If you’re looking for CAD software for Mac, you’re not without options. We’ve found some standout Mac and cloud-based CAD platforms for you.

• Mac 3d Printing Software
• 3d Photography Software For Mac Download

Aug 21, 2018  The Ranking: 3D Modeling Software for Mac Users The two most used 3D modeling software programs for Macintosh devices are freeware program Blender (score: 80) and freemium software SketchUp (75). Blender is known for its enormous design freedom and its endless number of tools and functions – however, it’s also known for its steep learning. 3D Photography Software. Talk about 3D image software, such as stereoscopic viewers and 3D photo creation. Stereomerger - 3D software for Mac and PC. Goev, Sep 25.

AUTOCAD – Leading 3D Modeling Software. The AUTOCAD for Mac is the best 3d modeling software that money can buy for you. The industry leading software is the first choice for every user who want the best user experience. Blender – Free Open 3D Modeler. The blender is a free open 3D modeler software which is free for use. May 06, 2020 3D images simulate left and right eye perspective to fool the mind. You may have seen these such images and wondered how they were made. With a pair of red-blue 3D glasses, a digital camera, and some photo editing software, you too can impress others with your very own three-dimensional photographs, also known as anaglyphs. To make these images.

You’re likely to hit a wall if you’re searching for computer-aided design (CAD) software designed for Mac. There are plenty of CAD software options for Windows—you’ll see many of them in our list of the top AutoCAD alternatives—but only a handful offer support for Mac.

And, if you think you’ll bypass the issue by using a cloud-based CAD tool, you’ll quickly find that CAD vendors haven’t embraced the cloud as much as other types of software vendors have, so the offerings are still largely on-premise. According to Gartner’s Hype Cycle for IT Evolution (full content available to Gartner clients), cloud-native CAD applications still have five to 10 years before they reach mainstream adoption.

But fear not, Mac users. We’ve done some digging and have put together this list of the top-rated CAD software for Mac. Read more about our methodology at the bottom of this article.

5 Best CAD Software for Mac (presented alphabetically)

Jump to:

• 
  CorelCAD
• 
  FreeCAD
• 
  Fusion 360
• 
  LibreCAD
• 
  Onshape

1. CorelCAD

CorelCAD offers 2D drafting and 3D design capabilities, such as the drawing constraints feature for creating different geometric shapes faster and the push and pull feature for 3D direct modeling.

3D modeling in CorelCAD (Source)

Common user feedback trends

Based on analyses of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of CorelCAD they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.

What users like:

• The short learning curve: Users mention that the tool is easy to use and beginners don’t have to spend a lot of time learning it.
• Compatibility with multiple file types: Users like the fact that the tool is compatible with DWG, PDF, ACIS, DXF, STL, CDR, and other file formats.

What users think could be improved:

• Software reliability issues: Some users mention that the software tends to crash at times.
• Better dimension functionality: Some users would like a better dimensioning feature for more accurate drawings of angles and proportions.

Who can use CorelCAD

CorelCAD can be used by construction businesses for collaborative editing on multiple devices. It offers native iOS applications, which makes it easy for field crews to add annotations in graphics and share files using their iPhones and iPads. Additionally, the tool allows team members to leave recorded messages and instructions for colleagues embedded in the graphics using a voice note tool.

2. FreeCAD

FreeCAD is an open source CAD tool that works on Mac as well as Windows and Linux. It reads many common file formats such as STEP, IGES, STL, SVG, DXF, OBJ, IFC, and DAE.

It offers different modules, including a drawing sheets module that converts 3D models into 2D views, a rendering module that can export 3D objects, and an architecture module for a BIM-like workflow.

3D model of a building in FreeCAD (Source)

Common user feedback trends

Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of FreeCAD they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.

What users like:

• Feature-richness for a free tool: Users mention that, although it’s free, the tool comes with a full set of features.
• Reliability: Users mention that the tool does not demand a lot of CPU power and works well on devices with low RAM.

