Adobe has unveiled Substance 3D Sampler 4.2, the newest iteration of its 3D material creation and editing software. This release showcases Adobe's ongoing efforts to integrate AI into its content creation tools, aiming to streamline intricate workflows for artists and designers.
Adobe Substance 3D Sampler is a software that allows to create 3D assets from real-world images. You can import photos and use features powered by its generative AI solution Adobe Sensei to automatically generate models, materials, and lights. You can also blend materials with filters, access a large library of 3D content, and edit your inputs in Adobe Photoshop. Substance 3D Sampler is part of the Substance 3D Collection, a suite of apps for modeling, texturing, and rendering 3D scenes.
AI-Powered Image to Material Converter
The Image to Material feature, which generates material channels such as base color, roughness, and normals from a single image, has been enhanced. The AI model behind this feature has undergone training on an expanded set of materials, including fabric, plastic, and wood. This broader training aims to yield improved results across various material types. Adobe's official announcement mentions that the updated version of Image to Material “improves the material generation” and expands “the range of materials supported”. Additionally, users can now specify the material category, allowing the Image to Material feature to “optimize channel generation”.
AI Upscale Tool
Another notable addition is the AI Upscale layer, designed to amplify the resolution of materials and images by two or four times. This enhancement boosts the quality and detail of the materials. The official release notes from Adobe state that thanks to the new Upscale layer, Sampler “enhances features of your material or image” by multiplying the resolution of your asset. For optimal upscaling outcomes, Adobe suggests utilizing source files “at their original resolution”.
Enhanced Layer Resolution Control
The update also introduces a more granular control over the resolution of each layer in a Substance project. This feature enables users to strike a balance between quality and performance by adjusting layer resolutions on an individual basis. As per the official announcement, the new system of Layer Resolution lets users “have full control over the resolution of each layer”.
Integration with 3D Tools
These AI-driven capabilities are designed to complement Sampler's existing procedural workflows. They equip users with the tools needed to swiftly produce high-fidelity 3D materials, which can then be utilized in 3D software such as Blender and Autodesk Maya. Substance 3D Sampler 4.2 update is now accessible to all Sampler users.
