Tools to watch in Fall 2024: Style3D Atelier and Simulator
CG Channel is on holiday this week. While we’re away, check out five tools that caught our eye this year, but that somehow, we never managed to do a story on. Today: a promising alternative to 3D clothing design tools like Marvelous Designer.
Although 3D clothing design tools Style3D Atelier and Style3D Simulator were only launched last year, their developer has a much longer track record in garment design in its native China.
Founded in Hangzhou in 2015, Zhejiang Lingdi Digital Technology’s flagship product, fashion design software Style3D Studio, has now reached version 7.1.
The Style3D family of companies has since expanded to include three Western subsidiaries, including Linctex, which is based in Brussels, and is now targeting the entertainment market via Style3D Atelier, an edition of the software aimed at VFX, animation and game development.
What is it?
Style3D Atelier is a 3D clothing design tool. Users can create 3D garments by stitching 2D pattern parts together and draping the result over a 3D avatar.
Style3D Simulator is an Unreal Engine plugin that lets users simulate 3D garments – either created in Style3D Atelier itself, or other DCC applications – in real time, either for virtual production, or to generate simulation caches that can be used offline.
What kind of artists is it aimed at?
Style3D Atelier is targeted at “animation, visual effects and game asset creation”.
Why is it notable?
As an alternative to more familiar 3D clothing design tools like Marvelous Designer.
What are its selling points?
The developers cite Style3D Atelier’s “fast GPU-based simulation” and semi-automated features like like Auto Rig and Auto Quad Remesh for giving 3D garments clean, all-quad topology.
Users also get access to an online asset library with 4,000 customizable garments, accessories, trims, fabric types, and 3D avatars.
For Style3D Simulator, the developers cite its “extremely compact” simulation cache sizes.
What are its key technical features?
Both applications should slot fairly easily into standard entertainment pipelines: Style3D Atelier imports in OBJ and FBX format, and exports in OBJ, FBX, Alembic (ABC) and USD format.
As well as project files in Style3D’s SMD format, Style3D Simulator can import 3D clothing created in other DCC applications – the product website namechecks 3ds Max, Maya and Blender – in FBX format, although it requires a bit of manual prep work.
What new features are planned?
We can’t find an online roadmap, but both applications are updated regularly: Style 3D Simulator has had four feature updates since version 2.0 was released at the start of the year.
What are its system requirements?
Style3D Atelier and Style3D Simulator are available for Windows 10+. GPU simulation requires a compatible NVIDIA GPU. Style3D Simulator is compatible with Unreal Engine 4.27+.
How much does it cost?
Both products are available rental-only. Style3D Atelier has a standard price of $35/month or $248/year for individual artists, and $1,299/year for studios.
Style3D Simulator has a standard price of $35/month or $248/year for individual artists, and $1,499/year for studios.
Where can I find more information?
You can find videos showing basic workflow in Style3D Atelier on the Style3D YouTube channel. Style3D Simulator also has an online manual.
Read more about the Style3D products on the Linctex website
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