Substance 3D Stager, released in 2021, is an application for scene layout and rendering. It is designed for both designers and 3D professionals and aims to provide an intuitive workflow for creating photorealistic brand visualizations and product mockups. Users can compose scenes using physics-based tools for object placement and choose from libraries of ready-made materials and "environment stages" that simulate real studio lighting.

The main new feature of Substance 3D Stager 3.0 is the Generative Background, a new system for adding a background to the scene without the need to search for suitable stock images. It is based on Firefly, Adobe's set of tools for generative artificial intelligence, and allows users to create a background by entering a simple text description. Users can customize the result by choosing presets for color, tone, lighting, and composition, with Stager generating four image options to choose from. Then, the Match Image system automatically adjusts the perspective to match the camera's perspective and adjusts the scene's lighting to match the image.

Stager automatically attaches Adobe Content Credentials to assets created with Firefly, indicating in the metadata that they are generated by artificial intelligence. The update also adds an interactive "noise reducer" when editing scenes in Design mode, allowing for faster high-quality previews in the viewport. Additionally, the real-time rendering engine now handles transparency better, displaying refractions when rendering objects such as glass, plastic, and liquids. Among other new features are tools for creating 3D text and physical lighting. As for existing features, the "Select" tool has been redesigned with a "screen-oriented bounding box" to simplify composition at narrower angles. Additionally, the ability to group cameras and save user scenes as templates has been added.

Substance 3D Stager 3.0 is currently in beta stage. Adobe has not yet announced the final release date. The current stable release, Substance 3D Stager 2.1, is available for Windows 10 and above and macOS 11.0 and above. The software is now available only through subscription; Adobe discontinued the old perpetual Steam license earlier this year. It is available as part of the Adobe Substance 3D Collection subscription, which costs $49.99 per month or $549.88 per year for individuals and $1198.88 per year for studios.