uMake: 3D CAD Modeling, Design
Ratings & Reviews
Since the last review i’ve posted i’ve seen some useful and important updates to the app, I hope to continue to see that. Allow me to provide a suggestion, PLEASE focus on iCloud sync, AND allow for slicing models for 3D printing, I’ve had to make the switch to Shapr3D because my models made in uMake aren’t solid models so they wont print when I export the stl files to my printer and I need to know whether my designs print correctly or not before selling them. If your primary use for this app will be for printing, then I recommend Shapr3D, they have an export option for 3D printers, I've finally successfully printed a model I designed, with Shapr3D. It’s very aesthetically similar to uMake but has significantly more features (while at the same time lacking some that uMake has) than uMake. Just don’t get too excited their app is only a step up (maybe, depending who you ask). For example, on Shapr3D you can’t easily change the dimensions of a design, scaling it up or down is annoying especially cuz it’s not intuitive to invoke the pop up for the dimensions to type it in. I look forward to seeing what the devs take from this and where they intend to take the app going forward, I do appreciate the frequency of updates.
Developer ResponseHey! We're sorry about this experience. The lost work issue you described shouldn't happen. Syncing is about having your designs in the cloud and on any device. We're working on a multi-device solution that would allow using uMake on multiple devices simultaneously. As for cutting into rounded 3D surfaces - we're doing our best to support more CAD tools in uMake, some easier, some less, and we prioritize accordingly. Happy to work together with you to solve the issues you raised and get additional feedback from you. Would you be able to email us at "hello@umake.com". Thank you.
*Edit* Thank you so much, you've really helped! I can probably try to resize the image, and I'll see if that works.The app looks like a perfectly fine app, if hard for me to get used to. The tutorials are helpful in directing me what to do, but as the buttons are in different places on my iPad Mini, I still have to figure some things out. Could you add an option to change the button placements?But getting onto the glitch. I'm being very silly and going onto the character creation with less than 5 minutes of experience with the app. I import pictures like the tutorial says, I place them, I try to draw - nothing shows up. I try to draw again, and guess what happens? Everything disappears and becomes a white void. The pictures, the grid even, everything. Looking back on this, I think it might be that I placed the picture on the ground, and tried to draw through the ground, since that's where it placed my view? Maybe I'll try again.I'm rating two stars so far mostly because of the issues I've had, but if I figure things out well you're probably getting at least four and a half. :)
Developer ResponseHello, thanks for your review and your description. So first we would recommend watching the tutorials to get started which will help you get to know the interface a bit. These are (by default) located on the right 'Side Panel' that can be activated by tapping the icon in the upper right of your screen. The side panel is always on the opposite side of the blue orbit button. The first icon will take you to the user guide, tutorials, and lessons. When it comes to the interface, it has been designed for both left handed and right handed users. Some of our videos demonstrate left hand mode, but the interface is the same-- to switch interfaces, simply tap and hold the blue orbit button and drag it to one side or another on your screen. The features remain the same no matter how the interface is set up. Now, with your image placement, there are several things that can cause this-- first, the image may be a very large image in size, or you may be importing it when you are zoomed all the way out. If this is the case, it can throw things off. If you e-mail us the underlay image you are trying to use at hello@umake.xyz, we can take a look and see why it is causing a 'white out'. Usually when everything goes white, it is because the scale is off. You also might have a small curve way out in space-- if you want to send us the uMake file we can also look at that too. We are here to support you and help you with whatever your needs are. Feel free to contact us at the e-mail listed above, and ask us anything. We hope we can help create an amazing uMake experience, and to gain a better rating once you are cruising along creating your characters. Thanks again for the review!
First off, this app clearly isn't finished(as Evi, one of the three devs essentially admitted in a support thread on their website last month: "We know that we're only in the beginning (v1.0), that said, our plans for uMake are really exciting," yet they have the audacity to attempt to charge astronomical subscription fees almost on par with Adobe (where you KNOW what you're getting). Well, I wasn't having THAT, I've been toying with it and mostly finding work-arounds for the limitations of the free Starter package for the last couple weeks; that is, until today. Today, I lost the last two days of work I had done due to a bug that basically corrupts your file if you save while not connected to the internet. Nyko (one of the other two devs) says in a post from a month ago on their support page that this known issue will be addressed in the 1.0.4 patch (which the same post simultaneously says is on the way and currently available), but I'm updated to 1.0.5, so they must have pulled that fix?...There is undeniably A LOT of potential here; it's a really intuitive way of working 3D on a 2D interface, but NOT YET, and not for what they wanna charge! I'm not wasting any more time with this BETA. At least I wasn't dumb enough to invest a single penny...
