For independent 3D artists and hobbyists, Material Maker proves beneficial due to broad adaptability and the ‘pay what you want’ model. Advanced users and professional teams prefer the robust Substance Designer for a more comprehensive suite of tools and refined texturing capabilities.

Material Maker vs Substance Designer

Key Differences Between Material Maker and Substance Designer

  • Coding: Material Maker uses a nodes-based system, with GLSL shaders for material creation. Substance Designer supports loops repetition within Substance Function Graphs.
  • Cost: Material Maker operates on a ‘pay as you wish’ model whereas Substance Designer has a license cost, offered at $19.99/month or $219.88/year, with a different pricing for Linux users.
  • Interoperability: Material Maker is compatible with Godot, Unity, Unreal Engine whereas Substance Designer directly compatible with Unreal Engine and provides Substance Engine 9 for import flexibility across other platforms.
  • Community: Both platforms encourage community engagement and user support, with Material Maker having an open source presence on GitHub.
Comparison MaterialMaker Adobe Substance 3D Designer
Base Engine Godot Engine Substance Engine 9
Operating System Availability Windows, Linux, MacOS Windows, MacOS, Ubuntu
Key Features Procedural materials authoring, 3D model painting, texture generation engine, painting engine Material-authoring, 2D shapes manipulation, pattern creation and scattering control
Learning Support Online Documentation, Subreddit and Discord server Home Screen – tutorials, project settings
Model Types Custom models in .OBJ format N/A – toolset for model graphs removed entirely
Pricing ‘Pay what you want’ model $149.99 via Steam; subscription – $19.99/month or $219.88/year via Adobe’s Substance 3D subscriptions, Linux: $1,198.88/year
Product Integration Able to work in conjunction with other rendering platforms Substance Painter and Substance Designer part of Adobe’s Substance 3D Collection for enhanced usability
User Level Options from beginners to advanced users Aimed at professional/enthusiast level: AAA Game Developers, Indies, Feature Animation, Visual Effects studios
Community Contributions Contribution to project through code submitting on Github is possible Limited information

What Is Material Maker and Who’s It For?

Material Maker is a procedural materials authoring and 3D model painting tool packed with features like texture generation and painting engines. It corresponds with various game engines including Godot, Unity, and Unreal. This tech, available on Windows, Linux, macOS, is used by developers for creating a range of materials and textures, such as static/dynamic PBR material and raymarching material. Its ‘Pay what you want’ model emphasizes on community contribution.

The software is ideal for indie developers, 3D modelers and rendering platform users who are proficient in GLSL shaders and willing to contribute to the project’s codebase on Github.

Colorful workshop scene with a developer working on Material Maker

Pros of Material Maker

  • Compatible with leading game engines like Godot, Unity, and Unreal
  • Community-driven software with open-source code available on GitHub
  • Vast node library for texture creation and transformation.

Cons of Material Maker

  • Requires knowledge in GLSL shaders
  • For Unreal 4, manual setup of the material is necessary.

What Is Adobe Substance 3D Designer and Who’s It For?

Part of Adobe’s Substance 3D Package, Adobe Substance 3D Designer, is a material-authoring tool known for its ability to curate meshes and generate exceptional tiling textures. The software, recently updated to version 13.0, introduces a range of new features including Spline and Path tools for 2D shapes manipulation.

Suitable for 3D professionals, enthusiasts, game developers, and those in feature animation or visual effects studios, the software comes with a price range catering to individual and corporate uses.

Colorful office setting with a professional designing materials in Adobe Substance 3D Designer

Pros of Adobe Substance 3D Designer

  • New features for 2D shapes manipulation
  • Popularity among professional game developers
  • Makes textures compatible with any engine imported.

Cons of Adobe Substance 3D Designer

  • $1,198.88/year Creative Cloud Plan for Teams required for Linux edition
  • Limited 3D models authoring.

Material Maker vs Adobe Substance 3D Designer: Pricing

While Material Maker adopts a ‘Pay what you want’ model, Adobe Substance 3D Designer operates on both subscription and perpetual license basis with prices starting at $19.99 a month and $149.99 respectively.

Material Maker

Material Maker employs a ‘Pay-what-you-want’ approach to support their project. This flexible pricing model enables users to contribute any amount they feel comfortable giving. Apart from this, the source code is freely available on GitHub, offering unrestricted access for tech enthusiasts. Features such as PaintCube’s text post-editing version are priced separately at $50/year. Overall, the development team encourages contributions through Patreon backing with additional Discord benefits.

Adobe Substance 3D Designer

Adobe Substance 3D Designer has a more fixed pricing strategy. Single licenses come at a heftier price of $149.99 via Steam, providing access to their powerful material authoring software. Subscription packages are also available for $19.99/month or $219.88/year, which are inclusive of updates until the end of 2023 when subscribed through Adobe’s Substance 3D. A Linux edition commands a high yearly price of $1,198.88, subject to having an existing Creative Cloud Plan for Teams. Furthermore, Substance 3D Painter and Substance Designer, essential components for professional usages, are offered as part of the Substance 3D Collection.

Substance Designer or Material Maker – The Final Call

Between the realms of procedural material authoring, two titans hold the throne. Let us dissect this duality for various audience segments.

Hobbyists and Budget-Conscious Developers

In a world where every dime counts, Material Maker shines like a beacon. Free and open source, it still boasts impressive features such as GLSL shader use and compatibility with multiple game engines. This tool is well suited to those embarking on a journey in material authoring without breaking the bank.

Budget-focused indie developer zealously exploring Material Maker

Hardcore Programmers & Coding Enthusiasts

For those who live and breathe code, Material Maker’s open source nature and GitHub accessible source code make it a playground for programmers. It allows for direct project contribution and customisation, punctuating its allure for coding enthusiasts.

Involved programmer contributing to Material Maker's GitHub repository

Professionals Needing Robust Toolset & Major Game Developers

An unrivaled comprehensive and robust toolset gives Substance Designer the edge for professionals. Its broad array of advanced features, such as Spline and Path tool integration, places it a cut above. With licensing costs that are justified by the feature set, it trumps for high-end 3D game development.

AAA Game developer intricately using Substance Designer's comprehensive tools

Cosmopolites & Polyglots

Substance Designer, with its multilingual support, is the go-to solution for non-English speakers. With editions in French, Italian, and Portuguese, it promotes inclusivity and accessibility in the global arena.

Multilingual developer utilizing Substance Designer's French edition

In the contest of Substance Designer versus Material Maker, the former reigns supreme for professionals seeking comprehensive tools and global language support. The latter fares well for budget-focused individuals and code enthusiasts, breathing life to their creativity sans hefty tags. This dichotomy aligns the tools with specific audience needs, painting a vivid picture of the perfect fit.

Grant Sullivan

Content writer @ Aircada and self proclaimed board game strategist by day, AI developer by night.

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