Carrara 5 delivers a robust suite of modeling, animation and rendering tools wrapped in an intuitive user interface that experienced 3D artists and novices alike will embrace.

Sporting an elegant and simple-to-use interface, Carrara 5 provides multiple 3D modelers, an advanced terrain module, high-level texturing, ultra-fast hybrid rendering, and a complete animation toolset.

Whether employed as the centerpiece or as the 3D workhorse within the designer’s creative suite, the highly-affordable Carrara 5.1 lavishes speed and power that enables users to create more freely and deliver high-caliber results under even the tightest deadlines.

Carrara 5.1 software supports both Macintosh and Windows platforms, takes advantage of OpenGL acceleration and network rendering, and provides superior interchange with industry-leading design applications, web tools, and video editing and effects software.

Carrara 5.1 is now available for the new Intel-based Mac® systems. If you already own Carrara 5, you can download Carrara 5.1 for Intel-based Macs at no charge.

Key Features

Carrara 5 delivers a multitude of features that enable artists to build a project – from start to finish – with a single piece of software.
From the multiple modelers, to the preset textures and shaders to the ultra-fast and realistic rendering, users will find the toolset delivered in Carrara 5 to be full-featured and complete.

Multiple Modelers

• Spline modeler


• Advanced Vertex and Surface modeler


• Metaball modeler


• Text & Formula modelers


• Environment modelers


• Carrara 5 embodies a numerous set of tools to create any kind of shape.

Assembly & Modifications

• 3D manipulators


• Alignment tools


• Booleans operations


• Collision detection


• Grid projections


• Numerous modifiers (Twist, Bend, Explode, Dissolve, Spin, etc.)

Environment & Special Effects

• Terrain modeler with various real-time filters, 2D editor & special shader


• Tree modelers & presets - Object Replicator


• Realistic sky editor


• Atmosphere


• Volumetric effects


• Lens flare, motion blur, depth of field, etc.

Advanced Textures & Shaders

• Presets


• Advanced texture editor


• Layer mapping


• 2D UV map editor


• Shading domains


• Mat shadow shader


• Large set of procedural shaders for complex materials

Animation

• Keyframe animation: Bezier, Linear, Noise, etc.


• Motion path-based animation


• Inverse Kinematics (IK) & IK chains


• Bones & constraints


• Weightmaps painting - Graph Editor


• Morph targets


• Physics animation


• Advanced Particle Generator

Rendering

• Ultra-fast rendering


• Photo-realistic: HDRI, Global Illumination, Caustics, Skylight, Ambient Occlusion, Subsurface Scattering, Displacement Mapping
• Non Photorealistic Rendering


• Network Rendering


• G-buffer export


• Batch rendering

Carrara 5 enables artists to build a complete animated project from start to finish -- all with a single piece of software. It multitude of features give you a robust suite of modeling, animation and rendering tools. From the multiple modelers, to the preset textures and shaders to the ultra-fast and realistic rendering, Carrara 5 gives you all you need -- wrapped in an intuitive user interface that experienced 3D artists and novices alike will embrace. Large set of procedural shaders for complex materials Keyframe animation - Bezier, Linear, Noise, etc. Motion path-based animation Inverse Kinematics (IK) & IK chains Bones & constraints Weightmaps painting - Graph Editor Photo-realistic - HDRI, Global Illumination, Caustics, Skylight, Ambiant Occlusion, Subsurface Scattering, Displacement Mapping Non Photorealistic Rendering Network Rendering G-buffer export Batch rendering

An Amazing Program

First of all: Carrara is not an application for those seeking the highest of high results (wind simulation, etc.), as can be found in programs like Maya and Lightwave. However, for those of us who may or may not be in a professional studio, but simply want an understandable and extremely powerful rendering program (as well as a much cheaper one), Carrara definitely fits the bill.
The layout in this program is very pleasing, and retains the friendly feeling familiar to those of us who use the excellent but lower-level program, DAZ Studio. Carrara sports easy-to-learn modeling tools, and is almost fully compatible with Poser scenes and objects/files. (DAZ scene compatibility will be available by version 6.)
The best thing about Carrara, however, is probably its fast and very easy to use rendering engine. It supports HDRI lighting and much more, but maintains a very simplistic screen for its rendering controls. (The first thing you will probably notice is that the list of rendering options is only 1 panel long.)
I cannot recommend Carrara enough to people interested in getting photorealistic (or not) results with the simplest and easiest to use of interfaces. As you can see by looking at the images on the company’s official website (www.daz3d.com), it delivers amazing results, but the interface and tools are exponentially easier to use than those of any other 3D application in its class.
Plus its really light on system resources.

using it daily

I’m an exhibit designer so please keep in mind what I use this program for. I don’t use the landscapes except for my personal projects. I don’t do allot of maping or exterior lighting. I love the hot keys and found them easier to use than 4 and love the moving windows and the lighting is spectacular. It’s much faster to get to files and objects. Much more work space and tutorials are great. The only down side is after about a year of using it every day, it seems to be acting a little funny, like a car that needs it’s oil changed or something. Only a handful of times I’ve had the program shut down in the middle of a project.
I only wish that the the units were much easier converted to inches(down to the 1/4") The larger the sceen the longer it takes to render and saving people takes forever.
Ove all... lots of fun and have taught teenagers to use it in an hour.
Best,
MIke