Substance 3D Stager, launched in 2021, is an application for staging and rendering images. The app is designed for designers and professional 3D artists, aiming to provide an intuitive workflow for creating photorealistic brand visuals and product mockups. Users can create scenes using physics-based tools to place assets and choose from libraries of pre-made materials and "environment scenes" that simulate real studio lighting.
The update builds on the new generative AI features introduced in Substance 3D Stager 3.0, which added the new Generative Background text-to-image conversion system. In Substance 3D Stager 3.1, users can now use 3D placeholder objects in the scene to control the composition of the generated background image. It is also possible to create background-less images using a similar workflow.
Additionally, a new text-to-3D conversion system has been added, which, as far as known, was first released in either the Adobe app or the Firefly web version—a set of AI creation tools. There is little information in the release notes, and Adobe appears not to have published any raw data images, making it difficult to assess the quality of the generated models. However, the description suggests that they are intended for “background objects and props,” so they likely have a relatively low resolution.
Other changes include the updated "Match Image" feature, which automatically matches the camera angle and lighting of a 3D scene with the background image. This function now creates a 360-degree panoramic environment based on the background image, using it to provide more accurate external lighting and reflections in the scene. Background lighting can be exported in PSD or EXR formats. Workflow enhancements include camera controls in the viewport and a new contextual task panel for quick access to common controls. It is now also possible to render images in JPG format, along with other supported standard file formats, as well as import and export 8K textures in Substance 3D SBSAR materials.
The beta version of Substance 3D Stager 3.1 is compatible with Windows 10 and above, and macOS 12.0 and above. The software is now available by subscription only, as Adobe discontinued the old perpetual Steam license earlier this year. It is available as part of the Adobe Substance 3D Collection subscription, priced at $49.99 per month or $549.88 per year for individuals; $1,198.88 per year for studios.