K3d
K-3D is a free, open-source 3D modeling and animation software package licensed under GNU GPL, distributed through SourceForge, GitHub, and Linux package managers to professional and hobbyist 3D artists seeking a flexible, procedural node-based alternative to commercial 3D tools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersCorvallis, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What K3d does
K-3D is a free-as-in-freedom, open-source 3D modeling and animation software package distributed under the GNU General Public License. The project is a member initiative of Software Freedom Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, which provides fiscal sponsorship and donation infrastructure. K-3D serves professional and hobbyist 3D artists who need a flexible, freely modifiable alternative to commercial 3D packages, with primary use cases in polygonal modeling and animation, and secondary support for NURBS, patches, and curves. The product has no commercial pricing; all features are available at no cost, and the project sustains itself through voluntary donations channeled via the Conservancy.
The software is written in C++ with cross-platform support (GNU/Linux, MacOS X, Windows, FreeBSD), built using CMake and the gtkmm UI toolkit, with core dependencies on Boost, OpenGL, and libsigc++. Its technical differentiation centers on a plugin-oriented procedural engine and a node-based visualization pipeline architecture that allows connecting any node to any other, enabling workflows beyond traditional modifier stacks. Additional notable technical components include a pioneering undo tree system and native integration with multiple render engines (OpenGL for viewport preview, RenderMan for film-quality output, Yafray for global illumination, LuxRender, and Indigo). Distribution occurs through SourceForge binaries, GitHub source repositories, and native Linux package managers (Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora).
K-3D has no commercial go-to-market motion; user acquisition is community-led through open-source distribution channels, forums, mailing lists, and GitHub issue tracking. Headcount is reported at six, with operations historically hosted by the OSU Open Source Lab at Oregon State University. The most recent major release documented is version 0.8 in April 2010, and the wiki documentation is described as archived, indicating the project is currently in maintenance mode rather than active commercial expansion.
K3d firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- K3d
- Legal name
- K-3D
- Website
- https://k-3d.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- K-3D is a free, open-source 3D modeling and animation software package licensed under GNU GPL, distributed through SourceForge, GitHub, and Linux package managers to professional and hobbyist 3D artists seeking a flexible, procedural node-based alternative to commercial 3D tools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
K3d industry classification
Industry- Product category
- 3D Modeling and Animation Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Game Engines (General-Purpose & Real-Time 3D) (MPAFAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Look Development, Shading & Lighting (Animation) (MPAHACAI)
Keywords
Where K3d is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Corvallis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
K3d business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Free Software Distribution: K-3D is free-as-in-freedom software provided at no cost. The project is a nonprofit initiative under the Software Freedom Conservancy and does not generate revenue from software sales.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free download and use |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
K3d product offering
Product offeringCore offering
K-3D is a free-as-in-freedom 3D modeling and animation software package built on a plugin-oriented procedural engine. It provides artists with a flexible node-based visualization pipeline, support for multiple render models (OpenGL for realtime preview, RenderMan for film-quality output, Yafray for global illumination, plus LuxRender and Indigo), and tools for polygonal modeling, basic NURBS, patches, curves, and animation. The software is distributed at no cost under the GNU GPL and runs on GNU/Linux, MacOS X, Windows, and FreeBSD.
Product overview
K-3D is a single, unified free and open-source 3D modeling and animation software package built on a plugin-oriented procedural engine. The product centers on K-3D itself as the core application, augmented by multiple render models (OpenGL for viewport editing, RenderMan for film-quality output, and Yafray for global illumination), all accessible through a flexible node-based visualization pipeline. The extensible plugin system provides specialized functionality across modeling (polygonal, NURBS, patches, curves), animation, materials, and rendering domains.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- K-3D Free-as-in-freedom 3D modeling and animation software featuring a plugin-oriented procedural engine, flexible node-based visualization pipeline, and support for multiple render models including OpenGL, RenderMan, and Yafray. Cross-platform on GNU/Linux, MacOS X, Windows, and FreeBSD. Released under the GNU GPL.
