GafferNoNoCyclesYesOSLCode NodeNoNo
Marmoset ToolbagYesYesNoNo?Uber PBR shaders onlyYes
Substance DesignerYesYEBISNVIDIA Iray??MDL graph?

Layout

ApplicationAsset managerBiome-based scattering systemAsset PaintPlacement with Physics
MayaYesMASH World NodeMASH Placer Node?
3ds Max(Project Manager, Connecter)???
Cinema 4DAsset Browser?Scatter PenDynamic Place
HoudiniSolarisProject Dryad (beta)Layout LOP's Brush modeEdit LOP
BlenderAsset Browser???

Lighting

ApplicationAlembic ImporterUSD ImporterRendering EngineVolume Rendering for cloudsInteractive RenderingIsolating light contributionLight ListerIES LightPhysical Sun & SkySun Positioning by location and timesLight PortalShadow CatcherIBL and Environment textureHighlight PlacementLight Mixer
Lat LongsIBLLight Extraction
MayaYesUSD Extension for MayaMaya Hardware 2.0?YesNoLight Editor?????Yes??(Place Highlight Tool for Maya)No
Maya Software??Light LinkingNo????Env Sphere??No
ArnoldYesYesLight LinkingAi Photometric LightYes?YesYesYes??Light Mixer imager
3ds MaxYes(USD for Autodesk 3ds Max)Quicksilver?YesNoLight Lister????????Place HighlightNo
Scanline??Light Exclude/include????Yes?sIBL-GUI software?No
ART???Yes???????No
ArnoldYesYesLight GroupAi Photometric LightYesSun PositionerYesYesYes??Light Mixer imager
Blender2.78 and later3.0 and laterWorkbenchSomeYes?Property Chart Addon, Gaffer addonNo?Sun Position addonNo?Yes??Look At Gizmo (with Ctrl key)No
EEVEESomeYesLight LinkingNoYesNoShader NodeYes??No
CyclesYesYesLight Groups, Light Linking2.80 and laterYesfrom 2.75from 2.79YessIBL_GUI for Blender addon/ Add Environment nodes addon?No
MODOYes14.1 and laterMODO Renderer, mPathYesYesLight Linking?Photometric LightDirectional LightPortalShadow CatcherYesmm_sIBLToModoEnvironment script??No
LightWave11.6 and laterNoLightWave RendererYesYes??Photometric LightYesYesYesYesYesoriginal loader script, where most sIBL features were invented??No
HoudiniYesSolarisMantra (PT), KarmaYesYesLight categoriesLight bankYes???Shadow matteYes??Solaris?
Cinema 4DYesR23 and laterCineRenderYesYesExclude/include?Yes???from R18Yes??Lighting tool?
RedshiftYesYesLight Group AOVs?YesYes?YesMatte optionsYes???

Path-tracing rendering

ApplicationCPU renderingGPU rendering
OpenCLNVIDIA CUDA, OptiXAMD HIPSYCL, Intel DPC++Apple MetalTexture streaming (out-of-core)Mesh streaming
V-RayYes?V-Ray GPUNoV-Ray GPUYes?
RenderManYesNo24 and laterNoNoNo??
ArnoldYesNoYesNoNoNoYes?
RedshiftYesNoYesYesNoYes??
Modo mPathYesNoYesNoNoNo??
Houdini KarmaYesNoKarma XPUNoNoNoYes?
Octane RenderNoNoYesNoNoOctane XYesmeshlet streaming
Blender CyclesYesdropped in 3.0Yes3.0 and later3.3 and later3.1 and later2.80 and laterNo
ApplicationMipmap generationAdaptive tessellationInstancingCamera cullingDeep pixel renderingFisheye stereo for fulldomeOmnidirectional stereo for HMDDeforming motion blur
V-Rayimg2tiledexr?Yes?YesDomemaster Stereo Shader3.2 and laterYes
RenderManmaketx?Yes?Yes?YesYes
ArnoldmaketxYesYes?YesDomemaster Stereo Shader5 and laterYes
Houdini Karmaimaketx?Yes?Yes?15.5 and laterYes
Blender Cyclesblender --command maketx2.78 and laterYesCamera CullIn development2.78 and later2.78 and laterYes

Optimizations

ApplicationProxy generationOpacity MicromapTexture baking
Level of detail (LoD)Octahedral ImpostorsTangent Space Normal MapAmbient Occlusion (AO) MapLight Map
Non-directional (Traditional)Directional
Maya (Turtle renderer)"Generate LOD Meshes"??YesYesYesRNM (Radiosity Normal Map), and SH (Spherical harmonics) coefficients
EnlightenNo??No?YesYes
HoudiniLabs LOD Create SOPLabs Impostor Texture ROP?????
BlenderAssetGen addonNoNoYesYesYesNo

See also