Adobe releases Substance 3D Sampler 3.4
Adobe has released Substance 3D Sampler 3.4, the latest version of its material-authoring software, previously known as Substance Alchemist.
The update adds a new Python API for writing custom scripts and plugins, and makes it possible to expose parameters when exporting materials, making them editable inside other DCC tools and game engines.
Expose parameters to make exported materials editable in DCC apps and game engines
One major new change in Substance 3D Sampler 3.4 is that it is now possible to expose parameters when exporting materials, as you can in Adobe’s Substance 3D Designer.
That makes it possible to edit materials created in Substance 3D Sampler in any application that supports its .sbsar material format, including Blender, Maya, Unreal Engine and Photoshop.
(You can also expose parameters in materials exported as .sbs files, but to our knowledge, the format is only supported in Substance 3D Designer itself.)
New Python API makes it possible to create custom scripts and plugins
The other major new feature is the Python API, which can be used to create scripts or plugins to automate repetitive tasks, or to modify Substance 3D Samplers’s interface and functionality.
Scripts can be launched via a dedicated Scripts menu, while plugins become part of the Sampler interface, and can be docked and moved around like native UI panels.
The new API extends to asset authoring, and management of layers, parameters and projects.
Smaller changes
In addition, the AI-driven Image to Material system introduced in version 2.2 of the software is now available on macOS as well as Windows.
It is also now possible to include custom metadata representing the physical properties of fabric, including friction, bending and shear resistance, when exporting materials to clothing design software CLO.
Pricing and system requirements
Substance 3D Sampler 3.4 is available for Windows 10, CentOS 7.0+/Ubuntu 18.04+ Linux and macOS 10.14+.
New perpetual licences, available via Steam, cost $149.99.
The Windows and macOS editions are also available via Adobe’s Substance 3D Texturing subscriptions, for $19.99/month or $219.88/year; or Substance 3D Collection subscriptions, for $49.99/month or $549.88/year.
The Linux edition is available via Creative Cloud for Teams, priced at $1,199.88/year.
Read an overview of new features in Substance 3D Sampler 3.4 on Adobe’s blog
Read a full list of features in Substance 3D Sampler 3.4 in the online changelog