Companies that use K3d
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
K3d technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature6 records
K3d partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Software Freedom ConservancycoreK-3D became the seventeenth member of Software Freedom Conservancy in May 2009. The Conservancy is a nonprofit organization supporting Free Software projects. Membership enables K-3D to receive tax-exempt donations and provides administrative support including handling PayPal donations, check donations, and wire transfers.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
K3d competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wings 3D: Wings 3D is a free, open-source polygon modeler. Like K-3D, it serves hobbyists and indie artists needing a low-friction open-source 3D authoring tool with a small volunteer community behind it.
- Blender: Blender is the dominant free, open-source 3D modeling/animation suite. Same product category (3D modeling, animation, rendering) and same open-source/free distribution model as K-3D; it serves as the primary alternative in the open-source 3D authoring space and dwarfs K-3D in users and contributors.
Regional players
- OpenToonz: OpenToonz is a free, open-source 2D animation tool with a comparable nonprofit/community stewardship model (originally DWANGO-supported). It shares K-3D's status as a Studio Ghibli lineage, Software Freedom Conservancy-adjacent open animation project serving animators.
Broad incumbents
- Autodesk Maya: Maya is the industry-standard commercial 3D modeling, animation, and rendering suite. It targets the same professional 3D artists and animators as K-3D and competes for the same workflows (modeling, animation, lookdev, RenderMan rendering), though as a broad portfolio product.
- Unreal Engine: Unreal Engine is a general-purpose real-time 3D creation platform with powerful authoring/editing tools and a free source-available model. It overlaps with K-3D's real-time OpenGL viewport and procedural-3D positioning, while extending well into animation and rendering.
- SideFX Houdini: Houdini is a professional VFX/3D procedural modeling package whose node-based, procedural architecture most closely mirrors K-3D's visualization pipeline philosophy. Same target users (technical artists, VFX studios) and overlapping emphasis on procedural, non-destructive workflows.
- Cinema 4D: Maxon Cinema 4D is a commercial 3D modeling, animation, and rendering suite used by motion graphics artists, broadcasters, and studios. Same product category and audience (3D artists/animators), though with a stronger motion-design focus.
Emerging players
- FreeCAD: FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D CAD/modeler. While CAD-focused rather than artistic 3D, it shares K-3D's free, community-developed, plugin-extensible philosophy and similar target users (indie makers and tinkerers).
- MeshLab: MeshLab is an open-source mesh processing system for editing and cleaning triangle meshes. It overlaps with K-3D's polygon modeling and asset-handling use cases for research, scanning, and indie 3D workflows.
Others
- Foundry Nuke: Nuke is the industry-standard node-based compositing system in VFX/post-production. It shares K-3D's node-graph visual programming paradigm and target customers (VFX and animation studios), even though compositing is downstream of K-3D's modeling/animation focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
K3d social profiles
Digital presenceK3d financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
K3d leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
K3d funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
K3d 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 K3d
What does K3d do?
K-3D is a free-as-in-freedom 3D modeling and animation software package built on a plugin-oriented procedural engine. It provides artists with a flexible node-based visualization pipeline, support for multiple render models (OpenGL for realtime preview, RenderMan for film-quality output, Yafray for global illumination, plus LuxRender and Indigo), and tools for polygonal modeling, basic NURBS, patches, curves, and animation. The software is distributed at no cost under the GNU GPL and runs on GNU/Linux, MacOS X, Windows, and FreeBSD.
Is K3d a public or private company?
K3d is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was K3d founded?
K3d was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is K3d based?
K3d is headquartered in Corvallis, United States, in the North America region.
How does K3d make money?
One revenue line is on record: free Software Distribution.
Who are K3d's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wings 3D and Blender. OpenToonz is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Autodesk Maya, Unreal Engine, SideFX Houdini and Cinema 4D. Emerging players are FreeCAD and MeshLab. Foundry Nuke is listed as an others.
Does K3d have an API?
No public API is recorded for K3d.
What industry is K3d in?
K3d's product category is 3D Modeling and Animation Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAFAA, Game Engines (General-Purpose & Real-Time 3D), with a secondary code of MPAHACAI, Look Development, Shading & Lighting (Animation). Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.