3D Modelling Programs

• There are many 3D modelling programs out there, both free and not free. Unless you're willing to spend lots of money, your best bet would be to get a free program such as Blender. Also check out the Model File Format Comparision page to see which programs can export certain formats.

Free

Blender

• Blender is the result of the work of the Blender Foundation, a group created from the remains of NaN (Not a Number), a European company. Blender is one of the best FOSS 3D modellers out there and can do quite a variety of tasks. With the right scripts (and sometimes the right version), Blender can export most formats easily. Blender has an extremely large user community as well. Homepage

Wings3D

• Wings3D is a static (non-animated) modelling program based on advanced subdivision modelling. It can export to obj and other formats and also has features such as UV unwrapping, texture painting, and is easy to use. Homepage

MisfitModel3D

• Misfit Model 3D is a simple 3D modeller with the goal of being easy to use. Misfit can export to obj, md2 and md3. Homepage

Misfit Cubed

• Misfit Cubed is a modification to Misfit Model 3D made by Team Xbow. The Misfit Cubed mod can export md5 models and also has a few bugfixes. Sourceforge Page

NPherno's MD3 Compiler

• NPherno's md3 compiler is a compiler created by "NPherno", a member of the Quake Unity forums. The compiler can import md2, md3, ase and 3ds files and export them to md3. The compiler can rebuild normals and fix animations, among other things. Download Page

Noesis

• Noesis is like the md3 compiler, where it takes a variety of formats and converts them. Noesis has import and export support for a large variety of formats, including md2, md3, md5, obj, iqm, and many others that Sandbox does not use. Noesis can also preview models and some animations. Homepage

CharacterFX

• CharacterFX is a program for adding animations to files and can export to many formats. Homepage

GMax

• GMax is a free, watered down version of 3D Studio Max, Autodesk's expensive (about $3,000) 3D program. Download Page

Google Sketchup

• Google Sketchup is a 3D program used to create models for Google Earth. It can export to the Collada DAE format, which can be imported into other 3D programs such as Blender. Homepage

TrueSpace

• Truespace is a 3D modelling program developed by Caligari, who was bought by Microsoft in 2009. The latest (and last) version, 7.6, was released for free. Moddb Download Page

Sculptris

• Sculptris is a free, basic version of the Pixologic program ZBrush, a 3D sculpting program. You can sculpt a model in Sculptris, then export it and retopologize into a usable 3D model in another program. Homepage

Meshlab

• Meshlab is a 3D cleaning and restoration program which can "edit, clean and heal" broken 3D meshes. Sourceforge Page

Proprietary

Milkshape 3D

• Milkshape is a cheap 3D modeller that can export many formats, including obj, md2 and md3. You can register for $35 US or $25 EU. About Page