Animation & Game Art
PCA&D AGA Recommended Software List
Computer Graphics Software

- 3D software package
- Industry standard
Autodesk Maya
Free for students
https://www.autodesk.com/education/edu-software/overview
Official Autodesk Maya Learning Channel
https://www.youtube.com/c/MayaHowTos

- 3D software package
- Free alternative to Maya
Blender
Official Blender Channel
https://www.youtube.com/c/BlenderFoundation

- Basic 3D modeling software
Google SketchUp
Free (for non-commercial use)
https://www.sketchup.com/try-sketchup#for-personal

- Learn about computer graphics
The Science Behind Pixar
Recommended
Student Resources
AGA Department Calendar
(Must sign in with PCA&D email)
Click here to add
PCA&D SIGGRAPH CHAPTER
Computer graphics club
pcad.siggraph.org
Related Clubs
- Tabletop Games
- ESports
- Smash Bros
Books
David B. Levy, Your Career in Animation: How to Survive and Thrive, 2nd Edition, 2021.
Find it in the Learning Commons!Â
Call number NC1765 .L48 Y68 2021
Digital Drawing Software

- Industry standard
- Software package
Adobe CC
Free trial, student discount
https://www.adobe.com/education/k12.html
$$

- Digital photo manipulation, drawing, painting
Adobe Photoshop
Included with CC, student discount
$$

- 3D texturing
Adobe Substance
Included with CC, free for students
https://substance3d.adobe.com/education/

- Digital drawing, painting
- Low cost alternative to Photoshop
Procreate
Low cost, $
IOS/iPad only
https://procreate.art/
- Digital drawing, painting
- Free alternative to Photoshop
Krita
Digital Sculpting Software

- High poly sculpting software
ZBrush
Official Pixologic Livestreams
https://pixologic.com/zbrushlive/

- Free “trial size” version of ZBrush
ZBrushCoreMini

- High poly sculpting app
- Alternative to ZBrush
Nomad Sculpt
iPad/Android Tablet only
$, low cost
https://nomadsculpt.com/
Game Design Software

- 2D and 3D game engine
Unity
Free (for non-commercial use)
https://unity.com/

- 2D and 3D game engine
Unreal
Free (for non-commercial use)
https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/

- Text-based game engine
Twine

- World’s largest free coding community for kids
Scratch

- Learn to code
Codecademy
Free/paid content
https://www.codecademy.com/catalog/subject/game-development