For Substance Designer’s first number-less release, the bakers are undergoing a deep revamp and this is only the first step into making the baking process faster and more enjoyable in subsequent releases. Other updates include improvements to the graph, the HBAO filter and the Autolevel node.

More information in our blogpost.

New Features

    
• [Bakers] New UI
      
• [Bakers] Keep a high def mesh cache until the baker window is closed
      
• [Bakers] Add an option to correct skew deformation using a grayscale mask
      
• [Bakers] Support use-high-poly-as-low-poly in from-mesh bakers
      
• [Bakers] Make the Bakers window non modal
      
• [Bakers] Store state to .sbs file in human readable format
      
• [Parameters] Copy/Paste parameters from one graph to another
      
• [Parameters] Add an option to copy a single Input Parameter (and paste it afterward)
      
• [Parameters] Remove the function button on "Color Mode" parameter
      
• [Parameters] Edit/Save/Display embedded parameter presets
      
• [Parameters] Allow the user to copy parameters attributes when a package is locked
      
• [3D View] No longer store last session 3d view settings in the registry
      
• [3D View] Create new 3d resource from current scene
      
• [3D View] No longer store the 3D view state from one session to another in the registry
      
• [3D View] Merge the "Scene" and "Geometry" menus
      
• [3D View] Seperate sRGB conversion from the fragment shader (you will need to update your custom shaders!)
      
• [3D View] Add an option to create a new 3d resource from the current state
      
• [3D View] Improve error message generated when #include fail into a shader code
      
• [3D View][Explorer] Create 3D scene from primitives
      
• [3D View] Display correct line number when GLSL shader compilation failed and code contains #include directives
      
• [Graph] Be able to resize a frame from all corners/borders
      
• [Graph] Store the Parent Size information on the graph resource instead of local registry
      
• [Graph] optimize Node thumbnails generation speed
      
• [Graph] Expose the memory cache budget in the Preferences
      
• [Graph] Add a "Reset and View in 3D View" option on nodes
      
• [Content] PBR Converter: Add new Arnold 4/5, Corona 1.6 and Renderman Presets
      
• [Content] Optimize AutoLevel node and support HDR input
      
• [Content] Optimize HBAO filter when GPU Optimization is off, add 16 samples version
      
• [Cooker] output SVG unsupported feature to the log
      
• [Cooker] Don't discard all the SVG resource if only one feature is not supported
      
• [UI] Increase Description block size
      
• [UI] Add file path information on graph instances
      
• [Functions] Add "Open Reference" on function instances
      
• [Functions] Display function graphs list when drag anddroping .sbs into a function graph
      
• [Explorer] Create new 3d resource from primitive
      
• [Engine] Add $tiling variable
      
• [Curve] Add options to flip horizontally/vertically the curve
      
• [Color Management] Read ICC profile on bitmaps
      
• [Export] Add "Label", "Group" and "User Data" in the Pattern macro list
      
• [Preferences] add the possibility to change the path for temp files
      
• [Doc] Add MDL Graph format to the SBS format documentation

Bug Fixes

    
• [Graph] Cache issue: view outputs in 3D View no longer works
      
• [Graph] Clear cache issue
      
• [Graph] Node thumbnails generation requests are not canceled when graph is invalidated
      
• [Graph] Resolution issues after using F5
      
• [Graph] graph view missing at launch
      
• [Graph] Modifying a parameter generates multiple render call
      
• [Graph] crash when using custom template which contains baked maps
      
• [Graph] Crash when linked nodes in a graph function
      
• [3D View] Parallel loading mess up with ProgressManager
      
• [3D View] Rendering with iray at custom resolution image not full frame
      
• [3D View][Iray] Material Definition is not kept
      
• [2D View] Histogram is empty on LDR images
      
• [2D View] Display issue when tiling mode is enabled
      
• [MDL] parameters not exposed
      
• [MDL] crash when moving a MDL from a package to another while rendering
      
• [MDL] Don't ask where to assign the MDL when double clicking on graph
      
• [Bakers] Crash when baking specific .obj file
      
• [Bakers] Transferred texture from mesh / normal gives a wrong result
      
• [Transformation 2D] Can't use arrow keys to change offset in 2D transform node
      
• [Transformation 2D] artefact issue with low resolution
      
• [Updater] Update report doesn't appear using when Ctrl+o/open
      
• [Properties][Format] Some characters are escaped twice in UserTags
      
• [Bitmap node] Ctrl Z doesn't work on 2D View
      
• [Preference] Useless empty space in the Aliases tab
      
• [Installer] Installing a previous version doesn't work the first time
      
• [Parameters] drop down list: putting some spaces to the last value label freezes SD indefinitely
      
