Art of Illusion

If you are looking for a 3D modeling and rendering program but you don’t have the budget necessary to purchase one, then I invite you to check out Art of Illusion. Available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and UNIX, this is a free and open source application that provides all the tools you need to create 3D artwork. It has all the powerful features found in other commercial applications, features that can be used for serious, high end animation work.

The Art of Illusion installation file is of 8.0MB, so even on a poor connection, it will take little time for the download to complete. Run the file and a setup wizard will guide you through the installation; you will first have to pick one of three supported languages (English, French, and German), then go through an 8-step installation process. Art of Illusion can be installed on any system that supports Java 5 or later. This means it works with Windows, Mac, Linux, UNIX.

This application is a powerful 3D modeling and rendering program – so, it is not something meant for novices or amateurs. And that is reflected in the way the interface looks. There are 4 panes in the middle that display whatever you’re working on, buttons for several functions to the left, and an Objects pane to the right. Check out the Help file if you have any problems figuring out the interface and understanding how Art of Illusion works. On the application’s official website there are a few examples of what can be achieved with the application. You can download the scenes, load them into Art of Illusion, and thus better understand how the application works.

You can take your time with it – as mentioned above, Art of Illusion is free and open source. You can use the application for as long as you want and not part with your money.

Art of Illusion's powerful features and the fact that it is free and open source make it a very desirable 3D modeling and rendering program.