What users think could be improved:

• Steep learning curve: Users mention that the tool is not the most user-friendly solution and can be difficult for beginners to learn.
• Dependent on community for updates: Users mention that modules ignored by the community tend to become outdated quickly.

Who can use FreeCAD

FreeCAD appears to be best for hobbyists and home users. It’s also good for users who don’t have a high budget for software but still want to tinker with CAD modeling.

FreeCAD could also be a good choice for businesses on a budget looking for a free and open-source option.

3. Fusion 360

Fusion 360 is a CAD tool from Autodesk with design functionalities such as sketching and 3D modeling. It also supports project management with features such as task management, document management, and collaborative image editing.

Document management in Fusion 360 (Source)

Common user feedback trends

Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of Fusion 360 they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.

What users like:

• Comprehensive design features: User mention that the tool offers all the functionalities necessary for 2D and 3D designing.
• Availability of training resources: Users like the fact that the tool comes with ample documentation and tutorials.

What users think could be improved:

• System crashes: Users mention that the tool tends to crash, especially when designing and rendering large files.
• Steep learning curve: Users mention that it can take a lot of time to learn the advanced functionalities of the tool.

Who can use Fusion 360

Fusion 360 is part of the Autodesk ecosystem designed for the AEC industry. This makes the tool suitable for construction businesses that are already using, or intend to use, other Autodesk solutions. Using a software vendor that offers multiple solutions will especially benefit larger businesses that invariably need software that can scale with their growing requirements.

4. LibreCAD

LibreCAD is an open source CAD tool that supports Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems. The tool comes with 2D drawing features such as a snap tool, dimensioning, and annotations. It also supports multiple file imports and exports.

2D drawing in LibreCAD (Source)

Common user feedback trends

Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of LibreCAD they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.

What users like:

• Ease of use: Users mention that the tool offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
• Lots of tutorials: Users like the fact that there are ample video tutorials that help them get started with the tool.

What users think could be improved:

• Software speed: Users mention that the software tends to lag, especially when trying to print designs.
• Add support for 3D design: Users would like to see functionalities for creating 3D designs.

Who can use LibreCAD

LibreCAD is an exclusively 2D CAD tool for drawing and designing blueprints of buildings, layouts of parks, and the like. As a free tool, the solution can be used by small and midsize businesses across different industries, including manufacturing, engineering, architecture, and construction.

5. Onshape

Onshape is a cloud-only CAD solution that comes with features such as document management with version control, collaborative design creation/editing capabilities, and reporting dashboards to understand project status.

Importing documents in Onshape (Source)

Common user feedback trends

Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of Onshape they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.

What users like:

• Document version control: Users like the document management features of the tool, such as version history.
• Intuitive interface: Users mention that the tool comes with an intuitive interface for easy image editing.

What users think could be improved:

• Performance issues: Some users mention that the tool does not function well on non-Chrome browsers and has file loading issues.
• Lack of features: Users mention that the tool should improve certain features such as 2D drawing and 3D surfacing.

Who can use Onshape

As a fully-cloud based tool, Onshape is ideal for businesses that need to manage design documents collaboratively with multiple stakeholders. The tool’s collaboration functionalities include document sharing, document editing, comments, and file downloads in multiple CAD formats, such as Parasolid, ACIS, STEP, and IGES.

Next steps

This report offers a mix of Mac CAD solutions—from free tools that can help you with basic 2D drawing to advanced solutions offering extensive 3D modeling functionalities.

If these tools don’t meet your needs, expand your search and check out more options. To help you, we’ve created a CAD software comparison page where you can explore products using different filters, such as features offered and pricing options.

Methodology

To be shortlisted, products had to fulfill the following criteria:

• Products had to be compatible with Mac and offer core CAD software capabilities, such as:
  • 2D drawing or 3D modeling features
  • Collaborative editing of drawings
• Products needed a minimum of 20 user reviews on Capterra (published in the last two years).
• Products had to have a high overall rating (an average of at least 4 out of 5 on Capterra).

