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OpenFX

by OpenFX

Free plan Windows

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What OpenFX is

OpenFX is a free, open-source Windows desktop suite for 3D modeling, animation, and rendering. It is released under the GNU General Public Licence and includes a built-in full renderer with a ray-trace engine. Modeling tools support NURBS, while animation features include kinematics-based movement and morphing. Plugins add image effects such as lens flare, fog, and depth of field, along with animation effects including explosions, waves, and dissolves. The suite supports 3D print export. Imports are available for COLLADA, Wavefront, and Lightwave through ASSIMP, plus 3D Studio through 3DSFTP. Downloads provide a compiled Windows binary and source code as a ZIP archive or through SVN. The maker describes current operation on Win32, with requirements listing Windows 95 through Windows 8. Plugin documentation and tutorials cover modeller tools, shaders, effects, processors, and templates.

Who it suits

OpenFX suits Windows users needing free tools for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, or 3D print export. Developers can use its plugin API, tutorials, and Doxygen-generated source documentation.

What it does well

  • Free plan and open-source GNU licence
  • Built-in renderer and ray-trace engine
  • NURBS, kinematics animation, and morphing
  • Plugins provide image and animation effects
  • Imports several common 3D formats

What to know first

  • Windows-only Win32 support
  • Listed requirements cover older Windows releases
  • Mailing lists are inactive and under review
  • Source solutions were designed for Visual Studio 2003

Verdict

OpenFX combines modeling, animation, rendering, plugins, and format imports in a free Windows suite. Its documented platform and development requirements focus on older Windows environments.

Facts from OpenFX's own pages

Animation tools
Yes · openfx.org, 22 Sept 2026
Building from source
The FAQ describes building from Visual Studio solution files and says other compilers may be used with custom makefiles. · openfx.org, 12 Oct 2026
Developer documentation
The developer section provides documentation for writing plugins, including modeller tools, material shaders, animation effects, image processors and animation templates. · openfx.org, 11 Oct 2026
Developer resources
The FAQ points plugin developers to tutorials and says source documentation is generated with Doxygen. · openfx.org, 12 Oct 2026
Distribution
Downloads include a Windows binary distribution and source code available as a ZIP archive or through SVN. · openfx.org, 12 Oct 2026
Downloads
The download page offers a compiled binary distribution and source code, with source available as a ZIP archive or through SVN. · openfx.org, 11 Oct 2026
Effects
Plugins include image post-processing effects such as lens flare, fog and depth of field, and animation effects such as explosions, waves and dissolves. · openfx.org, 11 Oct 2026
File support
The download page lists COLLADA, Wavefront, and Lightwave imports through the ASSIMP library, as well as 3D Studio import through 3DSFTP. · openfx.org, 12 Oct 2026
Founded
1999 · openfx.org, 28 Sept 2026
Free plan
Yes · openfx.org, 22 Sept 2026
Import libraries
The download page says ASSIMP supports COLLADA, Wavefront and Lightwave imports, and 3DSFTP supports 3D Studio import. · openfx.org, 11 Oct 2026
License
The source code is released under the GNU General Public Licence. · openfx.org, 12 Oct 2026
Maker
The about page identifies Dr. Stuart Ferguson as the creator of OpenFX. · openfx.org, 12 Oct 2026
Modeling and animation
Features include NURBS support, kinematics-based animation, and morphing. · openfx.org, 12 Oct 2026
Platform access
desktop · openfx.org, 22 Sept 2026
Platform requirement
The FAQ lists Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, and 8 as system requirements. · openfx.org, 12 Oct 2026
Plugins
OpenFX has a plugin API, with plugin effects including image post-processing and animation effects. · openfx.org, 12 Oct 2026
3D print export
Yes · openfx.org, 22 Sept 2026
Product
OpenFX is an open-source suite for 3D modeling, animation and rendering. · openfx.org, 11 Oct 2026
Purpose
OpenFX is an open-source suite for 3D modeling, animation, and rendering. · openfx.org, 12 Oct 2026
Render engine
built-in · openfx.org, 22 Sept 2026
Rendering
The feature set includes a renderer and ray-tracing engine, including a GPU version of the rendering engine. · openfx.org, 12 Oct 2026
Source build
The FAQ says compilation uses Visual Studio solution files and that the supplied solutions were designed for Visual Studio 2003. · openfx.org, 11 Oct 2026
Support
The FAQ directs users to user and developer mailing lists and provides an email contact for the core development team. · openfx.org, 12 Oct 2026

Where OpenFX stands on Freedom251

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