Free and open source 3D computer graphics program for PC

MakeHuman

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Download MakeHuman 1.2.0

MakeHuman

  -  335 MB  -  Open Source
  • Latest Version

    MakeHuman 1.2.0 LATEST

  • Review by

    Sophia Jones

  • Operating System

    Windows 7 / Windows 7 64 / Windows 8 / Windows 8 64 / Windows 10 / Windows 10 64

  • User Rating

    Click to vote
  • Author / Product

    Manuel Bastioni / External Link

  • Filename

    makehuman-community-1.2.0-windows.zip

MakeHuman is a tool that creates 3D humanoid models. Normally, this would be a difficult task to accomplish with other utilities. But this particular utility makes it easy to mold humanlike visuals into 3D models.



MakeHuman for PC is a powerful, open-source software application developed by Manuel Bastioni that allows users to create realistic 3D human models effortlessly. Originally released in 2009, it has evolved into a comprehensive tool for artists, game developers, animators, and researchers, providing a vast array of features for creating human characters with stunning realism. It offers an intuitive interface combined with advanced customization options, making it suitable for both beginners and professionals in the field of 3D modeling.

The installation process lasts a rather long time due to all the plugins, textures, and other elements included in the program. Once the installation has finished and the program is opened, the interface will display on the screen.

MakeHuman is simple to use this program. There are several tabs organized that correspond to various functions. If you want to develop and customize your own models without putting forth a lot of effort, this is the program for you.

You can detail your model at several different levels. You can begin by adjusting standard features, such as the height, weight, age, and gender of your model. Then if you want to focus on more specific details, such as eyebrow traits, then you can do that too. This application even offers a collection of faces and accessories which you can add to your model.

As for the clothing, you can add standard elements to your model design. Facial expressions, on the other hand, can be adjusted to appear any way you want them to. For example, if you want to adjust the mouth of the model, there are more than a dozen poses that you can choose from.

You can customize the view too. Use the two quick buttons to zoom away to a world view or zoom in to a closer face view. You can export your model creations in formats like DAE, MHX, STL, and OBJ. These file formats can be opened in software programs like Blender or Collada.



Overall, this tool is a great solution for someone who is interested in creating their own 3D models.

Key Features
  • Customizable human models: It provides a wide range of parameters for adjusting various aspects of human anatomy, including age, gender, body proportions, facial features, and clothing.
  • Rigging and posing: Users can rig and pose their models easily within the software, allowing for dynamic and expressive poses for animation or still renders.
  • Morph targets: It supports morph targets, enabling users to create complex facial expressions and deformations for their characters.
  • Export options: The software allows users to export their creations in various formats, including OBJ, FBX, and Collada, making it compatible with popular 3D modeling and animation software such as Blender, Maya, and Unity.
  • Plugin support: It features a plugin system that allows for the integration of additional features and functionalities, expanding its capabilities even further.
User Interface

It boasts a user-friendly interface that prioritizes ease of use without sacrificing functionality. The layout is intuitive, with clearly labeled buttons and menus for accessing different features and settings.



The interface is customizable, allowing users to arrange panels and tools according to their preferences, making the workflow smoother and more efficient.

Installation and Setup

Installing this program is a straightforward process on most operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Users can download the software from the official website or repository and follow the guided installation instructions provided. Once installed, MakeHuman may require additional setup steps, such as configuring plugins or adjusting system preferences, but these are generally simple and well-documented.

How to Use
  • Launch the app and start a new project.
  • Customize your human model by adjusting various parameters such as age, gender, ethnicity, body proportions, and facial features.
  • Rig and pose your model using the built-in tools for creating dynamic poses and animations.
  • Fine-tune your model's appearance by adding clothing, accessories, and textures.
  • Export your model in the desired format for further editing or use in other software applications.


FAQ

Is MakeHuman for PC compatible with Blender?
Yes, the app models can be exported in formats compatible with Blender, such as OBJ and Collada, allowing for seamless integration into Blender projects.

Can I use MakeHuman for commercial projects?
Yes, MakeHuman is open-source software released under the AGPL license, which permits commercial use. However, users are encouraged to review the terms of the license for specific details and restrictions.

Are there any tutorials available for learning MakeHuman?
Yes, there are numerous tutorials and documentation resources available online, including video tutorials, user guides, and community forums where users can seek assistance and guidance.

Can I create custom clothing for MakeHuman models?
Yes, it supports the creation of custom clothing through its plugin system. Users can develop plugins or scripts to import and apply custom clothing designs to their models.

Does MakeHuman require a powerful computer to run?
While the program is relatively lightweight compared to some other 3D modeling software, it may benefit from a reasonably capable computer, especially when working with complex scenes or high-resolution models. However, it should run smoothly on most modern desktops and laptops.

Alternatives

If you are looking for an excellent alternative to this product, we recommend DAZ Studio.

Pricing

The program is available as FREE and open-source software, meaning it can be downloaded and used at no cost. Users can also contribute to the development of the software through donations or by contributing code to the project.

