Tools & Tips for Stunning 3D Work
As a 3D art director & texturing supervisor, I’m always looking for ways to make my workflow faster and more efficient. Texturing plays a huge role in bringing 3D models to life, and the right tools can make all the difference. Here are my top three texturing tools that save time and deliver amazing results.
1. Xolotl Studio
Xolotl Studio is a Python-based plugin for Substance Painter that connects seamlessly to major DCC software like Maya, Blender, Cinema 4D, and Unreal Engine. It supports tiled UV and UDIM workflows and integrates with renderers like Arnold, Octane, and Redshift. Xolotl Studio simplifies the process of sending texture data, materials, and models between tools without needing to export or import manually.
Why it’s great:
- Saves time by automating material and texture transfers.
- Works with multiple software and renderers.
- Supports flexible UV workflows.
2. Dynamic Wrinkle Tool
The Dynamic Wrinkle Tool for Substance Painter adds realistic folds and wrinkles to your models. The package includes brush and path-based tools, perfect for creating detailed patterns like seams or ropes. It’s compatible with Substance Painter 7.3.0 and higher, and the path tool works best with version 9.0.0 or later.
Why it’s great:
- Adds lifelike detail to fabrics and surfaces.
- Offers customizable patterns and settings.
- Comes with easy setup instructions.
3. Multi-Functional Fresh Blood Smart Material
Fresh Blood Smart Material is a versatile Substance Painter material designed to quickly create realistic blood effects. All layers are connected to one base layer via anchor points, so you can easily paint multi-layered blood on any surface. It includes an example grunge alpha for added flexibility and customization.
Why it’s great:
- Quickly paint detailed blood effects.
- Easy to customize with higher layers.
- Supports alphas and includes a sample grunge alpha.
4. Ornament Path Tool brush
The Ornament Path Tool by Javad Rajabzade is a procedural non-destructive workflow to create ornaments using pen splines. Package includes 106 high quality ornament and trim brushes.
Included in the pack:
- Substance Painter Ornament Path Tool brush (sppr)
- High-quality preview
- 106 Ornament and Trim Ornament Brush
- Ornament Format: obj, fbx, tif, psd, zbp, jpeg,
- Customization Guide (Tutorial & Jpeg)
- Free Tutorial: Stained Glass Gothic Window | Using Substance Painter path tool and Translucency
Benefits of this pack:
- Procedural modeling in substance painter
- unlimited possibilities
- High-quality preview
- you have access to different formats such as zbp for Zbrush to psd and obj so you can use them any software.
- Customizable
- compatible Substance 3D Painter, version 9.0 and higher
- custom shelf previews
Final Tips
- Plan your textures ahead of time to save effort later.
- Stay organized with layers and masks in Substance Painter.
- Experiment with these tools to find creative solutions.
These tools have transformed my workflow and helped me achieve better results in less time. If you try them, let me know how they work for you!