• [UI][MAC] "about Substance" displays Iray info
      
• [SVG] crash when importing a specific SVG
      
• [Content] HBAO filter: Radius parameter behaves differently in function of the resolution (a new hbao_2.sbs has been added, old hbao.sbs is now deprecated)

Known Issue

    
• [Bakers] Curvature from Mesh baker has been deactivated temporarily

This new release brings its share of bugfixes while we are working hard on 6.1 which will be available later this month.

Changes:

• [2D View] Display the matrix parameter label in the Transformation menu
• [Export] Save physical size as dpi in exported textures

Fixes:

• [Cooker] Bit depth issue
• [Linker] Pixel Processor: Incorrect GLSL shaders generation
• [MDL] no colored links between nodes
• [Parameters] crash when using 'tiling' as parameter name
• [Explorer] moving a bitmap resource in a package makes the "link/embed" menu popping up
• [Preferences] Wrong path for mikktspace.dll
• [3D View] Graph instance with custom usage is not correctly sent to the 3D View
• [2D View] Transform widget missing in 2D View when tiling preview mode enabled
• [Engine] crash with high resolution jpeg images
• [Engine] Sampler bug with Fxmap+HDR
• [Bakers] UV map baker crash when baking meshes without UV sets
• [Bakers] crash with mesh which has too much UV sets
• [Export] Doesn't export the dependencies on steam version
• [Export] missing bitmaps after export
• [Graph] graph view missing at launch
• [Graph] Some Pin Connectors don't snap when hovered
• [Graph] split points issue
• [Graph] When a selection contains a comment, the pasted elements will be shifted in the graph
• [Graph] When a selection containing a frame is pasted, the frame it not selected
• [Graph] Bit depth information is cut when DPI scaling is set to 125,1520 or 175%
• [Content] Typos in various Labels
• [Content] "Pre-Multiplied to Straight" removes alpha channel
• [Content] Color Match filter renders incorrectly in some situations
• [Content] HBAO filter can generate negative resolution
• [Content] Panorama Shape: Hotspot is mirrored in RGB channel
• [Content] Crop: Ghost graph in pixel processor
• [Content] Tile Sampler: Position Color parametrization is not normalized

Substance Designer 6 is finally here and it is the Ultimate 3D Material Authoring and Scan Processing Tool!



Substance Designer 6 comes with new filters dedicated to scan processing to help you build a complete workflow for creating clean, ready-to-use tiling materials adapted to photogrammetry pipelines.

This new version also introduces three major, long-awaited features: Curve Node, Text Node and 32-bit floating point compositing as well as improvements on several crucial nodes like the transform and bevel tools.

The bakers also get some love as they have been deeply modified to support up to 8K bakes and non-uniform (non-square) ratios. These architecture changes will unlock many more features down the road.

For Substance Designer 5 users, there are 2 ways to upgrade:

    
• Upgrade Coupon - you will find an upgrade coupon in your inventory that will slash the price of version 6 by 50%.
      
• Substance Live - after linking your SD 5 Steam license to your Allegorithmic account, you can subscribe to Substance Live for only $9.95/month for the 6 first months and have access to all the latest Substance tools + access to Substance Source.

If you bought Substance Designer 5 after December 15th 2016, you are elligible for a free upgrade: link your Steam account to your Allegorithmic account and contact us with your proof of purchase.

Here is a full list of the changes and new features available in Substance Designer 6:

New Features:

   
• [Engine] New Curve Node
      
• [Engine] New Text Node
      
• [Engine] 16f/32f bit depth compositing
      
• [Engine] instancing for GPU FX-maps
      
• [Engine] Add log2 function
      
• [Bakers] 8k map baking
      
• [Bakers] Bake by Material / "Texture Set"
      
• [Bakers] Display loading message when the bitmap output is being encoded/written on disk
      
• [Bakers] Add a cancel option during baking
      
• [Gradient node] add global adjustments for multiple selected keys
      
• [Gradient Node] Simplify Gradient Picker options
      
• [Graph] Add an option to modify default parent size
      
• [Graph] Display Image pixel depth under the node
      
• [Preferences] Global preferences for DirectX/OpenGL
      
• [Preferences] Use tabs in Preferences/Project UI
      
• [Preferences] remove parameter MaxTextureSize located in the "3DView" preferences
      
• [Preferences] Display short help about the autosave
      
• [Preferences] Expose image format options
      
• [Preferences] Add an option to hide the Environment map in 3D View by  default
      
• [Preferences] Add an option for the normal map filter default alpha option
      
• [2D View] Add the possibility to pan away from texture bounds
      
• [2D View] Interpret the physical size X/Y ratio
      
• [3D View] Improve Texture management
      
• [3D View] Disable Post Effects by default (to prevent crash on lowend gpu)
      
• [MDL Graph] Manage the hidden flag on IRay parameter
      
• [MDL Graph] Allow to set the constructor 'material()' as Root Node
      
• [MDL Graph] Create SBS Graph instance node preview
      
• [Content] Add new Scan Processing filters
      
• Content] Add new Adjustment filters (Clamp, Pow, HDR Range Viewer)
      
• [Content] Add Blue Noise (Fast approximation)
      
• [Content] Add new Shape effects (Glow, Drop shadow, Stroke)
      
• [Publish] Add an action "Export as previous" to republish the last selected package
      
• [Publish] Improve SBSAR generation when using high resolution bitmaps
      
• [Publish] Warn user about non "relative to parent x1" graph setting when publishing or uploading on Share
      
• [Properties] Add "Physical Size" attribute on SBS Graphs
      
• [Parameters] Remove function actions on PKG Resource paths
      
• [Parameters] Remove "Preview values changed" pop up

Fixes:

   
• [Graph] Memory usage grows up regulary each time right-click menu is open
   
• [[Graph] [In SSE2] Polygon's nodes doesn't displays shapes when the "Scale" parameter is in negative
   
• [[Graph] Crash when switching from "Integer" to "Float" on a exposed parameter
   
• [[Graph] Moving nodes while a splitpoint is selected will recompute the nodes
   
• [[Graph] Split Points do not support "Undo"
   
• [[Graph] empty tooltip displayed when graph description contains non printable characters
   
• [[MDL Graph] Crash when the current node displayed in property view is deleted
   
• [[MDL Graph] MDL Graph that uses material() constructor function as root are not rendered correctly in the 3D View
   
• [[MDL] Cannot export MDL module when using conditional operator with uniform boolean expose parameter
   
• [[MDL] Crash when Loading a MDL Graph Template two times
   
• [[MDL Archive] Materials that are using a texture are not correctly managed
   
• [[3D View] IRay Material is not changed when the MDLGraph's root node change
   
• [[3D View] random crash when closing the 3D View while a mesh loading is in progress
   
• [[3D View] Yebis isn't reactivated after saving render
   
• [[3D View] Invalid PSD File generated when saving render result of iray scene
   
• [[3D View] point light 1 will not illuminate
   
• [[UI] Detection area of Checkboxes is too wide in "Bakers from Mesh" Parameters
   
• [[UI] Aesthetic issue in "Bakers from Mesh" Parameters
   
• [[Mac] Opening SD by double clicking on a sbs does not send output to 3d view
   
• [[Mac][Iray] Photoreal Cluster render doesn't work on MacOS
   
• [[Engine] Atan2(0, 0) makes the engine crash
   
• [[Engine] Critical synchronization issue
   
• [[Bakers] Can't disable automatic normalization for Height baker
   
• [[Parameters] when converting grayscale to rgba, alpha should be 255
   
• [[Functions] It is possible to set a function as the output node even if not compatible
   
• [[Export] Invalid dependencies after exporting a Package with PSD's Resources
   
• [[Console] Clearing the console makes SD crash