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Fashion · head to head

CLO 3D vs Shima Seiki

CLO 3D logo

CLO 3D

Fashion

True-to-life garment visualization in 3D

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shima Seiki logo

Shima Seiki

Fashion

Knit design and visualization software

From
$250/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CLO 3D has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CLO 3D specific pricing amounts not displayed for Student and Individual plans - must select 'Get Started' to view; Shima Seiki the Internet Archive's capture of Shima Seiki's homepage on 29 December 2020 named five distinct product categories, Knitting Machines, Design System/Software, CAD/CAM Systems, Inkjet Printing Machine, and PLM Solutions, all sold via an Inquiry form with no price figure published.
  • They diverge on capability: CLO 3D covers 3D garment visualization, Shima Seiki covers Knit design.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CLO 3D and Shima Seiki actually diverge.

Attributes where CLO 3D and Shima Seiki differ
AttributeCLO 3DShima Seiki
Starting priceFree$250/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, MacWindows
Founded20091962

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Fashion).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in CLO 3D

  • 3D garment visualization
  • True-to-life fabric simulation
  • 2D pattern design
  • Avatar creation & customization
  • Virtual fitting
  • Rendering & animation
  • Colorway management
  • Trim library

Only in Shima Seiki

  • Knit design
  • Stitch pattern creation
  • Color selection
  • Machine control
  • Production planning
  • Visualization
  • Shima Seiki machines
  • CAM systems

Both cover

  • User authentication
  • Desktop deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

CLO 3D

  • 3D garment designnot Shima Seiki
  • Virtual prototypingnot Shima Seiki
  • Digital samplingnot Shima Seiki
  • Fashion visualizationnot Shima Seiki
  • E-commerce contentnot Shima Seiki

Shima Seiki

  • Knit designnot CLO 3D
  • Machine programmingnot CLO 3D

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

CLO 3D

  • Specific pricing amounts not displayed for Student and Individual plans - must select 'Get Started' to view
  • Enterprise and Academic plans require contacting sales

Shima Seiki

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Shima Seiki's homepage on 29 December 2020 named five distinct product categories, Knitting Machines, Design System/Software, CAD/CAM Systems, Inkjet Printing Machine, and PLM Solutions, all sold via an Inquiry form with no price figure published.

Pricing, plan by plan

CLO 3D

Free
  • Free TrialFree
    • 14 free days
    • No payment details required
    • Full CLO access
  • Student$null/month
    • Requires verified student status
    • Monthly and yearly billing available
    • Yearly option saves 25%
  • Individual$null/month
    • For hobbyists, freelancers, self-employed, single-person companies
    • Monthly and yearly options available
  • Enterprise$null/month
    • Custom pricing
    • All-in-one solution
    • Premium support, training, and specialized services

Shima Seiki

$250/month
  • Essential$250/month
    • Basic design
    • Standard features
  • Professional$500/month
    • Advanced design
    • Integration
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Full solution

Which should you pick?

Choose CLO 3D if

  • You need 3d garment visualization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac.
  • You also want true-to-life fabric simulation.
CLO 3D review

Choose Shima Seiki if

  • You need knit design.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want stitch pattern creation.
Shima Seiki review

Questions people ask

Is CLO 3D or Shima Seiki better?
Neither clearly leads. CLO 3D starts at Free and Shima Seiki at $250/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CLO 3D or Shima Seiki?
CLO 3D has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CLO 3D and $250/month for Shima Seiki.
Does CLO 3D or Shima Seiki run on more platforms?
CLO 3D runs on Windows, Mac. Shima Seiki runs on Windows.
Can I use CLO 3D for free?
Yes. CLO 3D has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Shima Seiki starts at $250/month.
What is CLO 3D best used for?
CLO 3D is most often used for 3d garment design, virtual prototyping, digital sampling, fashion visualization. Of those, 3d garment design and virtual prototyping are not what Shima Seiki is typically brought in for.
What can CLO 3D do that Shima Seiki cannot?
CLO 3D covers 3D garment visualization, True-to-life fabric simulation, 2D pattern design, Avatar creation & customization. Shima Seiki covers Knit design, Stitch pattern creation, Color selection, Machine control. Both handle User authentication, Desktop deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CLO 3D: Is there a free trial for CLO 3D?

Yes, CLO 3D offers 14 free days to start using the software with no payment details required upfront.

Source
CLO 3D: Does CLO 3D offer a student plan?

Yes, CLO 3D offers a Student plan for verified students with monthly billing available. A yearly option saves 25% compared to monthly billing, though specific prices are not shown on the pricing page.

Source
CLO 3D: What is included in CLO 3D plans?

All CLO 3D subscription tiers provide access to online tutorials, CLO manuals, community forums, and customer service. Enterprise and Academic plans add premium support, training, and specialized services.

Source
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