There are many free and paid 3D animation programs out there, and you might think that free are better because you don’t have to pay between $50 to $100 or more for the program. While no one likes paying money, you need to know that paid programs are always better. Don’t believe me? Then read on to find out why. You will save hours of time, and you’ll definitely be happy you spent the paltry amount on a professional program.
Watermarks
Many free programs create watermarks on your animation once it is finished and exported. The watermark is usually subtle, but it might be prominently featured in the center of your movie. That may not be too bad if you are just figuring out 3D animation for the first time and you don’t want anyone else to see your movie just yet, but it’s inexcusable if you want to be taken seriously.
Weaker Tools and Processing
Free 3D animation programs typically have fewer tools than paid programs, and the tools that are available usually aren’t as good. For example, a paid program might have tools to easily create a grid map of a character or object. A free version might have similar tools, but they may lack the finesse of the paid tools.
Processing is also weaker. These movies require a lot of processing work. The objects, movements, renderings and textures all need to be processed in order for your computer to output the desired image. A free program is typically made for very small animations that last a few minutes at most. They aren’t made for larger movies that professionals would create.
Arbitrary Limitations
Many free 3D programs have arbitrary limitations in order to force you to buy a license for the professional version. For example, you might be able to create movies that are a maximum of 5 minutes, or you might not gain access to certain tools. Paid versions do not have these arbitrary limitations.
Many people who use free programs try to work around these limitations, and that can create some very bad habits if you are new to 3D animation. Buying a paid program allows you to properly learn the art of 3D animation.
Better Importing and Exporting
Free programs typically restrict the importing and exporting of files. A professional 3D artist will typically have to jump between several different programs to successfully create a 3D animation, and you need to have the ability to insert new files in your movie if you want everything to be perfect.
Professional Results
Creating a professional 3D movie requires a lot more than simple character creation and motion paths. You need to create a non-destructive animation layer, proper renderings and textures, finger and mouth articulation, muscular formation and movements, geometry tools for complex movements and deformers for proper animation.
A free tool just doesn’t give you all of these tools, or this power. You can only get professional results from a professional program.
Conclusion
Yes, you can create a 3D movie with a free animation program. However, you will spend dozens of more hours trying to do it, you’ll wrack your brain trying to get around the arbitrary limitations and you still won’t have a movie that looks professional. If you want to make something to show off your talents, then you need to buy a professional 3D animation program.
