free 3d modelling animation programs

Does anyone know of any modelling and animation software like 3ds Maya that is free? I can't afford 3ds Maya or Max, they are too expensive.

 

I've never used it, but Blender is something that exists.

 

Blender is what I have used, but I haven't gone in to animation yet so I'm not sure how well that aspect of it works. It works wonderfully otherwise. I haven't been able to find a plugin that lets me export to the file type that SC2 uses, but the last time I checked was a long time ago. I remember one person saying he would be making one soon, so that might be finished by now.

 

Okay, cool! Thank for that. I will try it.

 

I have downloaded it and installed it. Looks good. Something I ought to mention every time I start the program my anti virus says the program displays similar behavior to that of a keylogger program. Should I be worried or is that my anti virus over analysing it? Does your anti virus say the same sort of thing.

 

My anti-virus hasn't ever complained about it, iirc. Did you get it from their official website?

 

If the official site is www.blender.org than yes.

 

How do you export units, weapons or buildings out of SC2 and into blender and vice versa?

 

I can't remember how I got the SC2 models in to it in the first place. They are probably available for download somewhere on sc2mapster.com.

 

I found a plugin called Blendm3 which support SC2 files. You need to get the newest release of Blender from http://www.graphicall.org for the plugin to work properly. I also heard that the animation part of it is not supported yet and is still being worked on for Blender. So unfortunately I won't be able to use new units I create in game until the animation part of it gets implemented.

 

You can always just use their models as placeholders until your plugin is completely functional.

 

Does SC2 have it's own program inside the editor for animation sets? I know Unreal Tournament 3 does. Also what version of Blender do you have and what is the latest version?