Note: The content in this piece that provides opinions and points of view expressed by users. It does not represent the views of Capterra.

Looking for Construction Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best Construction Management software solutions.

3D pictures can take your photography to a new dimension. There are many ways to create 3D images: this 3D photo guide will teach you everything you need to know!

Technology has seriously changed the world of photography in recent years—now, professional photographers need to put more effort into wowing potential clients than ever before.

As new equipment and software have made it easier for anyone to become an amateur photographer, 3D pictures can help set your online photography portfolio apart from the rest. Showcasing a wide range of different types of photography on your portfolio is also a great way to show potential clients what a skilled shooter you are. And 3D pictures in particular can be quite the attention-grabber! Want to learn how to create 3D pictures? Let’s get started with the 3D photography basics!

3D Photo Basics

There are many ways to create 3D images using different camera setups and software. For example, it’s possible to create a 3D picture from a single image in Photoshop. But that takes some more work in post-production—and it isn’t nearly as satisfying as the traditional techniques!

If you’ve gone the old-school route, make sure to let people know! When you post a 3D picture to your portfolio, mention that it was created from two images. This little detail will show visitors how much skill goes into shooting your 3D images (much more impressive than if you simply used an app that does it automatically).

Capturing 3D Pictures

The traditional way of creating a 3D image is to capture two photos from slightly different angles to simulate the way our eyes perceive depth. If you’re shooting a stationary subject, that can be done by simply moving the camera slightly to the side in between shots. If you’re trying to get a 3D action shot, you’re going to want a dual-camera setup so you can capture the two angles simultaneously.

Then you put the photos together in editing, and display them in a way that allows the viewer’s left eye to only see the left angle image, and the right eye to see only right angle image.

Displaying 3D Images

One of the simplest and cheapest ways to display your 3D pictures is to use Photoshop to add a red tint to one image and a cyan tint to the other(check out this tutorial on how to do that), and have the viewer wear those classic red-cyan 3D glasses. One downside of this method is the 3D picture effect works best on images that are black and white, or at least have a lot of contrast.

There are a number of options for how to display your 3D images; some will be better suited to your online portfolio because they don’t require any effort or equipment from the viewer.

One example is what is sometimes called wiggle 3D. This involves creating a GIF from your separate images that switches back and forth between the different angles. The result is that the picture seems to wiggle, providing a 3D effect. Here are some great examples of wiggle 3D pictures using this technique, and here are some simple tutorials on how to do it.

Some people simply post their images side by side and instruct viewers to cross their eyes to see the image in 3D. This is not the best method to achieve those 3D picture effects. For one thing, it has the potential to make the viewer’s eyes sore. But, more importantly, it doesn’t give you the chance to show off your photo editing skills! To someone who’s quickly browsing through your portfolio, it will just look like two identical photos side by side.

Tips for Shooting 3D photos

No matter how you decide to display your 3D pictures, the traditional techniques to capture them remain the same. Here are some of the basics to keep in mind:

• Choose a subject with depth. If you shoot a person standing with their back against a wall, you’re kind of defeating the purpose of 3D photography, because the effect won’t be as strong as it could be. For the best results, capture a scene that has some elements that are very close, some in the middle ground, and some far away.

• Keep your subject in the center of the frame. This maximizes the 3D photo effect and can help as a reference point to make sure both images are framed properly. If your separate shots aren’t lined up right, you’ll just end up with a blurry image instead of a 3D photo effect.

• Take more than two images. Then, during editing, you can choose the best two images for your 3D picture.

• The right amount of separation between the two images will depend on how close your subject is. If you’re shooting something far away, your photos will need more separation to achieve a 3D photo effect. So, shooting your subjects from closer is better. A good place to start when shooting something close is using the distance between the average person’s pupils, which is about 2.5 inches.

