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3D-Coat Changelog

What's new in 3D-Coat 2024.12

Feb 27, 2024
  • Live Booleans with Voxels Introduced! It includes Add, Subtract and Intersect modes, even with complex child objects, and the performance is surprisingly good
  • Vector Displacement Brush support was added via a small library of VDM Brushes, provided in various VDM Brush subfolders within the “Alphas” panel. VDM EXR files can be imported into the “Alphas” panel the same way like standard greyscale brushes.
  • Vector Displacement Creation tool, named “Pick & Paste,” was added to allow artists a quick and super convenient way to extract the shape of almost any surface of an existing object in the scene. You don’t have to go through the tedious process of making a plane, then sculpting the desired object from scratch, like in other applications. You can use the Pick & Paste tool to make VDM brushes from whatever models where you have rights.
  • Layers Masks + Clipping Masks have been implemented similar to and compatible with Photoshop’s. It even works with Vertex Paint, VerTexture (Factures) and Voxel Paint!
  • Ongoing & Incremental UI Improvements continue with various efforts to improve the visual appearance (with better Font readability, spacing, and customization), plus helpful new features added to the UI.
  • Python projects with multiple modules supported.
  • The Addons system introduced to connect Python/C++ scripts developers and users. It allows easy sharing of the scripts, providing instructions, and finding information. Some useful addons included, for example, the realistic destruction with random cracks - "Break mesh with cracks" addon.
  • Blender 4 support improved via updated AppLink.
  • AI Assistant (3DCoat's specialized Chat GPT) introduced and the UI color scheme toggle placed into the start menu.
  • Long-awaited Scene Scale Master tool implemented for more accurate Scene Scale fidelity between applications upon Import or Export.
  • A new "Edge Flow“ tool in the Modeling Room allows users to add adjustable levels of curvature (to a selected Edge-loop) between surrounding geometry.
  • The View Gizmo introduced. It can be turned off in settings.
  • UV management over Python/C++ substantially improved
  • Export for 3D Printing, for opening in Cura, updated
  • Layers now have a Texture Map preview thumbnail (similar to Photoshop and other applications)

New in 3D-Coat 2023.10 (Mar 28, 2023)

  • Sketch tool inproved:
  • Enhancements to the Sketch tool make it more robust for quickly creating high-quality Hard Surface objects; including better performance and stability.
  • Multi-level resolution:
  • We introduced a new system for a Multi-Resolution workflow. It fully supports Sculpt Layers, Displacement and even PBR Textures. The Retopo mesh can be used as the lowest Resolution (Subdivision) level. 3DCoat will automatically create multiple intermediate levels in the process. You can rapidly step up and down the individual Subdivision levels and see your edits stored (throughout all levels) in the selected Sculpt Layer.
  • Tree-Leaves generator:
  • The recently added Trees Generator tool now has the possibility to generate Leaves, also. You can add your own leaf types, sculpt the shape if needed, and export all this as an FBX file.
  • Timelapse recorder:
  • A Time-lapse Screen-Recording tool has been added, which records your work at a specified interval by smoothly moving the camera and then converting it to a video.
  • Surface mode speed improvements:
  • The subdivision of Surface mode meshes has been sped up significantly (5x at least, using the Res+ command). It is possible to subdivide models even to 100-200M.
  • Paint tools:
  • A new tool called Power Smooth has been added. It is a Super-powerful, valence/density independent, screen-based color smoothing tool. Paint tools were also added into Sculpt room to simplify painting over the surface/voxels.
  • Volumetric color:
  • Volumetric color completely supported everywhere, where the surface painting works, even light baking supported and conditions.
  • Modeling workspace improvements:
  • A new Lattice tool has been added to the Modeling room. Soft Selection/Transform (in Vertex mode) is also introduced in the Retopo/Modeling workspaces.
  • IGES export introduced:
  • The Export of meshes in IGES format has been enabled (this functionality is available temporarily, for testing and then will be released as a separate Extra Module for an additional cost).
  • Import/Export enhansmants:
  • The Auto-Export toolset has been improved significantly and offers a really powerful and convenient asset creation workflow. It includes possibility to export assets directly to Blender with PBR textures and better compatibility and optimizations for UE5 game engine and more.

