In my previous article I featured a 3D animation software called Vidpresenters 3D which serves as a very useful 3D animation software for those that are simply looking for a plug and play solution. However, iClone 7 real time 3D animation software takes 3D animation to a whole new level of customisation, helping you easily produce professional animations for films, previz, animation, video games, content development, education and art.
Armed with the latest real time technologies, iClone 7 simplifies the world of 3D animation in a user-friendly production environment that blends character animation, scene design and cinematic storytelling, quickly turning your imagination into reality.
iClone 7 is a very comprehensive real time 3D animation software solution and for this reason we will only concentrate on the key features of iClone 7 in this particular article. Should you wish to explore iClone7 in much more detail, I will leave a link to the software developer, Reallusion’s website, at the bottom of this article.
Character Animation
Animate any character instantly with intuitive tools for face and body animation.
Facial Animation
Create facial animations with audio lip-sync and puppet emotive expressions via motion key editing.
Character Generation
Create stylised realistic animation ready humanoid 3D characters in a short space of time.
Professional Animation
Dynamic prop animations use industry leading PhysX for natural rigid body dynamics and soft cloth simulation. Blend shapes and morphs expand options for animating both characters and props while the curve editor allows you to finetune motions for dynamic and exaggerated motions.
3D Scene And 3D Prop
Natural outdoor surroundings or interiors can be created through the combination of props and elements of terrain, sky, water, grass and trees.
Lighting
A comprehensive drag and drop lighting system featuring intuitive modification controls, shadows and presets entitles you to light any interior or exterior scene.
Real Camera System
iClone accurately simulates real-world cinematography due to its fully customizable camera system that matches the industry standard. This entitles you to shoot with real cameras and lenses for example the Arri Alexa XT, Arriflex 416 Plus, Canon EOS 5D Mark III etc. Compatibility is key with flawless import and export of camera data between 3D and video tracking tools.
Superb Real-Time Visuals
Intensify scene quality with PBR, VXGI and IBL technology that helps you turn a normal 3D scene into a photo-realistic world.
Material Generation
No need to code or node. Assign and manage materials via simplified modify interface in order to control textures, UV and multi-channel material settings.
3D Content Playground
iClone provides you with a variety of free embedded content to help you quickly experience the excitement of character creation. Reallusion provides the largest online resource collection for real-time 3D assets, fulfilling your needs for characters, motions, props and textures.
3D Video Compositing
Video and 3D scenes with real time playback and effects can be combined to incorporate videos as backgrounds or textures or instantly turn a video into a plane or billboard by dragging and dropping it directly into the viewport. Animated scenes in projects can also be exported as videos for compositing in an external video editor and effect engines.
Import and Export
All types of 3D assets can be imported and exported, which includes static objects, animated props, skin-bone rigged characters and motion files.
Extensive Plug-Ins
iClone offers a variety of plug-ins that expands your creative toolbox and caters for your motion capture and VFX requirements.
Extending iClone with Python API
iClone 7 is evolving into an open program with robust extension capabilities. Custom devices can be added to iClone through Python scripting, which allows creative users to easily augment animation features.
Conclusion
If you want to become serious about 3D animation and you want full control over the intrinsicate details and customisation possibilities of 3D animation, then look no further than iClone 7 by Reallusion. However, if you are simply looking for a 3D animation plug and play solution then perhaps Vidpresenters 3D will be the solution of choice.
Hi, I have to say this is a very impressive piece of software. I used some of the earlier 3D animation software packages including one in the early 1990s where you actually had to build 3D objects through instructions using a command line. I think that was called Sculpt 4D and worked on an Amiga. That was unbelievably tedious and I never got anywhere with it. A few years later I bought an early windows version of Imagine 3D and I used it to create cheesy logo animations for corporate videos that I was even able to charge clients money for. At least that had a graphical user interface. I haven’t done that kind of work since then, but I now am developing a project that will need an animation package. iClone7 just might become a late Christmas present…. maybe if I behave myself someone could put in a good word with Santa.
Haha the Christmas gift idea seems awesome and yes I think it is a lot of fun to be able to play around with 3D animation. If you do decide to bite the bullet, do show me some of your 3D animation creations with Iclone 7. I will be very interested to see it as am quite curious to see the learning curve and what newbies to the Iclone 7 software can achieve within a short period of time.
Wow, I’m impressed! I always thought that you had to have special skills and a degree to create such 3D animations. I watched the video and it looks like iClone 7 is making everything userfriendly. Could I actually make my own videos with this program, maybe create mini stories, or insert 3D animations in already existing film? Is that possible or am I reaching too far? I do not know much about it, which is why I’m asking, but if these things were possible it would maybe be a great program for me to use.
Christine, I believe with iClone 7 there is not much limitations. This is a very comprehensive 3D animation software, so I am pretty confident it will meet your requirements. I quote: “All types of 3D assets can be imported and exported, which includes static objects, animated props, skin-bone rigged characters and motion files”.
I recommend you read more about iClone 7 and watch the tutorial and demo videos to get a greater understanding of iClone 7 and its possibilities. Just so by the way, iClone 7 is just one of many products created by the company, Reallusion. You may want to check out https://www.reallusion.com/ for even more options and possibilities.