Widely used by gaming and animation studios, Marvelous Designer allows artists to create 3D clothing in a way that mimics real-life garment construction, by stitching virtual 2D patterns together. Users can import an animated character model, drape clothing onto it, and then export the result back into 3D applications in formats like Alembic, FBX, or USD. Alternatively, the output can be in the form of OBJ sequences or as a cache in Maya, PC2, or MDD formats. This workflow streamlines the process of creating realistic 3D apparel for digital characters, enhancing both the creative and technical aspects of production.
Marvelous Designer 2024.2 improves the accuracy of the software's simulation system, which models how clothing fits on a 3D avatar under the influence of gravity. GPU-based simulations now match the collision precision of CPU-based ones, particularly accounting for multiple clothing layers. Additionally, smaller details like buttons and patches, which are not part of the main garment, now also collide during the simulation. This update enhances realism by allowing for more detailed and accurate clothing interactions in 3D environments, a crucial feature for animators and game developers working with complex garments.
The Pinching feature in Marvelous Designer now supports soft selection during simulation, enabling more intuitive control over the garment’s fit on the avatar. This addition allows users to make more precise adjustments to the clothing’s form, ensuring it behaves more naturally during animation and rendering. Furthermore, the Thickness function now allows users to define extrusion directions when exporting the mesh, providing greater control over the garment's depth and appearance in other 3D applications.
Additionally, the GoZ plugin, which facilitates data exchange between Marvelous Designer and ZBrush, has been updated to support the latest versions of both applications, streamlining workflows for artists who work between digital clothing design and sculpture creation.
Marvelous Designer 2024.2 is available for Windows 10 and above, as well as macOS 12.0 and later. The software is offered via subscription only. The personal subscription costs $39 per month or $280 annually. Corporate subscriptions are priced at $199 per month or $1,900 per year for node-locked licenses, with floating licenses available for $2,000 per year.