New in 3D-Coat 2022.52 (Nov 22, 2022)

  • Multiresolution for the surface sculpting - You may add lower multiresolution level even if it does not exist, the decimation or retopology (manual or automatic) may be used to add the lower multiresolution level
  • Sketch tool substantially improved - it is easy to create a model by drawing in three projections
  • Painting - Superpowerful, valence/density independent screen-based color smoothing added to the Paint room. Paint tools appeared in Sculpt room to simplify painting over the surface/voxels
  • Volumetric painting and color completely supported - true volumetric painting, mimicking real world textures and thickness, works correctly with PBR
  • Import-Export - Easy automated Export of multiple assets to Blender and UE5 without manual retopo and UV mapping
  • UV - A major UV/Auto-UV mapping update: better quality, an important Join clusters tool added
  • UI - Possibility to create your own color UI themes (in Preferences->Theme) and recall them from Window->UI color scheme->... The default and gray themes included there
  • Blender Applink - Blender applink essentially updated. Sculpt objects covered by Factures can now be transferred to Blender via AppLink. This is a HUGE step!
  • Export of meshes as IGES format enabled - (this functionality is open till the end of 2022 and then will be available as an Extra Module for additional cost)
  • Moulding tool in the Undercuts - The Moulding Tool allows you to easily create Casting Mould 3D Models (this functionality is open till the end of 2022 and then will be available as an Extra Module for additional cost)

New in 3D-Coat 2022.16 (May 2, 2022)

  • Much Faster Voxel and Surface Sculpting to work with scenes of tens millions of triangles
  • Auto-Retopo Improved - Better quality for organic and hard-surface models
  • New Voxel Brush Engine Added - New paradigm with voxel brushes
  • New Alphas Collection - More convenient to create complex surfaces and reliefs
  • New Core API - Provides deep access to the 3DCoat's core at the full native C++ speed
  • Bevel Tool - A new tool to work with edges and corners on the model

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.74 (Jun 22, 2021)

  • Sculpt layers are included in this build, but you should enable it in Edit->Preferences

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.74 Beta (Jun 15, 2021)

  • The "Beta tools" trial extended.
  • Stencils for Pose tool work correctly.

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.73 Beta (Jun 14, 2021)

  • The "Beta tools" trial extended.
  • Stencils for Pose tool work correctly.

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.71 Beta (Mar 15, 2021)

  • Seams problem for shaders solved (when you load bump map for shader).
  • Sculpt layers are included in this build, but you should enable it in Edit->Preferences

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.68 (Dec 3, 2020)

  • Sculpt layers are included in this build, but you should enable it in Edit->Preferences

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.66 (Nov 18, 2020)

  • Fixed FBX UV-set importing problem (bot usual, rare problem).
  • HSV control corrected to achieve true black color if need.
  • If the pen created from the TIFF/PNG/PSD the zero-depth will be taken from the corner of the picture instead of using RGB(127,127,127)
  • Fixed symmetry and stencil in paint tools.
  • Symmetrical copy corrected.
  • Opacity in color map taken into account in smart materials.

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.65 (Oct 4, 2020)

  • Better visualization of the currently selected element - pen, stencis, material, shader...
  • Names of smart materials in materials list.
  • Fixed crash - rename shaders folder.
  • Cylinder primitive UI corrected.
  • Fixed stencil & cutoff issue with transformed volumes.
  • Fixed Freeze in polygon mode issue (dependence on radius)
  • Fixed crash during the panorama loading

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.64 (Sep 28, 2020)

  • Solved possible crash during the scene opening (rare).

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.64 Beta (Sep 28, 2020)

  • Solved possible crash during the scene opening (rare).

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.59 (Sep 1, 2020)

  • Pivot option - rotate around the camera origin.
  • Fixed ghost & autosave problem.
  • Fixed sphere tool "From start point" issue
  • Symmetry & lasso drawing with symmetry working correctly.