System Requirements
  • Operating System: Windows 7/8/10/11, macOS 10.9 or later, Linux
  • Processor: Dual-core CPU (Quad-core recommended)
  • RAM: 4GB (8GB recommended)
  • Graphics Card: OpenGL 3.3 compatible (dedicated GPU recommended)
  • Disk Space: 2GB available space
PROS
  • Intuitive interface
  • Extensive customization options
  • Plugin support for additional features
  • Compatible with popular 3D software
  • Free and open-source
CONS
  • Limited advanced features compared to some commercial alternatives
  • Occasional stability issues reported by users
  • Learning curve for beginners
Conclusion

MakeHuman is a versatile and powerful tool for creating realistic 3D human models, suitable for a wide range of applications including animation, game development, and visual effects. With its intuitive interface, extensive customization options, and compatibility with other software, it offers a compelling solution for artists and designers looking to bring their characters to life.

While it may not have all the advanced features of some commercial alternatives, its open-source nature and active community make it a valuable asset for anyone involved in 3D modeling and animation.

Also Available: Download MakeHuman for Mac

  • MakeHuman 1.2.0 Screenshots

    The images below have been resized. Click on them to view the screenshots in full size.

What's new in this version:

- The codebase has received a major overhaul to bring it up to date with modern versions of Python and Qt
- There is a completely new Blender integration, MPFB, with support for socket transfers, IK and Kinect
- The license has changed to (hopefully) be more clear and permissive
- The toolset for creating assets (MakeClothes and MakeTarget) has been rewritten from scratch
- There is a new tool "MakeSkin" for creating materials
- Third party assets can be downloaded from within MakeHuman with a simple point and click procedure
- There is a new Mass production functionality for generating large sets of randomized characters
- Improved internationalization support for non-ASCII characters (backported)
- Plugins in user space
- Plugins activation at runtime
- Improved tag sorting capabilities (Hotkey: ALT-F), including sticky tag provisions
- Tags for models (with configurable tag count)
- Show Name Tags instead of file names in the file loader
- Saving model as target
- Real weight estimation
- Configurable location for the home folder
- MHX2 is bundled in the default installation
- Save thumbnails directly from the internal render engine
- There is a new installer for windows
- There is a new PPA for ubuntu. This PPA also offers builds of plugins
- Using Jupyter for the shell utility, if available on the system (currently not working for MakeHuman windows builds)

The upgraded codebase:
The main focus of this release has been to modernize the code. In the prior version, large parts were written more than ten years ago, and relied on libraries and code structures which are no longer functional in a modern context. More in detail:
- The system was written for python 2.6 and then upgraded when needed to python 2.7. The final end of life for python 2.7 was january 1, 2020
- The user interface was implemented in Qt4, via PyQt4. Both Qt4 and PyQt4 got deprecated years ago, and Riverside (the authors of PyQt) removed all PyQt4 windows binaries, meaning we could no longer provide windows builds
- Thus, the need to bring the code up to modern times became critical. We realized that the system would soon not be possible to run or develop on several platforms
- Going through the code to update it has taken some considerable time (years actually), but it has had the added benefit that we have also reviewed almost all sections of the code and fixed a lot of minor bugs and glitches
- Most users will probably not notice much difference: the user interfaces in 1.2.0 and 1.1.1 are almost identical. But it was work that needed to be done before we could move forward with implementing new features

The new Blender integration: Makehuman plugin for Blender (MPFB):
- In blender it is now possible to fetch a character directly from a running instance of MakeHuman, without having to first save/export the character to a file
- The importer will talk with the makehuman instance and fetch all meshes (such as the body, hair clothes...), materials, rigs and poses. The process is almost instantaneous (a character with a lot of clothes might take a few seconds to import)
- The importer UI supports a wide range of settings and presets. By using a preset you can, for example, import a body mesh suitable for using together with MakeClothes. This will make it significantly easier to develop assets aimed at a specific body type
- Further, the importer supports improved skin features such as skin pores and SSS
- Note that for the importer to work, you will have to go to the Community -> Socket tab in MakeHuman and enable "Accept connections". Otherwise MakeHuman won't answer, and you will get an error in Blender

License change:
- The license has changed to be more comprehensive and permissive
- In summary, it has been made clear that assets included with and produced by makehuman are CC0 no matter how you got hold of them

Assets can now be downloaded from within MakeHuman:
- This version of MakeHuman bundles the asset downloader plugin. By using this you can access all the hundreds of user contributed assets that are available via the MakeHuman Communit
- Within the UI you can search for assets, show screenshots, read about details, see author publishing and license information and download. Downloaded assets are automatically placed in your local asset directory so that you can immediately go to the geometries tabs and, for example, equip the newly downloaded clothe

Mass produce:
- There is now functionality available for randomizing large sets of characters. This includes varying body shape and gender, as well as randomizing which clothes the characters are equiped with
- An introduction to this functionality can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRHnJX-TdT4 (in the video it is stated that the plugin can be downloaded separately, but it is now included in the MakeHuman distribution)
- Upgraded toolset for creating assets

The toolchain for creating MakeHuman assets have been upgraded:
- MakeClothes and MakeTarget have been rewritten from scratch and been made compatible with Blender 2.80 and later. They are now called MakeClothes 2 and MakeTarget 2, in order to separate them from the old versions that work with Blender 2.79 and earlier
- A new tool MakeSkin has been added. This allows creating more advanced materials than what MakeClothes can do alone. There is a video introducing this functionality at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0amcxq4Ik60

A new windows installer:
- The windows version is now distributed as an executable installer that supports uninstall. After installing MakeHuman, it can now be found on the start menu like all other normal windows application.
- Note that it is no longer recommended to go to the installation folder and start MakeHuman manually there. In order to do so, you would have to manually set up an environment for python, something which is handled automatically by the start menu entry.

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