Lena Rivera
Adobe Substance 3D Painter is a popular tool for rendering 3D models. While the software typically renders images with a grey background, it is possible to render images with a transparent background. This can be achieved by exporting the image in a file format that supports transparency, such as PNG. Users can also try making the background black, and the material full white in emissive, disabling all post-processing, and using the result as an alpha mask.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| File Format | PNG or any format that supports transparency (JPG doesn't support alphas) |
| Output Template | Document channels + Normal + AO (With Alpha) |
| Padding | Dilation + Transparent |
| Alternative Workaround | Make the background black, and the material full white in emissive, disable all post-process, make a screenshot and use it as an alpha mask |
| Alternative Workaround | Render in Substance Designer |
| Alternative Workaround | Make it a RGBA Merge node in Substance Designer, then connect all the dots, then export that node |
| Alternative Workaround | Bake only the Normal Maps without diffusion (Dilation, padding, etc), export this Normal Map to Photoshop, change the color layer to white, create a black background layer. Export this image that'll be your opacity map |
| Alternative Workaround | Hit the PrintScreen key on your keyboard, open Microsoft Paint, press ctrl+v to paste your screen capture, use the selection box tool to select just the viewport render and click crop, save image |
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What You'll Learn
Use the Document channels + Alpha preset
To render without a background in Substance Painter, one workaround is to use the "Document channels + Alpha" preset. This preset allows you to export your work with a transparent background. Here's how you can do it:
- Go to the Export Window: Navigate to the export window in Substance Painter. This is where you will find the output templates and make adjustments to your export settings.
- Create a New Preset: In the output templates tab, create a new preset. This will allow you to customize your export settings specifically for transparent backgrounds.
- Set Output Template: Choose the "Document channels + Alpha" preset or a similar variation like "Document Channel + Normal + AO (With Alpha)." This preset is designed to work with transparent backgrounds.
- Adjust Padding: Change the padding setting to "Dilation + Transparent." This ensures that your exported image will have a transparent background instead of a solid color.
- Select PNG Format: Make sure to save your file in a format that supports transparency, such as PNG. Other formats like JPG do not support alpha channels, so the background will be visible.
- Drag and Drop Channels: Depending on your specific needs, you might need to drag and drop the RGB and Alpha channels. This step may vary depending on the version of Substance Painter you are using.
- Export and Review: Finally, export your work and check if the background is transparent. You can open the exported file in an image editor to confirm that the background is indeed transparent.
By following these steps and utilizing the "Document channels + Alpha" preset, you can render your work in Substance Painter without a background, allowing for more flexibility in your projects and the ability to composite your creations onto different backgrounds.
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Duplicate height to normal maps
In Substance Painter, details added to the height map will also impact the normal map that is exported. This is because the default export for normal is the dual normal combined with the height. This means that the height is converted to a normal and then added to the normal. However, it is possible to change the output so that the normal is exported without the height combined.
To duplicate height to normal maps, you can use the height channel to add height details. This is easier than working with normal maps. You can also add a Height to Normal filter to your layer. To do this, click on the Magic Wand icon and add a filter. Then, click on "Filter" in the Properties section and search for "height". This will allow you to export your maps with the height detail baked into the normal map.
It is important to note that a height map is not the same as a displacement map. A height map is synonymous with a bump map, while a displacement map is generated by computing the difference between a low-res and high-res sculpt in a program like Zbrush or Mudbox. Substance Painter does not have sculpting tools and therefore cannot generate displacement maps. Instead, it generates maps through painting techniques.
When exporting maps in Substance Painter, it is important to bake a normal map before exporting to ensure that the height maps are converted to normal maps. If you do not have an actual normal map channel, the export will be blank.
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Change the converted map slot
To change the converted map slot in Substance Painter, you can follow these steps:
- Go to the export window's output templates tab.
- Create a new preset by clicking on the "New Preset" button.
- Set the Output Template to "Document channels + Normal + AO (With Alpha)"" or create an "RGB+A map", depending on the software version and your specific needs.
- Change the converted map slot to the desired setting. For example, for a transparent background, choose "2D View" from the converted maps slot. For normal maps, you can change the converted map slot to "Normal DirectX" or "OpenGL".
- Drag and drop the new preset onto the RGB and Alpha channels.
- If necessary, adjust the texture naming preset and change the padding to "Dilation + Transparent".
- Ensure your file format supports transparency, such as PNG.
By following these steps, you can modify the converted map slot to achieve the desired output, such as a transparent background or specific normal map settings.
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Save as a PNG
To save your work as a PNG file with a transparent background in Substance Painter, you can follow these steps:
Firstly, open the export window and navigate to the output templates tab. Here, you will need to create a new preset by selecting "Document Channels + Alpha" or "Document channels + Normal + AO (With Alpha)". This will ensure that the exported file has a transparent background.
Next, adjust the padding settings by selecting "Dilation + Transparent". This step is crucial to achieving a transparent background.
After configuring these settings, you can proceed to save your work. Press the "Save Render" button and choose the PNG format from the dropdown menu. This will allow you to save your rendered image with a transparent background.
It is important to note that certain templates may not support processing alpha channels. In such cases, you might need to explore alternative methods, such as using an alpha mask or exporting your work in a format that inherently supports transparency, like PNG.
Additionally, if you are experiencing issues with a transparent background in Painter specifically, there is a workaround. You can make your background black and your material full white in emissive, disable all post-processing, and then use the resulting screenshot as an alpha mask. However, this method may not work if post-processing is required after applying the alpha.
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Use Substance Designer
To render without a background in Substance Painter, you can use Substance Designer. This is a separate software within the Adobe Substance 3D suite.
To do this, you need to create a new preset in the export window's output templates tab. Create an RGB+A map and go to the "Converted maps" slot. Choose "2D View" and drag and drop it onto the RGB and Alpha channels. This will give you a transparent background for your textures.
You can also try making the background black and the material full white in emissive, disabling all post-processing, and using the result as an alpha mask. However, this method may not work if the post-process needs to be applied after alpha.
Another workaround is to render your image as a PNG or TGA file, which are rendered with an Alpha channel that blocks out the background. You can then load them into an image editor, transfer the alpha channel to a layer mask, and delete the layer mask.
Finally, you can use the IRAY rendering mode in Substance Painter to turn off the background visibility, leaving your model against a grey void but still receiving lighting.
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Frequently asked questions
To render an image without a background, you need to save the image as a PNG or any other format that supports transparency. In the export window, go to the output templates tab and create a new preset. Create an RGB+A map and choose "2D View" from the "Converted maps" slot. Drag and drop it onto the RGB and Alpha channels.
Press the 'PrintScreen' key on your keyboard, open Microsoft Paint, and press ctrl+v to paste your screen capture. Use the selection box tool to select the viewport render and click crop, then save the image.
Bake only the Normal Maps without diffusion. Export this Normal Map to Photoshop, change the colour layer to white, and create a black background layer. Export this image, and it will be your opacity map.
