Motion designer Albert Omoss has released ArcBrush 1.0, a free node-based texture and image editor. Aimed at game artists, illustrators, and concept designers, the tool allows generating design variants, processing textures, and editing with a non-destructive GPU-accelerated workflow. Available for Windows and macOS, it includes 75 nodes for transforming images, adjusting colors, applying masks, or converting images to normal maps. It supports formats such as PNG, JPEG, WebP, TGA, BMP, and SVG, though not OpenEXR.
GPU acceleration and 75 nodes for complex workflows 🚀
ArcBrush uses OpenGL and OpenCV to accelerate GPU processing, allowing real-time work with images without degrading performance. Its nodes include functions for packing sprites, generating normal maps from flat images, and applying complex masks. The node system allows connecting operations visually, similar to tools like Blender or Substance Designer, but with a lighter and more accessible approach. The lack of support for OpenEXR limits its use in high dynamic range projects, although it covers most standard formats.
Photoshop, tremble: a rival that doesn't ask for a subscription arrives 💥
Albert Omoss has created ArcBrush as an alternative to Photoshop, but without the monthly subscription that hurts the wallet. Sure, it has 75 nodes, but sometimes one wonders if 75 more wouldn't be needed to avoid returning to the old reliance on layers. Meanwhile, artists can pack sprites and generate normal maps without the program complaining about lack of memory. However, if you need OpenEXR, you'll have to wait for version 2.0 or resign yourself to using another editor.