Why Early Access?

“Skarn is built and maintained by one developer, and the core tool already works: baking, materials, ray-traced rendering, animation and the Composer are all functional in the current build. Early Access lets me get it into the hands of real 3D artists with real sculpts, assets and engine pipelines that I can't test on my own. Their feedback and bug reports will show me which bake cases, engine setups and workflow details need attention first, and what the next modules should focus on.”

Approximately how long will this software be in Early Access?

“Approximately 6 to 12 months. This is an estimate: the exact length depends on the feedback I receive and on how quickly the main workflows (especially baking against different engines and asset pipelines) become stable. If the plan changes, I'll update the community through Steam announcements.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“The full version will be a stable, feature-complete release of the current tool. During Early Access I plan to fix bugs, polish the interface and workflows, and extend compatibility with more meshes and engine setups, based on community feedback.

The core of Skarn (baking, materials, rendering, animation and the Composer) is already included and will stay free. Optional paid modules are planned to add new tabs, such as UV editing and node-based texture authoring. Every module can be opened and used in full, and buying it unlocks exporting its work for use in other tools. Some modules may arrive during Early Access, others with or after the full release.

The plans may change based on feedback.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“Skarn is a working alpha. Baking (with engine-matched normal maps, automatic cage and skew estimation), node-based materials, real-time and ray-traced rendering, animation and the Composer are all functional and usable today. Expect rough edges and occasional bugs, and workflows or file formats may still change. Windows only; a DirectX Raytracing GPU is required.”

Will this software be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“No. Skarn is free during Early Access and will remain free afterward. Optional paid modules may be added over time, but the free tool itself will not become paid.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“Community feedback is a central part of Skarn's development. I'll read the Steam discussion forums and reviews, and you can also reach me directly through the contact form on my website. Bug reports, feature requests and sample files that break a bake are all welcome. I'll use that input to decide what to fix, improve and build next, and I'll keep everyone informed about progress through regular Steam announcements.”