How do you share and export your custom materials to other 3D software or platforms?

1 Material formats

Materials are usually defined by a set of files that describe their properties, such as color, texture, reflectivity, and transparency. These files can be images, text, or binary data depending on the software and material system. Common material formats include MTL, a text file that accompanies OBJ files; MAT, a binary file for Autodesk 3DS Max and Maya; SBSAR, a procedural material file for Substance Designer; and UASSET, a material file for Unreal Engine.

2 Compatibility issues

Not all material formats are compatible with all 3D software or platforms. Some formats are proprietary or specific to certain applications or engines, while others are more generic or standard. For example, MTL files are widely supported by most 3D software, but they may not capture all the features and settings of more advanced material systems. On the other hand, SBSAR files are very versatile and customizable, but they require a Substance plugin or license to work in some 3D software or platforms.

3 Conversion tools

If you need to share and export your custom materials to other 3D software or platforms, you may require conversion tools that can translate or adapt your material formats. Materialize is a free tool that can create PBR materials from images and export them in various formats, such as MTL, MAT, SBSAR, and UASSET. Substance Painter is a powerful tool that can paint and bake textures and materials on 3D models, and export them as SBSAR, UASSET, or other formats compatible with popular 3D software and engines. Additionally, FBX Converter is a free tool that can convert FBX files (which can contain both geometry and materials) to different versions or formats, such as OBJ, DAE, or 3DS.

4 Best practices

When sharing and exporting your custom materials to other 3D software or platforms, you should follow some best practices to ensure the quality and consistency of your materials. PBR materials, which stands for Physically Based Rendering, are more realistic and compatible than non-PBR materials. Additionally, using relative paths instead of absolute paths is more portable and flexible since they can work on different devices or systems without breaking the links between files. Compression and optimization can reduce the file size and improve the performance of your materials, but they should be used with caution since they can also affect the appearance or functionality of your materials.

5 Sharing tips

To share custom materials to other 3D software or platforms effectively and efficiently, consider using online platforms such as Substance Source, Quixel Megascans, and CGTrader. Utilize standard formats like MTL, PNG, and JPG for increased accessibility and compatibility. Moreover, include documentation and metadata like the name, author, license, source, parameters, usage, or limitations to help users understand and use your materials correctly.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?