PicoCAD – A tiny modeller for tiny models | Hacker News Reader

PicoCAD – A tiny modeller for tiny models

johanpeitz.itch.io

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Hello! I’m the creator of picoCAD - thanks for the nice comments.

Happy to answer any questions about it if you have any.

If not, feel free to check out my patreon! :D https://www.patreon.com/johanpeitz

Neat!

But wouldn't it more appropriate calling it Pico 3D Modeler, or such?

Thanks! Not sure I follow regarding the name. It is a cad program, it is tiny, it is built with pico - picoCAD! :)

I seen it is more like a 3D shape modeler, less of a CAD program.

Hi,

I’m looking for a simple cad software for visualizing how my home interior would look like with some remodeling. Wondering if this is a nice tool to use?

Thanks!

Not really, I think you would have more success with sketch up or similar

Check out SweetHome3D.

Also check out FreeCAD with the Arch plug-in.

PicoCAD is really great. Besides really boosting the lowpoly aethetics, it also managed to get me into Blender, which multiple day-long tutorials failed to do so. The limitations coupled with the approach are really a great learning help.

There are modelling Jams consistently going on itch.io and some people have become real Masters at it. Johan Peitz's Twitter often repost some great ones.

Last note/full disclosure: Johan Peitz is also really nice, I was a beta-tester on PicoCAD :-)

"rich with constraints" is a wonderful turn of phrase.

Reminded me of Block Bench which I saw a thread on a couple weeks ago:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33845291

I never thought I would feel nostalgic about j2me. So cute.

export to gLTF? Then you can use the model-viewer tag

https://modelviewer.dev/

There’s a built in exporter for OBJ/MTL, and the base format should be fairly easy to convert in to anything if you’re up for it. :D

$3.99, what an absolute bargain.

Wow, this is delightful. How do you even do something like this on PICO8? I imagine the constraints of the platform will be an issue for the development of features down the line, but sometimes that's a good thing.

It’s a combination of things I guess. The 3D renderer is one bit that it complicated in itself, but most of the code is actually UI.

Made do a tutorial on how to use the models with pygame. Would be really appreciated by lots of kids learning to make games.

Seems like a great way to teach the foundations of primitive based 3d modelling and uv mapping to kids.

I’m trying to understand, could these pico models be used for low poly games?

They can be used for pretty much anything that 3D models are used for.

yeah but if you are really in need for low-poly models I see no reason why you wouldn't use regular 3D software. The interface of this is tiny as it runs on PICO-8.

Yeah but with this you can integrate it inside a low-poly game itself, make it easy for players to create new scenarios and characters.

Some of the feedback I’ve received for picoCAD is that for people who aren’t accustomed to modelling find it really easy to get started. The constraints and the restrictions makes it a bit easier to focus on the fundamentals

This is for people who don't have time to learn the complicated UI of a regular 3D software. There's a lot of them.

Yes! picoCAD comes with an exporter that can export to MTL/OBJ which can be imported anywhere basixally

I just checked your other apps on Pico8, how do you even get this good?

Heh, thanks! I’ve been making games for 30 years and had a lot of practice. I’m a massive fan of fully integrated dev environments and started with AMOS on the Amiga, used flash A LOT, and now pico8. Having all tools in the same place fit me personally very well and I’ve learned to tackle the trade offs efficiently. I guess all the time spent is paying off.

I for one love the PS1 / GBA 3d vibe. Great work!

Cute

Wow I love this

This is really neat. Is there any ability to animate within picoCAD? I see you have some rotating images.

A spinning gif is the main export function in picoCAD. Check the #picoCAD hashtag for some amazing models built by the community.

Animation is not built in, but you can exploit the fact that some function still work while exporting those spinning gifs to get some change. Ie undo movement, apply new textures, etc

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