For advanced clay sculpting and a high-resolution engine, Sculptura 3D is the go-to app. However, if multiresolution sculpting, stylus support, and an impressive layering system are crucial, opt for Nomad Sculpt. Sculptura is best for iPad Pro users, while Nomad Sculpt caters to a wider platform scope.
Key Differences Between Nomad Sculpt and Sculptura 3D
- Usability: Nomad Sculpt offers a wider range of tools and supports both Android and iOS. Sculptura 3D is iOS exclusive and best suited for iPad Pro users.
- Features: Nomad Sculpt outperforms with its multiresolution sculpting and layering systems, while Sculptura 3D shines with its advanced clay engine.
- Price: While both apps are paid, Sculptura 3D ($9.99) is more budget-friendly compared to Nomad Sculpt ($14.99 on iOS).
- Learning Curve: Nomad Sculpt requires a steeper learning curve but offers coursework for beginners, whereas Sculptura 3D is deemed more intuitive.
| Comparison | Nomad Sculpt | Sculptura 3D |
|---|---|---|
| App Size | 116 MB | 165.5 MB |
| Clay Engine | Multiple sculpting tools provided | Advanced, artist-tested clay engine |
| Rendering | PBR, SSR, DoF, AO, tone mapping | Real-time |
| File Formats | glTF, OBJ, STL | Alembic, OBJ, STL, USD |
| Price | $14.99 (Apple Store) | $9.99 |
| Developer | Hexanomad | Audulus LLC |
| GPU Acceleration | Limited | Full via Metal |
| Learning Curve | Steep for beginners | Intuitive |
| Operating System Requirement | iOS 14.0 or later, iPadOS 14.0 for iPad | iPadOS 16.4 or later for iPad, macOS 13.3 for Mac with Apple M1 chip |
| Usage | 3D Modeling, Sculpting, Printing, Some Professional Purposes | Character and Abstract Art Creation, Professional and Organic Modeling |
What Is Nomad Sculpt and Who’s It For?
Nomad Sculpt is a mobile application engineered for 3D modeling, rendering, and texturing. It’s packed with advanced sculpting tools— clay, flatten, smooth, mask, and many more— catering to your every sculpting need. Be it vertex painting or voxel remeshing, the app features all-round functionalities to aid in 3D sculpting and modeling. The app is primarily intended for professionals who value intuitive design and customization, alongside users of varied skill levels ranging from beginners to seasoned 3D artists.
Pros of Nomad Sculpt
- Extensive range of sculpting tools
- Vertex painting with color, roughness, and metalness
- Usability on Android and iOS platforms
- Offers coursework for beginners at $47 USD
- Nomad Sculpt is scalable and used professionally
Cons of Nomad Sculpt
- Dreaded for its high battery drain
- Lacks features for detailed objects like hair, fabric, fur
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Limited to iOS devices
What Is Sculptura and Who’s It For?
Sculptura is an iPad app developed to offer artist-tested tools that make powerful 3D sculpting intuitive and straightforward. From creating characters and monsters to cultivating abstract art, the app’s advanced clay engine takes care of it all. Sculptura is compatible even with macOS systems, letting you seamlessly sculpt across multiple platforms. It’s most suited for artists drawn to voxel-based modeling and anyone looking to sketch out their imagination in an immersive 3D canvas.
Pros of Sculptura
- Advanced clay engine enabling intuitive sculpting
- Generates small files for easy storage handle
- iCloud integration and iOS 11 Files App support
- Compatible with Apple Pencil and macOS
Cons of Sculptura
- Changing at coarse details may destroy finer ones
- Price subject to sudden changes
- Requires iPadOS 16.4 or later for iPad
Nomad Sculpt vs Sculptura 3D: Pricing
There is a noticeable price difference in 3D modeling mobile applications Nomad Sculpt and Sculptura 3D, being free on Android and $14.99 on Apple for Nomad Sculpt, and a flat rate of $9.99 for Sculptura 3D.
Nomad Sculpt
Nomad Sculpt is free on Android devices. For Apple users, it comes with a price tag of $14.99. This cost represents a price increase since August 10, 2020. The developers also offer a course for beginners, teaching the core of 3D sculpting basics, priced at $47 USD.
Sculptura 3D
Sculptura 3D imposes a flat rate cost of $9.99, which has been consistent since June 21, 2023. It briefly rose to $19.99 for 14 days on June 07, 2023, dropped back to $9.99 for 1283 days on December 01, 2019, and was listed as $4.99 for 2 days on November 29, 2019.
The Final Showdown: Nomad Sculpt vs Sculptura 3D
After an intense exploration of the high-tech realms of Nomad Sculpt and Sculptura 3D, it’s time to reveal the verdict. Which 3D sculpting tool takes the top spot?
AR/VR Creators
It is strongly advocated that Nomad Sculpt is superior for AR/VR creators. The dynamic topology, ability to record operations in layers, and the intricacy of rendering capabilities like PBR make it stand above. However, be aware of the high battery drain.
Game Developers
For game developers seeking aesthetic fidelity and seamless integration, Sculptura 3D shines brighter. Highlights include GPU acceleration via Metal and voxel-based geometry that enhances creative freedom. On the downside, changes to coarse details may disrupt finer ones.
3D Printing Enthusiasts
Nomad Sculpt is promoted for 3D printing enthusiasts. Its voxel remeshing feature, sturdy export formats, and the possibility of sophisticated retopology in other software position it in an esteemed light.
Pro Artists
For professional artists, Sculptura 3D reigns supreme. The selling points are abundant: artist-tested toolset, real-time rendering, compatibility with premium 3D modeling programs, and the encouragement of diverse modeling with a promised introduction of layers feature.
If you’re aiming for an intuitive tool with advanced sculpting options, high detail retention and broad compatibility, Nomad Sculpt emerges as the frontrunner. For those after seamless design, abundant real-time rendering, and game mesh enhancement, Sculptura 3D takes the victory.
