The new version of the open-source software Material Maker 1.6 is now available for download. This free tool presents itself as an alternative to Substance 3D Designer and Painter, allowing the creation of procedural textures through visual programming with about 200 nodes. The update introduces a Controlled Variations system and Aperture nodes, in addition to a basic glTF exporter for static PBR materials.
Controlled variations and Aperture nodes for complex graphs 🧩
The Controlled Variations system allows for automatically generating different versions of a material by varying up to four variables systematically, avoiding the total randomization of the node. The new Aperture nodes function like Substance's Portal Nodes, connecting points in a node graph wirelessly to reduce visual clutter in complex projects. Furthermore, numerous function updates and quality-of-life improvements have been added, along with a basic glTF exporter for static PBR materials.
Finally, a solution for node chaos (and it's not restarting) 🎯
Aperture nodes arrive to save those whose graphs look like spiderwebs after a storm. Now you can connect points without the wiring looking like a subway map. And if before generating variations was like playing Russian roulette with parameters, now you can control up to four variables like an engineer, not a fortune teller. However, the glTF exporter is only for static materials: if you wanted animations, you'll have to wait for version 1.7.