Not too long ago the Plasticity 3D program was launched at a fair price, far below the very expensive traditional 3D programs, without without a subscription strategy, including a very comprehensive UI. Blender is an open source 3D program, downloadable at no cost that includes a 2D drawing module and an animation part, but its UI is horrifically difficult to learn. Plasticity's UI is logical, comprehensive and much more easy to absorb, offering a ton of functions that elevates it to the level of the established, very costly 3D programs, that currently dominate the CAD and 3D design market. To those that have discovered Plasticity will never return to their previously used, hugely overpriced programs and subscription based models. In addition Plasticity has what it calls a Blender Bridge that allows to further optimise textures and improve them with Blender's node editing tool. I would like to suggest to people that are into CAD and (product)design to pay a visit to their website, that demonstrates the program's capability and versatility in a clear way. Mind you, there are different versions, that include upgrades to the previous ones on the list. The meaningful upgrades have come at a reasonably elevated pace, adding tons of functions each time and expanding import and export possibilities.
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| Plasticity 3D logo |
I haven't yet had the time to dive into the possibilities of Plasticity, but I can already say with absolute certainty that I find it already far better and hugely less expensive than the top notch 3D programs that I have tried before. And one of its major bonusses is that you own the program once you have bought it, without having to pay subscription fees over and again. On Youtube there are a ton of videos that offer designers tutorials from simple to advanced designs - this link is the result of a search. Visit those channels as well if the aim is to quickly learn the program's possibilities and different design methods you should use by applying other functions to achieve better results.
For smooth and effective designs that have zero or close to none strain areas, Plasticity's Studio version's XNurbs function is an excellent and flawlessly working tool, that allow to make excellent use of advanced production tools. Its development has literally raced past the flawed functions - like intricate, diverse filleting - in other programs, that require applying a ton of time consuming work arounds, that required much time and skill to correct; Plasticity does these things right at the first try. It raises the question why programs in roughly the same league are so much more expensive than Plasticity is, while many of them trick users into poverty inciting subscription programs.
On Github there is a file packed with curated Plasticity tutorials; the page also includes links to tutorial sites of experienced Plasticity users. This page offers a list of resources on Plasticity's own website, that may be of interest to designers and CAD developers, including the much praised Discord public Plasticity forum. Anyway, enjoy this magnificent program and ditch the unaffordable 3D programs you used before. Plasticity is up to the challenge.
