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.
-
Ton commented
Scrollbar missing
-
Ton commented
The panel often gets too long and I cannot reach some of the options. No way to get to the bottom to reduce the size. I have go into System preferences (Mac BigSur) and change the display to 1680x1050 to grab the bottom of the panel (or whatever this thing is named). Then reset the display back to 1280x800 retina.
I can solve the problem by creating a workspace while everything is visible after doing the display settings trick. Using my normal workspace shows the problem again. -
Cốc Nguyễn commented
When i apply 3D effect, a part of the shape has been cut off like it had a layer mask covering the entire shape
-
herman billingsley commented
my inflate 3D effect is not working, and I did everything it told me to do to fix the problem and none of it has worked. what's the deal?
-
Edu Couchez commented
Please... drop off this nonsense "3D grid" or "perspective grid" or whatever... after 20 years, I've never used it, only faced the terror of activating it by mistake and waste time looking on Google for a shorctut to deactivate it (yes, first search only show videos... so I've to watch 2 minutes of video to learn how to fix it... until next time, maybe next year.
-
Mohamed sayoh Kargbo commented
My 3D material properties panel is not opening.
-
Wendy Xi commented
倒角的时候会出现这种莫名其妙的切割线
-
Jean-Michel Le Goff commented
is it a way to move a graphic applied to a 3D shape?
-
Debora Malqui commented
I couldn't manage to use it
-
Cari Molina commented
I'm not able to edit the effect. The options are greyed out.
-
Dwi Sulistianto commented
how to fix this problem?
an error occrred while processing the appearance of an object. -
Daniel Scannell commented
3D has never worked once for me.
-
AYMAN ELMASRY commented
I'm not able to edit the effect. The options are greyed out.
-
scrampop “scram” commented
Please make the control panel more flexible for access to materials, and properties, needs to be more dynamic in terms of working on screen. Ability to save updated presets with colour or texture changes, get the eyedropper tool working to pick up and transfer material between objects but not inherit shapes or forms or depths just materials.
-
Sammy Lane commented
The effect makes strange distortions (the capital "I") and inconsistent perspective (the capital "L").
-
Ann-Katrin commented
I'm not able to edit the effect. The options are greyed out.
-
Ronaldo Luiz commented
não consigo editar o efeito 3D
-
Nh Creative commented
Why my inflate properties not working
-
Chi Tai commented
if shadow has color control would be cool!
-
scrampop “scram” commented
Would be great to resize the panels easier. Also save a customized preset where the colours and textures are redefined for use in multiple objects that would appear in same family. Eyedropper tool would need updating for what assets it can pick up and apply as it relates to the 3D part.