Adobe has announced Substance 3D Designer 16.0 at the GDC 2026 event. This update promises groundbreaking changes in procedural content creation workflows, especially for game developers and VFX artists. The biggest innovation in this new version is undoubtedly the complete overhaul of the Shape Splatter node.
Introducing Shape Splatter v2: The Leap from 2D to 3D
The most significant revolution at the core of Designer 16.0 is the next generation (v2) of the Shape Splatter node. In previous versions, this node was primarily used to scatter height maps or 2D patterns across surfaces. However, with the new version, it is now possible to distribute fully 3D shapes defined in Signed Distance Field (SDF) format.
What does this mean? You can now create rocks, tree trunks, or complex geometric forms directly inside your material graph and place them onto a surface in real-time.
Ray Tracing and Real-Time Control
One of the most powerful aspects of the new system is its real-time ray tracing support. Shape Splatter v2 instantly calculates collisions between scattered 3D objects and the ground, preventing objects from intersecting or floating in mid-air.
Additionally, it offers artists per-instance control. This means you can individually control the scale, rotation angle, or shape of each scattered rock or blade of grass, and define levels of randomness. This makes creating natural-looking rock piles or dense forest areas much easier.
New SDF Toolset
To support this new scattering system, Substance 3D Designer 16.0 also expands its SDF toolset. New nodes are being added that allow users to create, combine, and manipulate custom 3D SDF shapes. This moves Designer beyond being just a texture creation tool, transforming it into a platform where simple 3D geometries can be generated directly within the application.
OpenPBR and Real-Time Pipeline Improvements
For visual consistency and compatibility with modern pipelines, OpenPBR support is being expanded. Thanks to the new material model, updated graph templates, and an improved displacement user interface, the difference between how your materials appear in game engines (Unity, Unreal) and their preview inside Designer is minimized.
Integration with the Adobe Ecosystem
Designer 16.0 is being renewed not only as a standalone tool but also as part of the Adobe ecosystem:
- Ribbon Graph Examples for Substance 3D Painter: New example templates are provided to make it easier for artists to create custom tools for Painter.
- USD and 3D Format Support: Support for formats like USD and GLTF, which facilitate material design within a scene context, is increasing.
🆚 Key Differences Between Version 15 and 16
| Feature | Substance 3D Designer 15 | Substance 3D Designer 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Shape Splatter | 2D height map-based | 3D SDF-based + Ray Tracing |
| Object Control | Limited randomness | Per-instance (scale, rotation, shape) |
| Visual Workflow | Iray-based static render | Instant feedback with advanced Ray Tracing |
| Material Standard | Standard PBR | Enhanced OpenPBR Support |
| Primary Use Case | Textures and Surface Materials | Procedural 3D Layout (Scattering) |
Substance 3D Designer 16.0 represents one of the biggest paradigm shifts in the software’s 15-year history. With this release, Adobe is moving the tool beyond being just a “material author” and transforming it into a lightweight scene and world-building tool. For open-world game studios and procedural artists, the SDF and Ray Tracing-powered Shape Splatter v2 looks set to fundamentally change workflows.
If you’re looking to take your procedural art to the next level, we highly recommend not missing this update.
