Software for fashion/apparel design?

Question

Got a cousin who's interested in fashion designing and I would like to help her digitize her efforts.

Currently, she uses Corel Painter to sketch out her creations, but there have to be more accurate software which allow you to design using patterns, material and audition your designs on 2D/3D models.

Suggestions anyone?

Answer 1

Two programs in particular that come to mind:

• Blender
• Poser

Answer 2

There are literally hundreds of smaller developers (I.e. OpiText) who have tried to enter this industry, but, to my knowledge; they haven't been very successful. The big business software developers haven't jumped on this audience, simply because there is a very little market for this kind of software.

It is extremely challenging for software developers to provide non tech-savvy artists (fashion designers) with a software solution that can provide them with the desired level of flexibility and creative freedom. Most designers probably stick to pen and paper; they simply don't want to spend their time on software.

The few designers who go digital probably use software like Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter or ArtRange, where they can express themselves freely, by free-hand painting with a Wacom tablet. That, or they'll just get a good scanner to digitize their designs.

The more tech-savvy designers might use 3D modelling software. Although not specifically developed for fashion designers, AutoDesk's 3D Studio Max or Maya, Luxology's Modo, Rhino etc. can provide a great deal of flexibility and creative freedom, but the learning curve can be rather steep.

Answer 3

I'll bet there is industry specific software that can be bought or downloaded somewhere. You could possibly find it near the back of industry trade magazines. Or you could start asking in forums related to fashion.

A lot of industries have their own specific software that isn't well known to the general public or even to super users.

If she has a talent for it, then such software could pay for itself easily.

Answer 4

I'd agree that 3d pas are the best direction to explore.

It seems the real mover and shaker of all 3d CAD happens to be game related softs. It even more or less controls architectural software.

For vectors (lines and splines) i prefer formz and it's downsized version called bonzai3d.

For so called 3d-pixel based software i'm trying to get into coat3d (after disappointments with zbrush) These aps let one paint layers in 3d on top of 3d objects. They produce fairly good quad-mesh objects, implying surface objects only. In contrast to solid objects. Coat 3d seemed to provide more hope IMO and provided more features of interest to me. Yet all aps keep adding things, if they indeed prove productive for individuals.

Poser does provide instant humanoid, 3d objects (focussing more on spline geometry and solid object outputs)... Yet the ability to paint 3d meshes on top of a humanoid, exported 3d file, might remain the domain of 3d coat, zbrush and perhaps by other affordable aps.