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.57 (Aug 19, 2020)

  • Sculpt layers are included in this build, but you should enable it in Edit->Preferences

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.55 (Jul 20, 2020)

  • Correct job of Sketch tool, correct interaction of sketch with new curves.
  • Correct move for move in voxel move when there is no immediate voxelization.
  • Correct support of selected volumes during Sculpt booleans. 3D-Coat tries to keep selection unchanged whenever possible.
  • I hope Activity finally fixed

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.54 (Jul 7, 2020)

  • Activity bar disappearing fixed (I hope this time finally)
  • Possibility to disable axial translation bars.
  • Fixed freeze with empty STL.

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.53 (Jul 6, 2020)

  • fixed color control issue.
  • Activity bar disappearing fixed

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.52 (Jul 1, 2020)

  • Sculpt layers are included in this build, but you should enable it in Edit->Preferences

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.49 (Jun 10, 2020)

  • Unhide with CTRL+lasso problem fixed.
  • Possibility to turn off hard-coded keys assignment to gizmo (QWER). See the Preferences->Tools.
  • Gamma inverted in Textures->Adjust->Gamma for similarity with other applications.
  • Cavity/AO baking user settings stored for re-usage later (into XML-s)
  • Text-based STL import problem fixed.
  • Occlusion dialog got gamma correction control.

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.48 Beta (Jun 7, 2020)

  • Fixed freeze+holes problem.
  • Fill tool got an important option - limit the expansion by the angle between faces.
  • New options in preferences for AO/Curvature layers - calculate default values/ask with dialog/skip calculation.

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.47 Beta (Jun 4, 2020)

  • Sculpt layers are included in this build, but you should enable it in Edit->Preferences

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.46 Beta (May 30, 2020)

  • Fixed lag after navigation when Incremental render used in sculpt room. It resulted with better sculpting performance on high-poly meshes (50M+).
  • Fixed warp/bend/twist preview. Now it works over selected only.
  • Modulate/Modulate 2X handles masking by layer correctly.
  • Transform gizmo got possibility to separate (if need) scale, rotate, translation using keys (QWER) or droplist.

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.45 Beta (May 25, 2020)

  • Sculpt layers are included in this build, but you should enable it in Edit->Preferences

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.44 Beta (May 17, 2020)

  • Sculpt layers are included in this build, but you should enable it in Edit->Preferences

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.43 Beta (May 12, 2020)

  • Sculpt layers are included in this build, but you should enable it in Edit->Preferences

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.42 Beta (May 6, 2020)

  • Z-up option restored.
  • Much better quality of "Expand/tie off" for patches and tubes for curves modifiers.
  • Factures rendering corrected.

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.41 Beta (May 5, 2020)

  • 3D-printing friendly mode in start thumbnail.
  • Catmull-Clark subdivision in retopo room. Two different commands - "Subdivide selected" and "Subdivide whole group". Enable in preferences, Beta tools.
  • Edit->Preferences reorganized, Beta section moved to own tab.
  • Optional "Factures" room - may be turned ON in Edit->Prefs->Beta
  • Possibility to set a special folder just for textures in the export dialog.
  • Smooth, SHIFT, CTRL+SHIFT smoothing options supported in Voxel mode in the surface section.
  • Click on Downgrade/Restore will not cache/uncache immediately to avoid unintended action.
  • SHIFT and CTRL+SHIFT mechanism changed in Sculpt room to prevent incorrect CTRL+SHIFT action.
  • Fixed "Geometry->Weld vertices". Not it does not corrupt meshes even if mesh structure is wrong. It allows to use this command as "mesh healer" if mesh becomes corrupt.
  • Speed-up for the "Remove strenching" lag at the end of stroke.
  • Fixed brushing in surface mode over transformed volumes.
  • Correct displacement painting (in paint room) for transformed volumes.
  • Previewing (and other visual) problems of Tapering tool solved.
  • No pen controls in Primitives/Transform/Bas-relief/Undercuts tools (was distracting and unnecessary)
  • Constructor tool UI problems solved (too big icons).

