dRaster
dRaster, Inc. (digitalRaster) was a Los Angeles software firm that built 3D content creation plugins, including ZSwitcher for ZBrush plus NEX and Switcher, whose modeling and switching technology was integrated into Autodesk Maya 2014 and 3ds Max 2013 before the company ceased operations in 2024.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
dRaster firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- dRaster
- Legal name
- dRaster, Inc.
- Website
- https://draster.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- dRaster, Inc. (digitalRaster) was a Los Angeles software firm that built 3D content creation plugins, including ZSwitcher for ZBrush plus NEX and Switcher, whose modeling and switching technology was integrated into Autodesk Maya 2014 and 3ds Max 2013 before the company ceased operations in 2024.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
dRaster industry classification
Industry- Product category
- 3D Modeling Software Plugins
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animation Pipeline Tools & Technical Direction (Scripts, Plugins, Automation) (MPAHACAL)
Keywords
Where dRaster is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
dRaster business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free version available for download |
Distribution channels2 records
dRaster product offering
Product offeringCore offering
dRaster developed and distributed utility plugins for industry-standard 3D digital content creation software. Its three core products were ZSwitcher for ZBrush (free, with version switching functionality), NEX for Autodesk Maya (a modeling toolkit plugin integrated into Maya 2014), and Switcher for Autodesk 3ds Max (integrated into 3ds Max 2013). The company also indicated it provided training and consulting services for digital artists and professionals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ZSwitcher: Free downloadable plugin for ZBrush, final version 2.0.0.0 available for download without license key.
- NEX
- Switcher
Products and services
- ZSwitcher for ZBrush
Companies that use dRaster
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
dRaster technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
dRaster competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Adobe: Adobe offers Substance 3D tools (Painter, Designer, Stager) as part of its broader creative software portfolio. While not a plugin maker for Maya/ZBrush specifically, it is a broad incumbent in the digital content creation tooling market that competes for similar 3D artist customers.
- Unity Technologies: Unity provides a real-time 3D development platform used across games, film, and industrial design. It is a broad incumbent in 3D content creation tooling whose ecosystem includes third-party plugins analogous to dRaster's offerings.
- Epic Games (Unreal Engine): Epic Games' Unreal Engine is a real-time 3D creation platform widely used for games, film, and visualization. It competes for the same 3D content creation workflow that dRaster's plugins served and is a broad incumbent in the broader tooling market.
- Autodesk: Autodesk develops Maya and 3ds Max, the very hosts into which dRaster's NEX and Switcher were integrated. As the platform owner that absorbed dRaster's IP, Autodesk is the closest broad incumbent comparable and shapes the ecosystem in which dRaster-class plugins operate.
Direct peers
- Maxon: Maxon develops Cinema 4D and now owns ZBrush, two of the core 3D software hosts that dRaster's plugins targeted. The overlap in customer base (3D artists using Cinema 4D and ZBrush) and product category makes Maxon a direct peer.
- SideFX: SideFX develops Houdini, a 3D animation and VFX platform used by film and games studios. As a developer of advanced 3D content creation tools with deep scripting and pipeline automation capabilities, it is closely comparable to dRaster's plugin-and-tooling focus.
- The Foundry (Foundry): The Foundry develops Mari, Nuke, Katana, and Modo, which are professional 3D content creation and VFX tools. Like dRaster, it builds technology that sits inside the digital content creation pipeline used by studios, making it a direct comparable in the 3D pipeline tooling category.
- Reallusion: Reallusion develops character creation and animation tools (iClone, Character Creator) used by 3D artists and animators. It targets the same horizontal 3D content creation professional persona as dRaster's Maya- and 3ds Max-focused tools.
- Pilgway (3DCoat): Pilgway develops 3DCoat, a 3D sculpting and texture painting application that competes for the same digital sculpting workflow that ZSwitcher for ZBrush supported. It is a direct comparable in the 3D sculpting tooling category.
Emerging players
- Blender Foundation: Blender is an open-source 3D content creation suite that competes with Maya, 3ds Max, and ZBrush for the same 3D artist persona. Its free, extensible architecture has eroded pricing power for proprietary plugin makers like dRaster over time.
Market position
Customer concentration
dRaster financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
dRaster leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
dRaster funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
dRaster M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about dRaster
What does dRaster do?
dRaster developed and distributed utility plugins for industry-standard 3D digital content creation software. Its three core products were ZSwitcher for ZBrush (free, with version switching functionality), NEX for Autodesk Maya (a modeling toolkit plugin integrated into Maya 2014), and Switcher for Autodesk 3ds Max (integrated into 3ds Max 2013). The company also indicated it provided training and consulting services for digital artists and professionals.
Is dRaster a public or private company?
dRaster is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently closed.
When was dRaster founded?
dRaster was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is dRaster based?
dRaster is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
Who are dRaster's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Adobe, Unity Technologies, Epic Games (Unreal Engine) and Autodesk. Direct peers are Maxon, SideFX, The Foundry (Foundry), Reallusion and Pilgway (3DCoat). Blender Foundation is listed as an emerging player.
Does dRaster have an API?
No public API is recorded for dRaster.
What industry is dRaster in?
dRaster's product category is 3D Modeling Software Plugins. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHACAL, Animation Pipeline Tools & Technical Direction (Scripts, Plugins, Automation). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.