Mastering Camera Movement In Substance Painter

If you're wondering how to move the camera in Substance Painter, you're not alone. Many users have expressed frustration with the camera controls, describing them as clunky and annoying. To move the camera, you need to hold down Alt and use the mouse buttons and scroll wheel. This method can be confusing and disorienting, especially when trying to navigate tight areas or inside mesh. While functional, the camera controls in Substance Painter are not as intuitive or smooth as those found in other software, such as Blender or Unity.

Press 'Q' then 'W' for WASD movement

To move the camera in Substance Painter, you can use the keyboard shortcut Left Control + Left Alt + Left Mouse Button. However, this method may feel clunky and cumbersome to some users.

An alternative way to navigate the camera in Substance Painter is by replicating the camera controls in Blender. In Blender, you can press Q/W and then use WASD movement to navigate the camera. This method allows for quick and flexible camera movement from nearly any angle and can easily move inside a mesh without issues.

To replicate this camera control setup in Substance Painter, you can try using the same keybindings by pressing Q and then W, followed by the WASD keys for movement. This will enable you to navigate the camera in a similar manner to Blender, providing more fluid and intuitive camera movement within the software.

By utilizing this method of camera navigation, you can efficiently move around your 3D scene and adjust your viewpoint as needed. This can enhance your workflow and provide a more seamless experience when working with Substance Painter.

Hold 'Alt' for camera control

Holding Alt is necessary for camera control in Substance Painter. While some users find this method of camera control clunky, it is possible to get used to it with enough time and practice.

To rotate the camera, hold the left Alt key and the left mouse button. The camera will rotate around the centre of the screen. The exact rotation depends on where you last clicked.

To move the camera, hold the left Alt key, the left Control key, and the left mouse button. This will allow you to move the camera in any direction.

While it is possible to import cameras created in other software into Substance Painter, the default camera control setup requires holding Alt.

Some users prefer the camera controls in software like Blender, which allows for Walk navigation with WASD controls. However, it is possible to get used to the camera controls in Substance Painter with enough practice.

Use 'Shift' + 'middle mouse' to pan

To pan the camera in Substance Painter, you can use the keyboard shortcut Shift + middle mouse button (MMB). This allows you to move the camera around to see the mesh from different sides without rotating or zooming.

While this method of camera control may be useful in some situations, some users have expressed frustration with the lack of a "flight-style" camera control in Substance Painter, similar to what is offered in programs like Unity or Blender. These programs allow for more fluid camera movement using the WASD keys, which can be advantageous when navigating tight spaces within a 3D model.

In Substance Painter, the camera controls are more limited, and users have noted that the Alt key, which is often used for camera movement, can feel awkward and cumbersome. Additionally, there have been reports of technical issues with the middle mouse button, causing unexpected behaviour when attempting to pan or zoom.

Despite these limitations and technical challenges, Substance Painter remains a highly regarded program for 3D painting and texturing. However, improvements in camera navigation could greatly enhance the user experience, particularly when working with complex models that require precise camera positioning.

Scroll wheel to zoom

To zoom in or out in Substance Painter, you can use the scroll wheel on your mouse. This feature can be customized or disabled in the settings, as some users have found it to be overly sensitive.

To invert the scrolling direction, go to Edit > Settings > Camera options > Wheel speed "INVERT". This option is available in Substance Painter 2020.

If you are using Substance 3D Designer, you can hold the Alt key and use the scroll wheel to zoom out. However, note that this may not work in all viewports, and the zoom function may be limited to the 3D viewport.

Additionally, you can use keyboard shortcuts to navigate the camera in Substance Painter. For example, Left Alt + Left Mouse Button allows you to rotate the background, and Left Control + Left Alt + Left Mouse Button moves the camera.

Use 'Left Alt' + 'Left Mouse Button' to move the camera

To move the camera in Substance Painter, you need to hold down the Alt key. Specifically, the Left Alt key, together with the Left Mouse Button, will allow you to move the camera. This is a very different control setup compared to other software, such as Blender, Unity, and Krita, which can take some time to get used to.

Some users have expressed frustration with the camera controls in Substance Painter, describing them as "clunky" and "needlessly complex". The Alt key is not a commonly used key for camera control, and it can be awkward to navigate the camera into tight spots or inside meshes.

However, it is possible to get accustomed to the controls with regular use. One user reported that after a couple of months of regular use, the camera controls became second nature.

It's worth noting that the camera management settings in Substance Painter also allow you to import cameras from other software, such as Maya, Max, Blender, Modo, and DAE. By default, the Painter camera named "Default camera" is selected and is in perspective mode. You can control the cameras in the Viewport by panning, zooming, or rotating, which will switch to the Default camera of Substance Painter.

Frequently asked questions