The Bi-Weekly Substance Challenge (2018 Challenges)

3DKyle · Jan 2018

Hello everyone, welcome to the Bi-Weekly Substance Challenge 2018.

How it works

Every 2 weeks a new reference will be shared to be recreated, you are also encouraged to find your own reference, as long as it still fits the topic for that bi-weekly substance, for example if we share a mud reference, you can gather you own mud reference.

You can be creative with the reference and make it look either realistic, stylized or hand-painted, it is up to you.

Guidelines

Try and give constructive criticism, giving and receiving this should help each of us artist grow.

This is a Substance Challenge, so stick with that software.

You can post Wip's and finished materials here.

Don't share work you've done in the past, if you done a material before, try it again don't try pass old work off as something you did for this.

Final material renders to be rendered in a real-time engine (Marmoset, UE4, Unity, Cryengine, Stingray, IRay is also accepted).

This is a learning experience for all, don't be afraid to ask questions.

Learn all that you can and do share what you also learn.

Please be respectful to each and everyone.

Discord
We have a channel in the Allegorithmic Discord group where you can share WIP's and final images as well as discuss the challenge, Click here to go to it.
If you have any other questions in relations to any of the Allegorithmic's software, use the appropriate channels for those questions.

Resources

Previous Challenges

Challenge 16 - Rail Road || 4th Jan - 18th Jan
Click the images for higher resolutions.

Challenge 17 - Substance Food || 20th of Jan - 3rd Feb
Click the images for higher resolutions.

Here are some tasty substances from other artists to give you that appetite of inspiration.

Alice Gionchetta - Pizza
Stephen Honegger - Fried Egg
Curt Smith - Waffles
Jeff Kleinzweig - Pizza
Thomas Meurisse - Grill and Meat

Challenge 18 - Circuit board || 12th Feb - 26th Feb
Click the images for higher resolutions.

Challenge 19 - Concrete Damaged Floor || 1st March - 15th March
Click the images for higher resolutions.

Challenge 20 - Cassette Tape || 17th March - 31st March
Click the images for higher resolutions.

Challenge 21 - Old Shield || 5th April - 19th April.
Click the images for higher resolutions.

Challenge 22 - Grass || 1st May - 15th May.
Click the images for higher resolutions.

Challenge 23 - Metal Zinc Plates || 27th May - 10th June
Click the images for higher resolutions.

NickWilliams · Mar 2018

Awesome! Yeah, that's one draw to this method, but that just means you'll have to improvise, like the pioneers did.

lucasz · Mar 2018

My current WiP so far - I went off with the second one - seems pretty off from the ref but I like it?

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/2u/bvy6a0m7jivv.jpg

capone · Mar 2018

@NickWilliams

I played around a bit more with your idea tonight and got some cool results, by no means mind blowing but it's interesting. Green is the original generator I created based on your setup, I found by plugging it into a non uniform blur (blue) that it's possible to sort of blur the lines and not blur the holes as much. Then by running that through your usual warps/slopes and levels I was able to get something more natural than my original result. Then plugging it into a histogram at the end (orange) was able to change the size of the holes.

Latest height map with the new cracks blended in at about 50% as well as my original cracks still at 100%. I might just make a variation of these secondary cracks and use that as the main cracks as I do think they are a bit more natural than my original cracks.

NickWilliams · Mar 2018

@capone
Nice! Glad to see ya take your spin on it! You might also try approaching tilting by creating a tilted surface as you normally would, then isolate the edges of that surface, and combine it with the edges of the cracks multiplied on top. Just an idea.

Daniel_Swing · Mar 2018

Cool idea, Nick!

ViniCortez · Mar 2018

Hey guys, here is my first wip

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/us/9qdlmkdk9q4g.png

Daniel_Swing · Mar 2018

I think I'm close to done?

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/0r/lhj3l7rsb2q4.jpg

Daniel_Swing · Mar 2018

@lucasz I feel like your cracks are waaaay too intense and thick.

NickWilliams · Mar 2018

@Daniel_Swing Nailed them material properties! Great job!
@lucasz I agree with Daniel, I'd suggest thinning them a bit more, and running another noise across em via blend, warp, or slope blur. Just to vary it up a bit more. You might also try masking them here and there with some kind of noise and a histogram to select a range.
@ViniCortez Nice break up! I like the balance between cracks/dust/dirt.

Here's what I have going so far... (OpenGL renders for now)

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/tv/2hb88vyxklrd.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/lc/mbgft40anaza.png

lucasz · Mar 2018

@Daniel_Swing - thanks for the input - sadly bringing down the edges kills the flood fill node I use for various things. I will look what I can do else to bring it down!

capone · Mar 2018

Tried making a more stylized version of what I had

ViniCortez · Mar 2018

@NickWilliams thanks! i'm trying to make it more natural as possible

ViniCortez · Mar 2018

Hey guys, i've finished my entry for the Challenge
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Y0WQK

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/zl/60hfqaqqs3n6.png

Daniel_Swing · Mar 2018

Now, I think I'm done. I re-made my crack generation twice since last and added some sand height as well. I felt like my last iteration made the concrete look too thin.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/v3/q7gftif24tk7.jpg

I'll be doing some more renders and then break it down into a micro-tutorial!