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.38 Beta (Apr 15, 2020)

  • Solved problem of jagged line with spline stroke painting.
  • Fixed hints issue (over drop-down items)

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.38 Beta (Apr 15, 2020)

  • Restored "Align to view" in the transform gizmo
  • Fixed situation when scene becomes invisible during AUTOPO
  • Correct job of "Spikes" tool with model profiles. "One segment" and "Embed ends" for the "Spikes" tool
  • Fixed Merge down issue for layers filled with materials with semitransparent dirt. Also AO layer does not overwrite bottom layers opacity
  • Fixed shadows issue (in voxels mode)

New in 3D-Coat 4.9.37 (Apr 15, 2020)

  • Move tool speedup 5-8x, Shift tool recovered, "Ignore back faces" disabled by default for the Shift tool
  • "Voxeloze immediately" option in Move tool. This option allows to postpone voxelization, do it after multiple moves, not immediately
  • Removed unnecessary autosave.tempfile* items from the Autosave menu
  • Analysed crash reports, fixed several unsafe code pieces

New in 3D-Coat 4.0.04B (Mar 25, 2014)

  • Texture baking tool - possibility to project current mesh on another and get textures of normals, color and specular.
  • Importing normalmap. It does not displace geometry, but creates a new layer with corresponding blending.
  • Smooth stroke - allows you to make smooth and accurate strokes.

New in 3D-Coat 3.00.07 (Jun 26, 2009)

  • Voxel sculpting allows you sculpt without any topological constraints and make complex details from nothing! You can change topology as you wish. This approach gives you an absolute feeling of freedom in sculpting. It is not based on surface deformation but on volume building and filling. Feel like a true artist here, don't think about polygons and structure, just express yourself as an artist! 3D-Coat V3 supports NVIDIA's CUDA™ technology which considerably accelerates volumetric sculpting performance.
  • Per pixel painting – fast and precise painting approach. Allows layered color and displacement painting over low-poly and high poly-meshes without initial geometry distortion. With this method you can paint directly on your mesh to a texture map, this is ideal for low-poly game assets. You can import a normalmap to use as a guide.
  • Improved retopology tools. New cap tool allows you to fill holes and finish retopologisation of tales or ends of fingers with just one click!
  • Improved interface. We present new professional customizable interface. Layout is broken on several separate rooms. Each room has own hotkeys set and dockable panels. You can easily store your interface layouts.
  • Improved UV-mapping tools. You can move/rotate/scale individual uv-islands, automatically or manually pack them.
  • Possibility to render your scene with antialiasing, depth of field, ambient occlusion and soft shadows.
  • Customizable scene background – you can use gradient, picture, panorama as a background. Reference image can be attached to any axis.

New in 3D-Coat 3.0 (Jun 26, 2009)

  • Voxel sculpting allows you sculpt without any topological constraints and make complex details from nothing! You can change topology as you wish. This approach gives you an absolute feeling of freedom in sculpting. It is not based on surface deformation but on volume building and filling. Feel like a true artist here, don't think about polygons and structure, just express yourself as an artist! 3D-Coat V3 supports NVIDIA's CUDA™ technology which considerably accelerates volumetric sculpting performance.
  • Per pixel painting – fast and precise painting approach. Allows layered color and displacement painting over low-poly and high poly-meshes without initial geometry distortion. With this method you can paint directly on your mesh to a texture map, this is ideal for low-poly game assets. You can import a normalmap to use as a guide.
  • Improved retopology tools. New cap tool allows you to fill holes and finish retopologisation of tales or ends of fingers with just one click!
  • Improved interface. We present new professional customizable interface. Layout is broken on several separate rooms. Each room has own hotkeys set and dockable panels. You can easily store your interface layouts.
  • Improved UV-mapping tools. You can move/rotate/scale individual uv-islands, automatically or manually pack them.
  • Possibility to render your scene with antialiasing, depth of field, ambient occlusion and soft shadows.
  • Customizable scene background – you can use gradient, picture, panorama as a background. Reference image can be attached to any axis.

New in 3D-Coat 2.04 (Jan 29, 2008)

  • Texture baking tool - possibility to project current mesh on another and get textures of normals, color and specular.
  • Importing normalmap. It does not displace geometry, but creates a new layer with corresponding blending.
  • Smooth stroke - allows you to make smooth and accurate strokes.