trueSpace wasn't always free. It's been around for 15 years and used to cost several hundred dollars (as you'd expect from most professional CAD software) but it recently became free as the result of a duel between Google and Microsoft.
Google bought SketchUp to integrate the community-produced 3D models within Google Earth. Microsoft must have liked this idea, because in 2008 the company purchased Caligari software, makers of trueSpace - a respected complete 3D CGI studio.
Google was attracted to SketchUp for its accessibility and ease-of-use, but the end product is typically not nearly as polished as a complete studio with professional lighting, rendering, and animation. One example of that "complete studio" is trueSpace. Microsoft purchased a much higher-level product, but unfortunately it is nowhere near as accessible as SketchUp.
For Microsoft to compensate for the difficult-to-learn nature of trueSpace, all tutorials and videos are now free as well. These provide any beginner with much needed guidance, and any professional with the ability to easily dive right in. And the interface could be much worse. Blender is the quintessential example of a similar free and powerful software that holds itself back from broader appeal with its horrendous GUI.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and so it is with trueSpace. Microsoft purchased Caligari just prior to the economic downturn, and when the time came to make some difficult business decisions and cut backs, trueSpace was one project that was axed. This has all happened very recently, so you can still download the software, videos, etc. from the website for the time being. (If they are taken down, I'll provide other mirrors.)
Download latest version:
trueSpace v7.61 beta 8
| Homepage: | http://www.caligari.com/ |
| Supported OS: |  |
| Portable version: |  |
| 64-bit version: | |
| Active project: | |
| No strings attached **: |  |
** No spyware, ads, nags, registration reminders, etc.
Other CGI Studio freeware to keep an eye on:
