LogInDescribed as "6 apps in 1", the recently released texturing software is winning the hearts of the community.
Following the recent controversy involving Adobe and its bizarre Terms of Use updates, development studio Abstract announced the removal of the obligatory data-collection policy from the free-to-use Pioneer version of InstaMAT, the team's recently released 3D texturing and material creation software.
For those who might be unfamiliar, InstaMAT is a content-creation platform that unifies workflows for 3D assets and, according to its developers, serves as a free alternative to Substance 3D Painter and Designer. Catering to 3D texturing, material creation, and asset creation needs, the software combines mesh, image, and data processing tools, as well as full support for advanced workflows such as UDIMs and texture baking, enabling to automate large parts of the asset workflow and save a lot of time in the process.
Viewing the community's outrage over Adobe's spyware-esque rules as a sign of things to come, the app's developers promptly discontinued their Data Sharing policy, which they themselves described as a "mandatory data-collection requirement", noting that the website has already been updated to reflect this change.
"If you have already opted in, no data is being collected. In the current version, you still need to opt in, but nothing will be collected. In the next version, the dialog will let you proceed without opting in," commented the team. "But it's worth pointing out that we would not have used your content to data to train an AI, moderate your content, or get any rights or license to it."
Described as "6 apps in 1", InstaMAT comes with robust tools for asset texturing and painting, node-based material creation, procedural geometry and asset pipeline generation, layer-based procedural material creation, and texture baking, as well as over 1000 high-quality procedural materials, allowing one to not only create textures and materials, but also apply them to meshes, processes geometry, and even assemble entire scenes, all within a single application.
In InstaMAT, 3D Artists can apply textures and materials to assets using a layer-based workflow, building up the texturing of an asset layer by layer. Materials can be applied to an asset by dragging a material from InstaMAT's built-in library and dropping it on the desired part of the asset. InstaMAT offers a comprehensive library of 1,000 AAA procedural materials, each featuring customizable parameters, allowing for a wide range of possible combinations.
Each material in InstaMAT’s library is created using InstaMAT’s node-based project type, the Element Graph. All materials are open source, enabling users to double-click a material to view its creation process, learn new techniques, and incorporate portions of the graph into their own materials. The software also includes a variety of creative tools, such as masks, generators, filters, and effects, which can be applied to make artistic adjustments to a layer.
A feature unique to InstaMAT is its painting engine that applies strokes regardless of mesh or UV changes, allowing artists to modify a mesh after texturing without ruining their work. The software's procedural approach means that as an artist builds up the texturing of an asset with each layer, a reproducible recipe is being created.
Traditionally, texturing in 3D was a linear and permanent process, with assets created one at a time and limited adjustments possible without destructive changes. In contrast, InstaMAT’s painting engine applies strokes regardless of mesh or UV changes, allowing artists to modify a mesh after texturing without ruining their work.
On top of that, the app introduces a node-based workflow that integrates images, meshes, and point clouds, facilitating novel methods for creating textures, materials, and 3D assets. The Element Graph project type in InstaMAT allows the combination of various mediums, such as images, meshes, point clouds, logic, and entire scenes, into a single graph. These Element Graphs can generate procedural materials, textures, and meshes, or even build entire scenes with embedded geometry, materials, and textures.
Unlike Substance Designer, which is restricted to working with images, InstaMAT’s Element Graph can handle both meshes and images, allowing it to encompass an entire asset texturing pipeline. The same graph can import a mesh, prepare it for texturing, and then apply textures to the asset, a capability not found in other texturing software.
Another feature unique to InstaMAT is its Material Layering system, which provides an accessible, layer-based workflow for creating dynamic materials. Artists can combine materials from the app's built-in material library to naturally blend them and create new textures. Each material in the library includes customizable parameters, allowing for an infinite number of combinations.
Materials created with Material Layering are fully procedural, offering advantages such as the ability to change the material’s resolution or alter the seed to produce limitless variations quickly. Additionally, artists can create dynamic settings, enabling adjustments to the look and feel of the material using a small collection of controls.
You can learn more and get started with the software by visiting InstaMAT's official website. Don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our Telegram channel, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Reddit, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.