There are a significant number of free programs for 3d modeling, raytracing, and animation. Depending upon how deep you want to get into exploring this field/hobby/art, and exactly what you are trying to create a number of different programs may be of interest to you.

I unfortunately had my last response to this question accidentally deleted, but here are a few lists of potentially of interest software programs:

free software/open source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Free_3D_graphics_software
freeware:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Freeware_3D_graphics_software
Free CAD software:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Free_computer-aided_design_software

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_computer_graphics_software
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_3D_computer_graphics_software

Many of them interoperate with various file formats and standards so that you use different tools to handle different parts of the project you are working on. There are different tools to generate and work with humans, faces, landscapes, work with models, do rendering and raytracing, and animation. Many of them also interoperate with CAD software and models.

In addition you may wish to check out SIGGRAPH http://www.siggraph.org which is the preeminent industry organization for everything related to computer graphics with a heavy tilt towards 3d graphics, special effects, human-computer interfaces, and the cutting edge of these and related industries. If you ever get a chance to get to one of their annual meetings, I highly recommend it.

Asker's Rating:

Permalink | Report