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.
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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Jodi Koenig commented
When I try to render out vector graphics that are wrapped around a 3D surface the quality is genuinely horrible. I tried out different settings and none are able to make them better within the 3D tool. My document raster settings are set to high quality and I turned on high quality ray tracing. Why is this happening.
Not having the exported file is less of a problem than the poor rendering quality of graphic effects but these are both not fun. But straight up I do not understand why do the graphics get so pixelated and disgusting looking. This is a program that is widely used for graphic production. Do better adobe, I am sad.
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Mario, I'd say yes. Devs are are of this post, thanks. We had not a proper reply though, except for the major statement about the feature parity: 'new 3D is going to have all features the classic has, but better'. WIP
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Mario Arizmendi Duarte commented
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Jan Vork commented
Perspective / lens settings are missing.
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Chris commented
What I'm missing from the previous 3D tool:
- wireframe
- no shading
- perspective
- map art > scale to fit (mapping is really clumsy in the new version)
- expand appearance (render as vector is not working?)What I was expecting to see in the new 3D tool
- better vector render/expand appearance, so the graphics are not fragmented (see attachment - I'd like to see each circle to be expanded as 1 stroke or 2 fills (instead of 9 parts comprising fragments of each circle)
- expand wireframe and strokes as strokes, not as fill, so the circles in the attachment could actually be just 1 stroke object each
- splines (like C4D) to create bended tubes -
Chris commented
quite clumsy, even when I use a very simple graphic to map, it doesn't show up like expected on the 3D object
'Render as a vector' is not working. It used to be possible to map a vector and then have a vector output, which was really great. I used it t make stuff like the image attached.
Wireframe output is missing. 'No shading' is missing. -
MV, you can control the color of the light source (and it's only one of these, for now, I hope). The color of the shadow is linked to it, in a relative way. How important is it for you to have a shading color separately?
You can break apart panes, but not as effectively as in the classic 3D — yet. Open the Render Options menu in the top right corner and choose Render as Vectors (don't forget to hit the Render button). The order of panes will be a mess, but it's a start. Hope to get it as useful as the older tech.
A perspective slider is available in Beta only for now, WIP. You can try it if you want to participate in the development and help to improve it before it ships.
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MW commented
I like the added feature of putting the shadow below the object. I miss controlling the color of the light and shadow. Can I still break apart the panes and manipulate them as vector paths later? Is there a perspective slider hidden anywhere? I cannot find it.
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Sara Van Dyke commented
Hi, the old extrude and bevel tool in Adobe also allowed us to "expand appearance" and manipulate individual planes on the extruded object. I used this on a regular basis to create realistic mock-ups--especially toggling between Illustrator and Photoshop. The new version doesn't have this option; or at least it doesn't work the way it used to. I don't need textures and materials mapped on to my objects, but I DO need to be able to break my objects apart and manipulate the individual planes. Please bring this option back! If you do want to add additional materials/textures--glass, frosted acrylic, and smooth metal would be helpful.
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Onceupon akio sugizaki commented
レンダリング中の経過が表示されず、どこにその画像が格納されるのかが不明である。
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Mercé Culp commented
No wireframe function option in 3D anymore.... not cool....
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David B. Fisher commented
I have never seen the sensible depth of editable parameters for MATERIALS that actually make a visible - in the best way - difference in practice and I have used 3D systems since the late '80s.
Incredible how procedural MATERIALS have come and that y'all have implemented in Illustrator.
Impressed... -
David B. Fisher commented
I may have missed it but I cannot find a way to straightforwardly SAVE a tweaked MATERIAL and add it to A USER LIBRARY so that the MATERIAL would have a life beyond the file you created it in.
Please... -
David B. Fisher commented
The ancient but still pressing need for User control of UVs.
Unparameterized - ie many user created objects require UVs in order to able to be clad in map-based textures - creation of Normals..
Fine grain control of Normals is especially necessary for the Graphic Arts Context, as highlights, reflections and so on. -
Ryan Tiamat commented
needs the perspective feature from the old 3D tool
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SI-BONE GraphX commented
Will you possibly, maybe, perhaps, if you would not mind, if not too much trouble, add perspective to your 3D plugin? You know, like you used to have there, a perspective toggle and adjustment? That'll be just great. Thank you ever so much. AC
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Akshay Varshney commented
Hi All,
This is to inform you that Perspective Feature work is in progress, we are going to release this very soon. Thanks! -
Nigel commented
Where's the perspective control?
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Jason Roberson commented
Camera adjustments needed for Illustrator 3D - similar to Dimensions' "Field of View". Need to be able to control the perspective of 3D objects. How CRAZY COOL would it be if the "field of view/perspective" had the option of being controlled by the PERSPECTIVE GRID!!! Everyone is used to working with the perspective grid by now and we could easilly add 3D objects to our existing artwork!
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milomi commented
Perspective? Without this. it's slightly useless for me.