How Hard Is It To Design a 3D Print Model?

The realm of 3D printing is known to be confusing. There’s a wide variety of software, printers, and materials to choose from. As a beginner in 3D print design, it’s perfectly normal to feel a bit overwhelmed. 

Learning to design a 3D print model is quite challenging. Beginners quickly get exposed to a large amount of knowledge to learn and absorb. However, there are many tutorials and YouTube videos to help you through. 

You’ll have to overcome a demanding beginner phase, but nailing your first 3D printing project will make it all worthwhile. I’ve listed some of the easiest-to-use software tools for beginners in this article, along with a few helpful tips to get you started. So, keep reading. 

What Are Some of the Easiest-To-Use 3D Print Design Softwares?

While most pros use advanced pieces of software like 3D Studio or Blender, you’ll want something more straightforward as a beginner. Here are a few good picks.

ZBrush

ZBrush is a well-designed 3D modeling software tool that you can use for both 2D and 3D designs. Most features are standard among the two interfaces (2D and 3D), which helps quickly convert a 2D sketch into a 3D model. 

As a beginner, you probably don’t have access to the highest-tier equipment. ZBrush also considers that and doesn’t need an expensive graphics card for your renders and image processing.

Leopoly

Leopoly is another easy-to-use 3D modeling software. This software is suitable for beginner developers and designers who would appreciate more assistance with their 3D modeling projects. 

It features various object modeling features, making it easy to choose, insert, and customize the available objects. More so, it allows you to pick models from a gallery of other peoples’ design files.

Vectary

Vectary was primarily built to make 3D modeling simpler and more accessible for beginners. It allows you to produce, share, and tweak 3D models, and it saves your models in the cloud. Users can easily share and access their 3D designs using a web browser. 

While it’s a simple 3D modeling tool for beginners, it’s still valuable for professionals with its wide range of options. 

Cinema 4D

As a beginner, a user-friendly interface is all you should look for in 3D modeling software. Cinema 4D is known to excel in that regard, with little to no compromises on the variety of advanced options it offers. 

The broad array of CAD tools allow you to design stunning 3D print models. 

Cinema 4D’s simple UI makes everything way easier to understand. It lets you aim for complex designs even at a beginner’s stage.

Moreover, Cinema 4D’s four different versions ensure that no category of 3D designers feels left out — i.e., Prime, Broadcast, Visualize, and Studio. 

Tips for 3D Print Design Beginners

In the 3D printing world, the right software tools are also hard to find and learn. Most advanced modeling programs are highly complicated to understand for beginners. However, beginners can acquire expertise. Here are some tips to get you started. 

1. Patience Is Key

3D modeling isn’t a simple hobby to take on — it’s going to be a bumpy ride, especially when you’re just starting. Make sure you take your time and persevere through the learning curve. You might hit many dead ends with your starting projects, but be patient and don’t give up.

Tune your expectations to be realistic when you’re starting as a 3D modeler. You won’t build a complex design overnight — instead, you’ll slowly get better and better. Keep in mind that, nevertheless, 3D modeling is a marketable skill the will be fruitful once you master it. 

According to Forbes, it also has a lot of scope in the future and takes patience to stick to beginner-level models at first. Like any other skill, you’ve got to learn the basics first, working on simple objects in your beginner stage.

Start with 3D shapes like spheres, cubes, and pyramids to build a solid 3D design foundation for your skills. Be patient and wait till you’re confident before you move on to more complex designs. 

1. The 3D Modeling Community Has Got Your Back

You’re lucky to be starting your 3D modeling journey in 2021. The community has grown fast and wide over the last ten years. Now, you can easily find relevant information, tutorials, and a step-by-step guide for any project you’re working on. 

You’ll also find many online forums and communities within the 3D modeling field where experienced professionals can directly answer your queries. They can help you with any confusion you stumble across and provide constructive feedback on your completed projects. 

1. Learn the Full Functionality of Your 3D Design Software

All 3D designers have specific software of choice which works best according to their preferences. They master all or most of its features to ensure no mechanical limitations to their design projects. 

However, it all starts with finding the right piece of software for you. The only way to do that is to try out a few popular ones that aren’t too expensive. Some great examples for beginners are Netfabb Basic, Blender, and Sketchup. 

As a beginner, ease-of-use should be one of the essential requisites of an ideal software tool. However, make sure it has every function, feature, and option you need. 

The question of which 3D design software tool is the best is entirely subjective. Find one that provides the right combination of features for your style, preferences, and requirements. All that matters is getting comfortable with it and slowly learning its complete functionality.

You can always upgrade to a more professional option once you feel like you’ve outgrown the beginner-level software tools. 

Conclusion

Learning to design great-looking 3D print models is a difficult skill but a gratifying one. In 2021, beginners are blessed with top-tier tools with optimized user interfaces for the ultimate ease of use. They also get to benefit from an unlimited source of information, video tutorials, guides, and forums to light their path. 

However, it’s still highly challenging to learn how to design a 3D print model. In this article, I’ve shared some of the best 3D modeling software programs you can use as a beginner and the tips you need to keep in mind for a smoother journey. All the best!