This list of resources is meant as a one stop shop for those interested in using 3D Technology in their fine art and craft. These resources are from Bridgette Mongeon’s book 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft: Exploring 3D Printing, Scanning, Sculpting and Milling
Math Resources
Commercial Software
• Mathematica, www.wolfram.com/mathematica
• Maplesoft, www.maplesoft.com
Free or Inexpensive Gems that Encourage Individuals to Play with Math
• Knot Plot, helps to visualize knots, www.knotplot.com/download
• Surface Evolver, visualizes minimal surfaces, www.susqu.edu/brakke/evolver/evolver.html
• TopMod, a topological mesh modeler, www.viz.tamu.edu/faculty/ergun/research/topology
• SeifertView, visualization of Seifert Surfaces, www.win.tue.
nl/~vanwijk/seifertview
• Excellent tutorials on geometry and computation,
www.christopherwhitelaw.us/?p=567
Math Conferences
• The International Society of the Arts, Mathematics, and Architecture (ISAMA), www.isama.org
• Bridges, www.bridgesmathart.org
3D Scanning Service Bureaus
• Synappsys Digital Services, www.synappsys.com, Norman, OK,
(405) 366-6363, info@synappsys.com (author recommended)
• Direct Dimensions, www.dirdim.com, Owings Mills, MD,
(410) 998-0880, info@dirdim.com
• Smart Geometrics, www.smartgeometrics.com, Houston, TX, Nashville, TN, Washington, DC, and Port of Spain, TT, info@smargeometrics.com (author recommended)
CNC Milling Companies—Foam
• Synappsys Digital Services, www.synappsys.com, Norman, OK,
(405) 366-6363, info@synappsys.com (author recommended—excellent service, great communication, and very dependable)
• Across the Board Creations, www.acrosstheboardcreations.com, Porthill, ID, and Wynndel, British Columbia, (250) 866 5757,
kevin@acrosstheboardcreations.com (author recommended)
• Blue Genie, http://bluegenieart.com, Austin, TX, (512) 444-6655, sales@bluegenieart.com
CNC Milling Companies—Stone
• Garfagnana Innovizione, www.garfagnanainnovazione.it/?lang=en
• Across the Board Creations ( see above, author has not used them for stone work)
Foam For CNC Milling
DUNA-USA manufactures a variety of polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams in different densities for carving and sculpting. CORAFOAM can be cut using a CNC machine or any tool that can cut wood. For additional information and pricing, please visit: http://www.dunagroup.com/usa or call: (281) 383-3862.
3D Printing Service Bureaus
• Shapeways, www.shapeways.com
• i.materialise, http://i.materialise.com
• Ponoko, www.ponoko.com
• Sculpteo, www.sculpteo.com
• Kraftwurx, www.kraftwurx.com
3D Scanners to Buy
• Next Engine 3D Scanner, www.nextengine.com (author recommended)
• MakerBot, www.makerbot.com
• 3D Systems Sense, www.3dsystems.com
Vendors Who Sell RAM
• Other World Computing (author recommended), Mac, www.macsales.com
• Fry’s Electronics, www.frys.com
• Micro Center, www.microcenter.com
Stains and Paint
• Sculpt Nouveau, www.sculptnouveau.com
Specialty Hardwood
• Houston Hardwoods Inc., www.houstonhardwoods.com
3D Printing Products
• Firecast, resin for investment casting, http://madesolid.com
• Formfutura, specialty filament, www.formfutura.com
• Fillamentum, specialty filament, www.fillamentum.com
Shipping Companies that Specialize in Shipping Art
• Acts Crating and Freighting, http://actsintl.com/crating,
(713) 869-2269, crating@actsintl.com (author recommended,
ask for Lace, friendly and very dependable)
•Craters and Freighters, www.cratersandfreighters.com
Individuals Who Prepare Files for 3D Printing
• Eric van Straaten, eric@ericvanstraaten.com,
www.ericvanstraaten.com
• Vijay Dotsan, info@dotsan.com, www.dotsan.com
• Marco Valenzuela, marco3dart@gmail.com, www.marcovalenzuela.com
Software
• 3D Coat, $379 full version, $99 educational version,
http://3d-coat.com, hard surface and organic
• Sculptris, free, http://pixologic.com/sculptris, hard surface and organic (author recommended)
• 3D-COAT, $419 full version, $99 educational version, http://3d-coat.com, hard surface and organic
• Mudbox, $495, www.autodesk.com, hard surface and organic
(author recommended)
• ZBrush, $795, http://pixologic.com, hard surface and organic
(author recommended)
• Blender, free—open source, www.blender.org, 3D modeling, animating, and much more
• Rhinoceros, $995, www.rhino3d.com, 3D modeling, NURBS modeling
• SketchUp, professional version $590, www.sketchup.com, 3D modeling
• SketchUp Make, free, www.sketchup.com/products/sketchup-make,
3D Drawing
• 3ds Max, $3,675, www.autodesk.com, 3D molding and more
• Vectric Aspire, $1,995, www.vectric.com, modeling/signage and G-code
• Maya, $1,830, www.autodesk.com, 3D modeling and much more
• Carrara, $171, www.daz3d.com/carrara-software, modeling
• Cheetah 3D, $69, www.cheetah3d.com, 3D modeling and more
Posing Programs
• Daz Studio 3D, free, www.daz3d.com (author recommended)
• Poser, $129 Poser 10, $449.99 Poser Pro, http://my.smithmicro.com (author recommended)
Where to Buy 3D Models and Designs
• Turbo Squid, www.turbosquid.com
• Daz, www.daz3d.com
• Content Paradise, http://contentparadise.com
• Renderosity, www.renderosity.com
• Thingiverse, www.thingiverse.com
Software for Repairing Models
• Netfabb, $299 non-commercial, $1,799 commercial, some portions are free, www.netfabb.com,
• MeshMixer, free, www.meshmixer.com (author recommended)
• MeshLab, free, http://meshlab.sourceforge.net (author recommended)
Photogrammetry Software
• Autodesk 123D Catch, free, $9.99 a month for non-commercial use, www.123dapp.com
• Agisoft, $179 standard, $3,499 professional, www.agisoft.ru (author recommended)
• Acute 3D, $3,250 a year in the US, cross-platform, www.acute3d.com
• Photomodeler, $1,145, photo modeler scanner $2495. www.photomodeler.com/index.html, not cross-platform but will run on parallels 6
Other Free Fun Stuff
• JWEEL, browser-based jewelry design program, www.jweel.com/en
• Autodesk 123 Series, www.123dapp.com
–– 123D Catch, scan from your cell phone
–– 123D CNC, create files for CNC milling
–– 123D Creature, create creatures
–– 123D Design, create 3D models
–– 123D Make, helps you to make physical models out of designs
–– 123D Sculpt, sculpt using your iPad
–– 123D Meshmixer, helps to prepare your files for 3D printing
–– 123D Tinkercad, helps you to design 3D object for printing
Learn Code for Art
• Processing 2, http://processing.org
Create 3D Models from Medical Imaging
• InVesalius, http://svn.softwarepublico.gov.br/trac/invesalius
Software to Transfer Files
• Cyberduck, $23.99, https://cyberduck.io
• Filezilla, free, https://filezilla-project.org
• Fetch, $29, http://fetchsoftworks.com
Search for Comparative Software
• http://alternativeto.net