Animator at Workstation
Custom Animated Scene Created in Cinema 4D
What Is DCC Software?
DCC software is an umbrella term that refers to the software used to create, edit, and manipulate digital content. The term itself doesn’t exclusively refer to software that can create 3D animation, but rather any type of digital content. For instance, Canva is a popular DCC software tool that’s used for graphic design. Another example is Grammarly, which is used to analyze web copy for spelling and grammatical errors. For 3D animations specifically, you need DCC software that includes a particular set of tools. While many applications on the market can produce multiple forms of digital content, not all are designed for 3D animation specifically. Modeling, texturing, rigging, animation, lighting, and rendering are all aspects that go into 3D animation, so the software you choose must be capable of meeting your expectations.
Cinema 4D Animation in Progress by L&F
Best DCC Software for 3D Animation
If you’re interested in creating your own 3D animations, the abundance of tools available online can make it difficult to get started. To make it easier, we’ve created a list of what we consider to be the best digital content creation software tools that equip you with everything to create a great animation.
Best Overall: Unreal Engine
Best for Individuals: Blender
Blender is one of the most popular content creation software tools available online because it’s free, open-source, and backed by a team of driven developers who have been improving it since its release way back in 2002.
Even for a completely free 3D modeling and animation application, Blender packs quite a punch. It includes several modeling features that allow you to make your animations as simple, or complex, as you’d like. For rendering, everything can be done within the application with Cycles, providing physically-based path tracing rendering out-of-the-box. With the addition of downloadable plugins, you can get even more functionality out of Blender, like auto-rigging and liquid simulation effects.
Being open-source 3D animation software, it doesn’t offer much in the way of direct support. However, it has a very large community behind it, as well as a comprehensive user manual (both of which can be accessed from its support page).
The Best DCC Software for 3D Animation
Unreal Engine Demo Image
Autodesk Maya User Interface
Best for Studios: Autodesk Maya
Animator at the Lumen & Forge Studios
Animation brought to life for X Pot's Immersive Dining Experience
Best for Beginners: Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D is a popular choice for designers and animators who are just getting started. Many find its intuitive interface much easier to grasp, as it uses a user-friendly design that results in a smoother learning curve. But, this doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s still a powerhouse when it comes to creating 3D animations.
The program features a variety of modeling tools that allow you to choose the best approach for specific modeling requirements. The built-in rigging functionality and weighting system allow you to create advanced character animations, and the timeline and F-Curve editor give you complete oversight to fine-tune your animations and manage how they look and feel.
Although Cinema 4D’s built-in renderer produces excellent visual results, one limitation is that it’s CPU-based. This means you won’t be able to take advantage of your GPU unless you use an external rendering engine like Octane or Redshift. Furthermore, you may find that certain advanced features are only available through plugins, which results in additional costs and dependencies.
Rendering & Animation Services by Lumen & Forge
Professional 3D Animation Services
