Improved 3D effects and Adobe Substance materials
We have introduced new and improved '3D and Materials' effects in 26.0 this year. These effects have been fully rebuilt using modern rendering technology and apart from being much more stable than classic 3D effects, they also allow you to:
* Apply and edit 3D effects conveniently through a non-blocking panel with real time preview.
* Texture artwork using Adobe Substance 3D materials that are highly adjustable. Choose from built-in materials in the panel or upload your own.
* Light up artwork with environment and directional light along with shadows.
* Create smooth and curvy extrusions using the new Inflate option.
* Rotate artwork more easily using the new on-canvas controls.
* Once you've setup your 3D object, render it using Ray tracing with adjustable quality options.
There are more features we're actively working on bringing to these effects. Please share your feedback and suggestions from your experience of using these new effects.
![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/09621b9bc44ca9f666208699b5a70e63?size=40&default=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.uvcdn.com%2Fpkg%2Fadmin%2Ficons%2Fuser_70-6bcf9e08938533adb9bac95c3e487cb2a6d4a32f890ca6fdc82e3072e0ea0368.png)
There are now several separate requests made, based on the feedback in this thread:
1. Regarding adjustable color and opacity for 3D shadows:
https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/47054086
2. Regarding presets for each tab in 3D and Materials panels: Object, Materials, Lighting:
http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/47350001
All those who commented on the topic until October 16, 2023, are already added as voters there. If this is something you want to have for 3D and Materials in Illustrator — please upvote it. If possible — create new requests and bug reports about 3D, rather than commenting here inside. This will help the team to better prioritize efforts on making the feature better. As always — thanks for the feedback! It helps.
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Sampath Guruge commented
Great
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MikeBangerDh commented
Saying my don't have enough RAM but was running fine before. Only does it when start adding #D effects to my drawings.
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Leslie, the short answer is 'because this new graphics system does not allow to map art the same style as classic 3D can'.
These graphics are more like stamping with the pad, like in the tampography process. This partially explain why it gets distorted so much in those grooves you have on your bottle. And also it’s a technology in the making, so it’s not perfect — yet, I hope.
Thanks for the case, it will help to iron it out further. If you can, please also share this file via sharewithai@adobe.com, with the link to this thread in the body (https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/938463/suggestions/44254299) -
LeslieVDB commented
Hello! Maybe I've done something wrong, I've worked with 3D in Photoshop and Blender, was hoping to do a ******* with the new 3D tool in Illustrator... Why is this label not being applied evenly over the profile of the container? Thank you in anticipation!
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Sound Design and Composition commented
can no longer change the colour, pattern variation, etc in main parameteres of the 3d material. very dissatisfied and your support is terrible.
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George Tsatalios commented
you should add shadow coloring! food for thought
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Viola commented
I would love to have an option to copy and paste my materials between shapes. Or to drag and drop them :)
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Marjorie Busby commented
I absolutely love the inflate feature. I write patterns for computerized sewing, quilting, and embroidery machines. Being able to create the textures and dimensions is a critical feature for me. The inflate feature works best for what I am doing. It is not as stable as I would like, and I have to keep going back to reset it to make it work, but even in this primitive state it is so much better than just adding drop shadows. I can imagine how great it would be if I could create settings for various materials/fills. I am attaching a file of the simple things I was able to do with it today. And when I have multiple shapes together the whole thing blows up because it says it can't handle that many shapes. Yet all those shapes are one object for me.
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Smart Labs commented
Okay in my opinion 3D is an amazing and stunning tool. Just one thing the shadow !!
Why is it so minimalist there are almost no options for anything.
And in addition to always adding shade I have a kind of frame for such a strange shade that I have no way of getting rid of -
Whit Gurley commented
I'm surprised that you're still not offering stylistic 3D extrusion like this, wherein the object hasn't changed its position but a "fake" extrusion is falling into infinity behind it (I'm sure there's a term for this). I actually use that style a lot more often (by way of tedious Blend tool operations) than I do more realistic extrusions.
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Nihar Apte commented
When i select an object, the center toggle circle which helps me free rotate my 3D object should also allow me to change the vanishing point of the 3D object once i apply perspective to it.
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Fab commented
Anything I use 3D effects on now instantly becomes pixelated...
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권다현 commented
i need 'shadow opacity'. please update it please. thanks.
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Chrissy D commented
I'd like a point of reference when adjusting "lighting" for 3D materials and objects.
Please consider "drag-and-click" options for beveling for easier use -
Jeremiah Bach commented
I'd like to be able to customize a material...then save those customizations as a new material for use on other items.
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Herbie Hollar commented
New 3D is carp. So slow and does nothing.
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Anonymous commented
Still need to add 'perspective' option. Very important!
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Manasi Nair commented
Initially, my 3D material properties were showing and I could change the colour of my materials and edit its appearance. But I don't know if I did something but now that panel of options isn't showing up at all and I don't know how to get it back.
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Beate de Vries commented
Liebes Entwickler-Team,
an sich ein tolles Tool. Leider werden 1 farbig schwarze/graue Flächen im Export in 4c umgewandelt. Das ist wirklich blöd. Wenn ich 1c einstelle möchte ich auch 1c haben. Auch das Rendering als Graustufe bringt so gar nichts. Schade, also baue ich den 3D-Effekt jetzt per Hand damit ich meine 1 farbig graue Darstellung bekomme. Aber für alles andere wo es nicht auf die Farbzusammensetzung ankommt, ist es wirklich prima. -
Aaron Robinson commented
this looks great it would be great to be able to export an .obj or .stl from the software to use in other workflows.