Poly Haven
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🎉 3D Model Haven is coming 🎉
🕑 Added 2019-10-09 15:40:13 +0000 UTC
Boy has it been a long time coming. Ever since HDRI Haven re-launched as a "everything free for everyone" platform 2 years ago (almost to the day), I've constantly been getting emails asking whether I'm planning to make similar platforms for textures (✅ check) and 3D models.
My answer was always: Yes? Eventually? I hope so?
I was never sure if it was financially viable. Models take significantly more man-hours per unique asset than HDRIs do, and there are so many more existing resources too like BlendSwap, Turbosquid, CGTrader, Gumroad... not to mention the standards and formats that people expect for high quality models are constantly changing.
I'm still not sure if it will work out in the long run, but after seeing the stability of Patreon support for HDRI Haven, I had just enough hope to apply for an Epic Megagrant to help get the ball rolling.
To my surprise, more than 3 months after I submitted the application, it was actually approved!
Epic Games has given us $10k to work on the initial content for 3D Model Haven. This will cover a few months of full time work on the site and the models, as well as allow us to acquire models from other artists to diversify the content and make it worth your attention at launch.
After the site is launched, it will be funded solely by Patreon donations just like HDRI Haven and Texture Haven. The more donations we get, the more models we can publish each month, and the more formats and features we can offer on the site.
Cameron Casey, my old Blender Nerd friend, will be running the show for 3D Model Haven, while I'll be primarily helping him keep it in line with the other Havens and handling all the webdev stuff.
Just like the other Havens, our goal is to create a constantly growing community-funded resource of high quality open content, licensed as CC0 for complete freedom and usability by professionals and hobbyists alike.
We'll be posting progress updates on the 3D Model Haven Patreon as well as on Discord, so feel free to follow along and help us make it the best it can be :)
Comments
Poly Haven
That's a great idea!
Tatjana Meletzky
Congratulations on the Epic Megagrant! :-) (I love to work with their Unreal Engine.) If I could make a wish for „3D Model Haven“, it will be a „hire me“ button next to the artists like they have on cgtrader. But above all, I wish you every success with „3D Model Haven“ and your other projects! Your HDRIs help me a lot to process my art work as your 3D models certainly will. :-) All the best from Berlin Tatjana
