1. Uses of 3D
How is 3D used by the interactive media and computer games industries?
When considering 3D modelling, the fist things that might spring to mind are films and games. Although the largest uses of 3D
modelling is in the creative media industry, it is also used in:
• Medicine
3D modelling is used to recreate parts of the human anatomy to help doctors see and plan out an operation.
• Engineering
Engineers use 3D models to show what they have designed so it can be constructed easily.
• Product design
3D modelling is used to show what the final product will look like before it is put in to production.
• Architecture
Architects used 3D models of Structures to show builders what they are building and how to built it.

2. Basic Principles
All 3D modelling programs use polygons to display models. A polygon is created by 3 or more
points and given a skin/texture. These 3 points create a triangle, Witch is the simplest
polygon. By adding more points, the polygon becomes bigger and more complex.
Models can be created with ether many triangles together, or adding more points to the polygon
itself. A 3 point polygon is spread across 1 plane, this means the polygon is always flat, This is
not always the case for a polygon with 4 or more points. A polygon with 4 or more points can
exist on both a single plane, or multiple plane in 3D space.
Mesh Construction is using Simple
shapes such as triangles(3 point
polygon) or a square(4 point polygon)
to create a object.
This method is more commonly used in
character modelling, because it is
usually easier to uses polygon
manipulation on polygons with less
points.

3. 3D development software
Examine the software tools used in the production of 3D models.
Autodesk 3DS
Autodesk 3ds Max is one of most powerful 3D
design software developed by Autodesk Inc. 3ds
Max is so powerful especially in modeling for low
polygon for video game industry. The software has
many features for 3D graphic design such as
modeling, rendering, animation, dynamic, shading,
cloth, particles, and texturing.
3ds Max one of leading 3D design software in the
game development, television, film as well as digital
publishing industries. It is a product of same
company as Maya and SoftImage. Some people feel
that they enjoy working with 3ds Max than other
two editions.
The program runs under Windows platform. There
is 30 day trial version available to download and try.
Before, you can proceed downloading; you are
required to fill product trial form.

4. Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Maya is a completed 3D Design software packages
which provide 3D artist and 3D professional to do 3D modeling,
shading, lighting, animating, 3D paint, adding paint effects and
rendering. Maya is very popular package as 3D graphic design
software and widely use in film as well as video game industry
worldwide. The software developed by Autodesk Inc.
There are two versions available Maya Unlimited and Maya
Complete. Maya Unlimited version is larger package which
contains more features such as Maya Fluid Effects, Maya nCloth,
Maya nParticles, Maya Hair, Maya Fur, and Maya Live.
The program is multiple platforms support including Windows,
Macintosh and Linux operating system. There is trial version
available to download and try. You can download 30 day trial
after completing a request form at its official website. Just fill
out name, company, address and so on. Comparing to other 3D
design products such as Autodesk 3Ds Max and SoftImage,
Maya is my favorite one.

5. LightWave 3D
LightWave 3D also is another completed 3D design
software package as Maya and 3ds Max for modeling,
animation, rendering, particle FX and dynamics. This 3D
graphic design software package is available both for
Windows 32 or 64-bit and Mac platform. The software is
product of NewTek, Inc.
The program has been used in films, game, visualization
industries as well as commercial television. Feature films
such as Dark Knight, Iron Man,Jumper, Serenity Pan’s
Labyrinth, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. And
features games including Quake IV, The Chronicles of
Riddick, Doom III, Halo, Age of Mythology.
LightWave 3D 30 day trial version is available to download
and try. After downloading and installing, you need to
register and set up an account at its official website in
order to receive unlock code for the trial version.

6. Among free 3D design software packages, Blender
is fully functional one. With Blender user can do
3D modeling, character
rigging, shading, animation, rendering, physics and
particles, imaging and compositing. Blender is free
open source 3D content creation under the GNU
General Public License. Blender is available for
several operating systems, including Microsoft
Windows, Mac OS
X, Linux, IRIX, Solaris, NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenBSD.
As Blender is open source, which anyone can
download and use for free, donation is one source
of fund to keep the project alive and further
development.

7. Constraints
3D modelling software is very effective for creating models, although it ‘s not without its constraints. The first
of these being hardware, the more complex and detailed a model becomes, the harder it is for lesser spec
computers to handle, even if the computer could handle it and the model was extremely detailed, it would
mean for that model to be used effectively on another machine, it would have to have the same specs or
maybe even better, this can be very expensive, especially for the consumer.