Adobe releases Substance 3D Modeler 1.8
A render saved from Substance 3D Modeler 1.8, showing the orthographic camera view.
Adobe has released Substance 3D Modeler 1.8, the new version of the VR sculpting tool.
The update overhauls the software’s camera system, adding the option to place new cameras in the scene, and to use depth of field in render mode.
Sculpt organic and hard-surface models in VR using a virtual clay workflow
Released in 2022, Substance 3D Modeler lets users sculpt both organic and hard-surface models in virtual reality, or in desktop mode using a mouse and keyboard.
Like its precursor, Medium, which Adobe acquired in 2019, it uses Signed Distance Fields to represent 3D space, rather than treating 3D geometry as a polygonal mesh.
As a result, workflow combines elements of digital sculpting and Boolean modelling, with users able to build up forms with virtual clay, then join them or cut into them with Boolean operations.
You can find more details in this story on Substance 3D Modeler 1.0.
New in version 1.8: overhauled camera system
Substance 3D Modeler 1.8 overhauls the software’s camera system, adding a new Viewport panel, accessible both while modeling and in render mode.
From it, users can add new cameras to scene, switch between cameras, and in desktop mode, toggle between orthographic and perspective views.
It is also possible to use the Viewport and Node properties panels to adjust camera properties, including FOV, aspect ratio and depth of field,
When working in VR, there is a new smooth camera type, intended for recording demos.
Updates to key modeling tools
Several key modeling tools have been updated to impprove workflow and performance, includinhg Buildup, Crease, Flatten and Inflate.
Inflate now supports alpha textures, and Flatten gets a toggle to lock the flattening plane in planar or continuous mode.
Other workflow improvements include the option to rename materials within Substance 3D Modeler, and updates to keyboard shortcuts.
Price and system requirements
Substance 3D Modeler 1.8 is compatible with Windows 10+, and these VR headsets.
It is available via Substance 3D Collection subscriptions, which cost $49.99/month or $549.88/year. Perpetual licences are available via Steam, and cost $149.99.
Read a full list of new features in Substance 3D Modeler 1.8 in the online documentation
Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we don’t post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.