Generative AI in 3D Workflows: Substance Stager’s Transformative New Tools
Why Stager 3.1 Is the Next Big Step for Artists Looking to Streamline Their Process
The thing that I've heard most often from 3D artists when talking about generative AI is that they want to be able to handle the parts of the creative process that they need to control and allow AI to do the rest. They want the freedom to focus on the elements that matter most—the ones that require their expertise and creative vision—while letting AI handle the repetitive, tedious, or secondary tasks.
With the release of Substance Stager 3.1, Adobe’s Substance 3D team has delivered an update that takes an exciting step toward meeting that demand. By integrating generative AI tools with a flexible, artist-driven workflow, this update empowers 3D creators to maintain control where it counts while leveraging AI to enhance efficiency and creativity.
Disclosure
Full disclosure: I work for Adobe, specifically on the Substance 3D team. They pay me to do that work, and I use that money to buy cool things like The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding Civilization, which I highly recommend (It’s not sponsor of this newsletter…but I’m hyping it up anyway!).
That said, Adobe didn’t ask me to write this, and I’m under no obligation to promote it. I’m sharing this because I genuinely think it’s a cool update. Honestly, I’d write about this even if it were a competitor’s tool. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s dive into what makes this release so exciting.
The Balance Between Control and Automation
The new workflow introduces a way to use 3D objects to guide generative AI outputs. This means you can model, texture, and fine-tune your key elements—the most important hero objects—while letting AI handle the supporting environment. Imagine locking your hero object into place and allowing AI to generate the scene around it, based on your instructions.
For 3D artists, this is transformative. It means you can focus on the parts of your project that require precision and artistry, leaving the less critical elements to AI. This balance between control and automation is exactly what many artists have been asking for.
How It Works
Here’s how the process comes together
:
Create Your Hero Objects
Start by modeling, texturing, and fine-tuning your hero object. Whether it’s a product prototype, character model, or fashion garment, you can rely on your standard 3D workflow to achieve the exact look you need.Set Up Proxy Objects
Populate your scene with proxy objects that act as placeholders. These can be basic primitives, stock 3D models, or even new models generated with Stager’s text-to-3D feature.Define Roles
Specify which objects are untouchable (your hero elements) and which are guides for the AI.Add Your Prompts
Enter text prompts to shape the generative AI output. Adjust controls like color matching to further customize the final image. For added precision, you can assign basic colors to your proxy objects to influence the palette of the generated scene.Generate the Scene
Firefly, Adobe’s generative AI engine, interprets your setup and generates a cohesive image that incorporates your hero objects while creating a rich environment around them.
Here’s my full tutorial:
Text-to-3D Models: Functional, Not Perfect
Stager 3.1’s text-to-3D feature lets you quickly generate placeholder models for your scene. While these models aren’t production-ready, they serve their purpose well in this workflow. Since they’re only used as guides for the generative AI, their lack of detail or polish isn’t an issue. This feature reduces the time spent sourcing or creating secondary elements, enabling you to build scenes faster.
Why It Matters
For concept development, marketing imagery, or even prototyping, this workflow can significantly reduce the time and effort required to create a finished scene. Instead of getting bogged down in details that aren’t central to your vision, you can focus on the creative aspects that matter most.
Best of all, the workflow is adaptable. Use generative AI sparingly to enhance specific details, or lean on it heavily during the concept phase to explore ideas quickly. It’s entirely up to you.
Room for Improvement
Is this a perfect solution? No.
Does it still lack the control I want like consistency from generation to generation and lighting controls? You know it!
Does it still give you some janky AI output? Fo Sho.
But what’s exciting here is the potential. This workflow represents a step toward integrating AI as a true creative collaborator—one that helps you work faster without sacrificing your artistic voice.
Looking Ahead
The Substance Stager 3.1 update showcases the future of 3D workflows, blending human creativity with AI efficiency. It’s not about replacing artists but empowering them to do more in less time. For those willing to experiment with these tools, the possibilities are vast.
Again, I’ve created a tutorial that details this workflow. It's worth watching if you’re curious to see it in action or just want to laugh at my inevitable missteps.
Whether you’re excited about generative AI or still on the fence, this update is a fascinating glimpse of what’s to come. For me, it’s not just about what Stager 3.1 offers today; it’s about the direction we’re headed as an industry.
Happy creating!
The 3D Artist Community Updates
We are thrilled to have Debra Coleman as our next AMA guest in the 3DAC! Debra is an ICF-accredited coach with 25+ years in VFX, including as Global Head of Compositing at DNEG. Founder of Open Frame Coaching and Lead With Ease, she helps VFX professionals. A single parent of twins and advocate for women in tech, Debra is also a director for Animated Women UK.
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Hello! Michael Tanzillo here. I am the Head of Technical Artists with the Substance 3D Growth team at Adobe. Previously, I was a Senior Artist on animated films at Blue Sky Studios/Disney with credits including three Ice Age movies, two Rios, Peanuts, Ferdinand, Spies in Disguise, and Epic.
In addition to his work as an artist, I am the Co-Author of the book Lighting for Animation: The Visual Art of Storytelling and the Co-Founder of The Academy of Animated Art, an online school that has helped hundreds of artists around the world begin careers in Animation, Visual Effects, and Digital Imaging. I also created The 3D Artist Community on Skool and this newsletter.
www.michaeltanzillo.com
Free 3D Tutorials on the Michael Tanzillo YouTube Channel
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