Curvy 3D

What Curvy 3D is

Curvy 3D is a Windows program for creating and sculpting 3D models, designed with first-time 3D artists in mind. Users can draw profiles and curves to form rounded or organic shapes, then refine them with brushes for inflating, deflating, pinching, smoothing, and flattening surfaces. Adaptive subdivision adds mesh detail during sculpting while keeping triangle counts down. The program also supports manual retopology, multiresolution sculpting, and voxel sculpting. For image-based modeling, Image Inflate can turn silhouettes or greyscale images into 3D forms using heightmap, bubble, bevel, or extrude styles. Users can paint color, specular, and bump maps in 3D views or on 2D textures. Models can be exported as OBJ for use in rendering or animation software such as Blender. The maker also describes use with Blender or Bryce and importing characters from Poser or Daz. Curvy 3D 5 has a free 30-day demo; the listed purchase is a one-time payment whose price varies by location. It requires a DirectX 8.0-compatible 3D graphics card. Questions and suggestions are directed to the Curvy 3D forum.

Who it suits

Curvy 3D suits people starting out in 3D art who want to shape models by drawing profiles and curves. It is also relevant to Windows users who need OBJ export or image-based modeling tools.

Limits

The free demo of Curvy 3D 5 lasts 30 days. The listed one-time purchase price varies by location.

Getting started

1. Visit the Curvy 3D website.
2. Download the free 30-day demo of Curvy 3D 5.
3. Use a Microsoft Windows computer with a DirectX 8.0-compatible 3D graphics card.
4. Draw profiles or curves to create a model, or use Image Inflate with a silhouette or greyscale image.
5. Export a model as OBJ for use in rendering or animation software.

Verdict

Curvy 3D combines sketch-based modeling with several sculpting and painting options. The 30-day demo gives prospective users a way to try it, but the maker does not list a fixed purchase price.