For me sitting behind a desktop computer can not only seem like a chore it can be downright inconvenient. I’ve always just passed over modelling applications on mobile devices to be a gimmick. Little did I know I was wrong.
It is possible to model and sculpt on mobile devices such as Phones & Tablets. With the technological advancements of CPU’s, GPU’s and increased RAM these devices have seen applications particularly targeted at modelling and sculpting grow in popularity. These include popular applications such as Forger and Nomad Sculpt.
In this article we will discuss what are some of the better applications currently available, and exactly what kind of tablet you require for such a task.
What Kind of 3d Tasks Can You Perform on a Tablet
Below are just sum of the functions you can quite easily do on a mobile tablet.
- Model
- Sculpt (into the millions of polys)
- Texture
- Render
- Import and Export Standard File types such OBJ and STL
These applications can easily be used to create quality characters or props, as they have the ability to manipulate millions of polys at once.
Some have the ability to texture using a PBR Workflow. This coupled with the ability to render in real time with effects such as bloom. This means you can get some really nice sculpts without relying on any other programs.
It really is amazing what can be achieved on a paper thin device and much to my surprise some are professionally targeted applications. Not some poor attempt at recreating desktop programs such as Zbrush.
What Kind of Tablet Do You Need
To get the most out of these applications you do however require a few things. The primary being a reasonably speced tablet and a stylus.
Recommended Specs
If you are an Android user unfortunately applications such as Forger are not available so be weary of this when purchasing a tablet.
I did however test Nomad Sculpt (probably my favourite program) and I found it worked great on my old Tab S4 with 4Gb of RAM. Unsurprisingly my Tab S7 with 6GB of RAM and better processor worked even better.
If you have an iPad you can use most applications including Forger and Nomad.
From what I have been able to determine, the amount of RAM is one of the most important factors to consider anywhere from 4GB upwards seems to be ideal.
Other Considerations
When determining what device to use it is extremely helpful to have a stylus that detects Pen Pressure. It allows you to increase and decrease intensity of the stroke by simply pressing harder when you make a stoke.
The second thing to consider is screen size. While it’s not hugely important the bigger the better. This allows you more room to sculpt and navigate menus. Begrudgingly even though I’m a Android fan this is where Apples selection of tablets shine.
Current Sculpting Applications Available
While Forger and Nomad are my personal favourites there are several that you can 3d Model on some of these include.
| Application | Platform | Cost |
| 123d Sculpt | IOS | Free |
| Forger | IOS | $10 |
| Nomad Sculpt | IOS/Android | Free with $15 Upgrade |
| Sculpt+ | Android | Free with $12 Upgrade |
| Putty 3d | IOS | $5 |
| Sculptura | IOS | $2 |
As you can see IOS have the majority of the programs with Sculpt+ being the only exclusive Adroid only app.
Are They Any Good
Yes!!! I’ve have personally started learning and sculpting with Nomad Sculpt and am impressed. It isn’t as good as desktop counterparts such as Zbrush or Blender but it is a really solid, capable program far beyond what I thought was possible.
It is buttery smooth, intuitive and easy to pick up. It has enough functionality to be useful such as a subdivision work flow, dynamic topology sculpting (similar to Zbrush’s Sculptris), alphas and the list goes on.
Best of all it’s being constantly updated with new features.
I’d Highly recommend you check out the below video from Painterrot on Youtube he does some really cool sculpts using only Nomad.
Can they Be Used Professionally
Yes. I think a lot of these programs could be used for professional purposes. Like most 3d programs these aren’t stand alone solutions. Depending on the purpose of the model you are likely going to have to take the outputs to other programs for processes such as retopology or UVing.
Are Mobile Sculpting Applications Worth The Cost
As you can see in the above table Nomad Sculpt is the most expensive at around $15 depending on your platform. This is extremely well priced when compared to desktop alternatives such as Zbrush.
A full licence of Zbrush costs approximately $900 by comparison, so there is certainly value here. Blender is the only free desktop modelling program that could compete from a cost perspective.
How Do Mobile Sculpting Applications Compare to Desktop Variants
Zbrush is still in my opinion by far the King when it comes to 3d Sculpting. You could not claim mobile sculpting is a better option. But the convenience and costs of mobile applications make them a very appealing option.
With the functionality currently available you could easily use them for professional purposes. If you are curious about the differences I recommend you check out this article I wrote comparing Zbrush to Nomad.
The Future of 3d Modelling on a Tablet
A lot of money and attention is being put on mobile applications. In 2021 Maxon the creator of Cinema 4d for example purchased Forger one of the biggest applications on IOS.
In my opinion, with the developments in technology and with the attention of big companies, its only time until 3d art on mobile devices becomes more mainstream.
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you see the value in modelling and sculpting on mobile devices. It’s really fun and a dream for 3d artist (or at least me).
I highly encourage you to give it a try whether your new or experienced as i believe it is only going to become more popular in the coming years.