OpenFX vs ZBrush
OpenFX
openfx.org
ZBrush
maxon.netSide by side
| Figure | OpenFX | ZBrush |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 7 |
| Spec score · 3D modeling software | 6.9 (#141) | 9.3 (#2) |
| Animation tools | Yes | Yes |
| Founded | 1999 | 1986 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Platform access | desktop | desktop |
| Plugins | OpenFX has a plugin API, with plugin effects including image post-processing and animation effects. | Maxon publishes plugins such as NanoTile Textures, Live Boolean Utility, DynaMesh Utility, PrecisionExtract and Turntabler. |
| 3D print export | Yes | Yes |
| Render engine | built-in | both |
| Rendering | The feature set includes a renderer and ray-tracing engine, including a GPU version of the rendering engine. | Desktop includes advanced BPR rendering, render passes, raytraced ambient occlusion and a ZBrush-to-KeyShot bridge. |
| Support | The FAQ directs users to user and developer mailing lists and provides an email contact for the core development team. | Maxon provides a support center with knowledge-base articles, ticket support, installers, requirements, release notes, training and community forums. |
Plans
ZBrush
- ZBrush for iPad Free PlanFree
- ZBrush for iPad SubscriptionPrice not published
- ZBrush for iPad SubscriptionPriced on request
- ZBrush DesktopPrice not published
- ZBrush DesktopPriced on request
- ZBrush for iPad$33.25 a month
- ZBrush$399 a year
In their own words
ZBrush
ZBrush is a 3D sculpting and modeling application with desktop and iPad offerings. Its listed tools include sculpting, parametric modeling, animation, rendering and 3D print export. Desktop is listed for Windows and macOS, while a separate supported-platform list also includes Linux. The desktop plan includes ZBrush for iPad and advanced sculpting, modeling, rendering and export tools. Rendering is described as hybrid, with GPU and animation rendering and denoising. Listed workload areas include CPU and GPU rendering, ray tracing, shader execution and geometry processing. Other listed capabilities include rotoscoping, 3D camera tracking, custom test profiles and CLI or automation support. The listed result export formats are none documented, and results are not saved as a file. Headquarters are listed as both Bad Homburg vor der Höhe and Friedrichsdorf, Germany; the maker is listed as founded in 1986.