

STL files, the key file type needed to 3-D print or mill objects. This app enables robust mechanical engineering and spontaneous artistic expression with the same tools. Inventor Fusion derives its name from the fact that it is the first 3-D modeling package that allows users to switch between solid and surface modeling. I’ve never used an Autodesk product before, but within a couple minutes I had crafted my first 3-D printable masterpiece. Inventor Fusion won’t win any Apple Design Awards, but it is one of the best-looking, easiest to understand, and fun to use products in the class. Most CAD software looks like it was designed with the style guide from Windows 95 as the only aesthetic input. If you're looking at possibly pursuing a career in the gaming industry, you will need to know either Max or Maya, so if I were you, I would focus my attention on one of those programs.The UI designers at AutoDesk deserve a big round of applause. They are high poly models though, not suitable for gaming. They are all dimensionally accurate, based on photo reference.

fbx format and then load them into a program called XNormal to bake the Normal map.Īs for accuracy, I created the two handguns below in Studio Max and the 50 cal. You could create the high and low poly models in Solidworks or Inventor, I suppose, but as far as I know, you won't be able to create the Normal map in those programs. The typical workflow would be to create a high poly model and a low poly model and then bake the high poly detail to a Normal map which can then be applied to the low poly model for the game engine. Detail is usually faked using Normal maps. You do realize that all the big game studios use Max or Maya as their software for creating models, right? Also, game models have to be low poly.

I just felt that a cad software would be more attuned to hard surface modeling than other modeling softwares like Max, Maya, Blender, etc.