Developer ResponseHello ThediusX, Even though it's been well over a year since you posted this review, we are excited to finally have the ability to reply to your review and we would love to know what your thoughts are on the latest version of uMake. As you stated towards the end of you review, there was a potential here, and we would be curious to know if you think we are on the right path. Over the past 15 months we've drastically improved our stability, changed our subscription structure, made all advanced editing tools free, redesigned our interface to be more user friendly, added more powerful tools along with textures and atmospheres, created a community allowing users to share and collaborate on designs, and created an ever growing content library with over 200 models that makes 'making' even easier. The free version is very powerful now, and the subscription lets you create unlimited files, and import/ export to STEP, IGES and OBJ files. It also helps us with continuous updates which we've been releasing every 2 to 3 weeks. We are still excited about creating even more great features, and would love to have your input along the way. Feel free to send any questions/ feedback to us through the app or our website. If you like the latest version, or think we are on the right track, we'd love to see your thoughts in an updated review😉. Thanks again for taking the time to write this review.
Umake is a dream come true for me. I've spent years with complex 3D applications on big expensive workstations , and while Umake doesn't have all the bells and whistles of these applications' what it does do, it does remarkably well. It's powerful, stable, and incredibly useful. The minimal interface is very well thought out. I find that I am truly enjoying the design experience again. It's just fun. I will say that I think using this app on anything less than an iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil does it a huge injustice. I am so grateful that people are making apps like this. Umake is wonderful in this initial release but its the potential of what it can be in the future that truly excites me. I have no problem at all with the pricing of pro apps like Umake as they require lots and lots of work and effort. I find it completely reasonable to support these developers for their hard work and future improvements to Umake. Just too cool... A game changer for me.
Two things that you should know:1) There are only three features that are locked unless you buy the Pro subscription: "array", "Mirror", and "trim". The only major problem with a non-subscription is that you have a limited number of models you can build. Every other feature that I can see, extrude, revolve, snap to grid, draw, etc. is accessible for free and two of the restricted features can be done a different way. The mirror function allows a person to mirror an object on the other side of an axis after drawing it, but the symmetry feature, which is available without a subscription allows you to Mirror along an axis as you are drawing. The trim function is used to get rid of excess curve or line, but you can change the size curve and length of the object through the global transform function.2) People are really freaking out about privacy issues, especially regarding patent worthy designs. I am the designer of a new form of vehicle and CEO of its company and I have a few helpful hints for anybody concerned with these issues. a) PATENT YOUR DESIGNS!!! b) if you really have an amazing idea that can change the world, use a professional 3D modeling software for your official designs. This app is for artistic modeling and brainstorming. It allows a person to make rough drafts before taking the time to do real measurements. Stop being so paranoid of people stealing your ideas. You have a recorded date and time on the app that proves you came up with the idea. Regardless of what other people say, this is a fantastic app made by passionate people who really want to share the design process for the better.
I like what I can do, but the UI doesn’t really teach you enough. There are help videos to learn it, but they go too quickly to be easy to follow, some without any spoken word so it’s just difficult to follow. This isn’t helped by some videos having different UIs than what’s in the current version of the app. It seems fairly powerful, and there is definitely a lot of potential here. It’s just hidden behind a UI that’s hard to follow and learn.It would be nice to have an actual tangible reference to the measurement units, so I can better recognize the size of the things I’m working on.Finally, I’m also using an M4 iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil Pro, and the app refuses to recognize the pencil is there so all of my touches can register as drawing, so I find myself fighting the app while trying to navigate and make adjustments without accidentally drawing a line somewhere.I’m glad I could do a trial and the price is reasonable for what this app COULD be. But it needs some work to make it actually worthwhile. Even at the discount it offered me when I turned off the subscription before the trial ended just isn’t quite worth it because of the issue I experienced with the Apple Pencil. Even struggling with the UI, I’m sure I could figure it out over time (though it should have more friendly options to teach me the UI)