4+ day, 42+ min ago (1485+ words) Chao Chang joined us to talk about the creation of a bowl of Chinese knife-cut noodles, explaining the use of the Principled BSDF shader to make it look like meatballs, beef chunks, and dried tofu have absorbed the broth. I was first introduced to Substance 3D Designer when my university professor showed me a rain droplet material he had created using the software. In my university curriculum, the workflow I learned involved starting with a 3D model, sculpting it in ZBrush, then proceeding through retopology, baking, and finally, hand-painting textures. When I first witnessed how a node-based approach could directly generate material textures, producing high-quality results that were also highly adjustable, my mind was blown. I only had one thought: "This is so cool, I want to master this." From that point on, I began seeking out online tutorials, studying node combinations…...

4+ day, 2+ hour ago (82+ words) Sergio Gonzalez used Stylized Texture Generator. Sergio Gonzalez used Stylized Texture Generator. Sergio Gonzalez, who previously showcased the young version of Vi from Arcane, shared his process for creating the Jinx model and gave a closer look at how he textured her leather top. He used Anton Rabarskyi's Stylized Texture Generator, which, as the name suggests, creates stylized textures. The generator adds dedicated sliders to achieve the desired look: Here's more of Sergio's Jinx and other Arcane characters, available on his Patreon:...

4+ day, 7+ hour ago (132+ words) The tutorial series covers the entire process of making a stylized brush-stroke material. Indie Animation Filmmaker Elena F. presented a course on the creation of a stylized painterly shader in Unreal Engine 5. With the tutorials, you will learn how to create a procedural, stylized painterly brush-stroke shader in UE5. The course is divided into four main sections focusing on stylized base color, specular, shadow, and sketchy look, sketched outlines, and smudged paint shells. The series also includes free project files. Please note that the course is better suited for artists already familiar with the material editor of the engine. Check out the first video in the series: Also, take a look at the shader in use with the setups showcased by Elena F.: You can watch the tutorials here....

4+ day, 18+ hour ago (592+ words) This combination of performance and authenticity is why more design teams are paying serious attention. ThermoWood is what happens when you take something familiar and push it far beyond its usual limits. The timber goes through high-temperature treatment inside a sealed chamber, without chemicals or additives. The heat alters the internal structure of the wood itself. Sugars crystallise, moisture pathways close down, and the board becomes far less reactive to the environment. The result is timber that behaves differently. It moves less. It shrinks and swells far more slowly. It resists moisture the way a dense hardwood might. For architects designing fa'ades with clean lines, this matters. A stable board keeps its place, and a fa'ade looks the same in year eight as it did on day one. That reliability is one of the reasons specifiers often turn to ThermoWood…...

1+ week, 3+ day ago (442+ words) How did your relationship with Lutron begin? I've been working with Lutron since I started my firm 11 years ago. It's an iconic brand in the lighting space and always my go-to source for illuminating any project I design, residential or commercial. I always say that Lutron is doing God's work because it creates the feeling of natural light using technology. Do you recall the first time you used a Lutron product? When adding the Ketra lighting system to your Hamptons home, what controls did you choose? What other Lutron lighting have you used in your design projects? I'm using Lutron's architectural lighting for a new build in Bridgehampton'trim, high hats and more. Lutron is basically your one-stop shop to create layered lighting. From [controlling] decorative lighting such as chandeliers, sconces and lamps to architectural lighting [fixtures], it provides for all…...

1+ week, 6+ day ago (109+ words) Sakura Rabbit showcased a new work and shared project files. Sakura Rabbit showcased a new work and shared project files. Sakura Rabbit, a 3D Artist renowned for her stunning works, shared a new project " the Translucent Prosthetic Unity Shader. The tool, also described by the artist as the Gelatin rubber material, allows for creating a realistic transparent texture that you can use for visualizing sci-fi-style robotic parts. The project files are available on Sakura Rabbit's Fanbox. The artist has created plenty of amazing Unity projects, such as this paving effect, a cyberpunk subway station scene, a hand rendering showcase, real-time facial wrinkles, and a rain shader:...

2+ week, 1+ day ago (1830+ words) Kristina Papakina talked about the Millers Falls Hand Drill No. 980 project, explaining how she textured the prop to replicate real-life materials and how she worked with wear and tear. Hello, dear 80 Level community! My name is Kristina Papakina, and I'm a Game Graphics Production (GGP) student at Howest Digital Arts & Entertainment (DAE). I have just started my second year there and am very excited to write this interview! My 3D journey started last September, when I enrolled in the university. However, I've been in the art field a bit longer, as my previous degree was in digital design and multimedia. I also worked as a Graphic Designer for a couple of years, which helped me develop good observational skills and decent time management. As a long-time gamer, I've always looked at the industry from a consumer perspective, but I really wanted…...

2+ week, 1+ day ago (1619+ words) Eymen Akmaz shared the workflow behind Ceramic Tiles, talking about how he used Shape, Spiral, and Disc nodes to create the forms and how he connected and blended the shapes with the base tile to make one surface. Hello 80 Level readers! Some of you might remember me from my previous Brick Wall Material interview. Recently, out of nowhere, Gloria reached out and asked if I'd be interested in doing another interview this time about a new tile material I made. Of course, I couldn't say no, and I want to thank her for giving me the opportunity again. For those who don't know me, my name is Eymen, and I'm a 3D Environment Artist based in Istanbul, Turkey, and I'm 23 years old. I didn't study art or attend any formal courses, I'm completely self-taught. I got into 3D art around the age…...

2+ week, 1+ day ago (114+ words) 3dex's Forgotten Structures Collection is ready for your projects. If you want to quickly start creating environments, 3dex has a bundle of three Substance 3D Designer materials for various use cases. It includes Stylized Concrete Ornate for decorative details, Stylized Rock Wall for natural surfaces, and Stylized Burnt Wood for charred effects. All materials are ready for game lighting and rendering and can be easily used in your projects to save time. Take a closer look at them below: 3dex also offers many other stylized asset packs, including this one for creating winter environments, and provides easy-to-follow tutorials, like the complete stylized dungeon course: Grab Forgotten Structures Collection by clicking this link....

2+ week, 2+ day ago (453+ words) Members of Norwegian design collective Fold Oslo have unveiled an assortment of lamps made from found objects and waste materials. Named Nytt Lys, the collection contains six lighting designs, incorporating old kitchen utensils, demolition waste and the coarse wool of Norwegian sheep. The works were produced by five members of Fold Oslo, a collective of young Oslo-based designers who share an interest in responsible design and material exploration. Tobias Berg made two lamps, both by repurposing aluminium products originally created for the kitchen. Krans is a terracotta-hued table lamp made from a cast-aluminium baking tin, while Segment is a dimmable lamp made from an extruded-aluminium knife block. "[Segment] can stand, lie flat or be angled," said Berg. "The original shape is preserved, but brought forward, refined and completed with careful adjustments." Anna Maria "fstedal Eng sourced building site waste from…...