• Make sure you use the same camera settings for both images. If you make adjustments between shots, like tweaking the white balance or exposure, the final product won’t look right.

• Take your photos starting from the left and then moving to the right. By always taking your photos in the same order, it will make it easier during editing because you’ll always know which is the right angle and which is the left without needing to closely look at every image you took.

3D Picture Apps and 3D Camera Apps

There are many apps that can help with creating 3D picture effects. Photoshop is a great choice for putting your images together since it offers so many capabilities to tweak the final product to your liking.

There are also simple 3D photo apps that can create 3D images automatically, right on your phone. One example is 3D Camera. This free Android app can produce decent 3D pictures from a single image. You can then choose if you want the 3D photo to be viewable with red-cyan glasses or as an animated image that can be viewed in any picture browser.

3D Pictures on Social Media

Facebook recently added a new 3D photo feature. You post an image like normal, but when you scroll by them, drag on them, or tilt your phone, the image shifts angles as in a 3D picture. It uses a special system that takes advantage of dual camera phones. To capture a scene, users move their phone around as it captures two images every second to create an accurate depth map. That depth map is then used to stitch the images together into a 3D image.

One benefit of Facebook’s 3D photo feature is it doesn’t require viewers to do anything special. As they scroll through their newsfeeds normally, the 3D images will shift as they go by. It’s really effective at grabbing people’s attention, so it’s a great idea to start including 3D images in your Facebook posts to help draw people to your online portfolio.

3D Photo Cameras

If you’re deciding on a new camera and are wondering what makes a good 3D photography camera, there aren’t any special considerations to take into account. Really—any camera can do it! To get the best results with your 3D pictures, as with any type of photography, you can look for a camera with a high-quality sensor and large ISO range so you can capture detailed shots in any light.

In addition, the latest phones with dual cameras are making it easier than ever to capture 3D photos. So if you’re due for a phone upgrade, that’s something to keep in mind.

For more info on choosing cameras, check out our guides on the best cameras for portraits and the best cameras for landscapes.

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Other 3D Photography Equipment

One essential piece of equipment when shooting 3D pictures is a good tripod. As you move your camera into a different position to capture a different angle, a tripod will help you keep the camera at the right height and keep your shot properly framed.

When it comes to shooting moving subjects, a dual-camera setup or a stereo lens is needed. This equipment will enable you to capture shots from two angles simultaneously. There are dual camera mounts available online that will allow you to mount two cameras on a single tripod.

But if you’re not up for investing in a second camera, then a stereo lens could be the way to go. These lenses can split your camera’s view into two separate angles.

To learn more, take a look at our beginner’s guide to buying the right photography equipment.

3D Modeling

Mac 3d Printing Software

One specialized type of 3D photography is 3D modeling, and it can make a very cool addition to your online portfolio. It involves taking multiple pictures from angles all around an object, and then using software to stitch them together into a 3D model, just like the ones used in digital animation.

If you choose a portfolio site that makes it simple to embed a video, then it will be a piece of cake to show off your 3D models. Here’s an example of one photographer who uses a video on his website to show the 3D models he’s created.

3d Photography Software For Mac Download

Show Off Your 3D Photo Skills!

Now that you’re ready to get out there and start creating great 3D images, don’t forget to upload them to your online portfolio.

If you don’t have an online portfolio yet, then it’s high time you built one! It’s easy to do as long as you choose the right website builder. Some of the features you should look for include customizable themes with flexible layouts and a free trial so you can see if it’s right for you.

It might also be good to pick an online portfolio with a built-in blog. This way, you can share your process of how you create all your cool 3D pictures. (Maybe even write a case study!).

We can’t wait to see all your amazing, mind-bending 3D photos!

Want more ideas for cool photos you can add to your portfolio?
Using Hard Light to Challenge Your Photography
20 Cool Self-Portrait Ideas
The Beginner’s Guide to Choosing a Photography Style