@lucasz take a look at this node: https://share.allegorithmic.com/libraries/2119 It's great for tightening up cracks!

@ViniCortez I feel like your cracks and surfaces are a bit too noisy

@capone I think your realistic one was going really well, keep at it and add color!

@NickWilliams it seems like your material is very soft and rounded around the cracks - I get almost a mud-like feeling from it

@ChristopherHenrick sorry that I'm so late at giving you feedback; I think your cracks needs a bit more work, adding edge damage or something like that should work.

NickWilliams · Mar 2018

@Daniel_Swing Thanks! I agree.

capone · Mar 2018

Attempt no3! Sort of combining elements I liked from my previous two versions and taking it up another level. I'm happy with my height map now, more or less.

G43D · Mar 2018

Is there a new challenge? I can't seem to find the challenge channel in Discord.

NickWilliams · Mar 2018

@G43D Keep an eye on the top/first post in this thread. He typically updates the challenge at the end of each cycle. Sometimes it takes a day or two tho.

3DKyle · Mar 2018

Yes normally I'm like a day or two late, even more so if it is a work weekend as got lots of work to do. I'll update it soon.

Daniel_Swing · Mar 2018

Right, I should mention that I posted a blog on my Artstation where I break down how I made my concrete!

Awesome, Kyle! I'll try to get back into these!

Daniel_Swing · Mar 2018

Also, here are some potatoes for the previous challenge!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/1l/5tg392uhwxd2.jpg

3DKyle · Mar 2018

Challenge updated!

capone · Mar 2018

Daniel_Swing said:

Right, I should mention that I posted a blog on my Artstation where I break down how I made my concrete!

That was great, thanks for sharing.

Still need to finish my cracked concrete, I keep adding/experimenting!

The new challenge is really exciting though, I'm already thinking of how to lay it out to fit in a square. I guess upper half is front, lower half is back and maybe a trim that covers sides? I'm thinking of it like a texture map that could actually be used but perhaps this challenge is really just about making something look good? So just the front would be good?

capone · Mar 2018

Calling it a day. Again, not too pleased with it in the end. Didn't really justify the amount of time spent on it (15+ hours inc all versions?). Good learning experience though.

GhostDetector · Mar 2018

This is what I got so far.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/w6/3boehcytz277.png

Zalek4 · Mar 2018

Nice start GhostDetector! Really clean!

Here's my contribution to this thread:

Overall, I'm happy with my results and I may leave it here. If I was to go back and improve something I would try to fix the color bleeding on the sides of the tapes. Any ideas on how to fix that?

capone · Mar 2018

Yeah I've never understood how you could clean up the sides of something in Substance Designer, not sure if it's even really possible?

Zalek4 · Mar 2018

@capone I've fixed the issue in my case and the method seems like it would transfer well between projects. I added a slight bevel to the color masks of each level of cassette tapes using the bevel node.

GhostDetector · Mar 2018

Think i'm done with this. I also created a parameter to adjust the film.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/mb/c0rl4lh0vak0.gif

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/sb/4qkjvkdox7v4.png

capone · Mar 2018

Still got a tonne to do but the foundation is just about there now.

NickWilliams · Mar 2018

Whew! I finally finished the last material. I got really into figuring out a crack system that lets you position, resize, slope cracks and fragments independently. I'll prob make a blog for it soonish.

Moving on... This new challenge sounds super cool. Y'all are already kickin' butt! Can't wait to get started.

ArtStation Link

capone · Mar 2018

Little update, tackled the inner wheel bits. Pleased with how I'm still in control of this substance, getting better at managing big scenes and keeping nodes going into my height more minimal. I've laid it out in a way that I could do the sides and back and map it onto a 3D mesh but I still have so much more to do to just the front part.

capone · Mar 2018

Update;

Added some dust/dirt/labeling/glass ridges , still more to do

Image: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/275630333729439745/426566236868968458/unknown.png

NickWilliams · Mar 2018

@capone Nice dirt detail/movie selection.

You may want to make one side of the film reels smaller than the other.

capone · Mar 2018

NickWilliams said:

@capone Nice dirt detail/movie selection. You may want to make one side of the film reels smaller than the other.

Thanks, yeah the tape here makes no sense really. I'll make a unique reel with less tape for one side.

CharlyBrownP · Mar 2018

This is my progress so far. I've only worked on the height map and in marmoset I see how it's going to be rendered. Don't bother about the background. I was trying to feel the proportion. In the end, the side cassette won't be there.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/t4/wz500i0seazm.png

CharlyBrownP · Mar 2018

Added more detail and the glass material: The balls behind were there for checking the IOR for the marmoset preview

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/43/tyym3fl8hv6q.png

capone · Mar 2018

Just about there now, might have a tweak if anyone has any suggestions?

Image: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/275630333729439745/428379989331804160/unknown.png

NickWilliams · Mar 2018

Woo! This was fun!
ArtStation Link

@capone Nice! I like how you've handled the colors, and plastic!

capone · Mar 2018

CharlyBrownP said:

This is my progress so far. I've only worked on the height map and in marmoset I see how it's going to be rendered. Don't bother about the background. I was trying to feel the proportion. In the end, the side cassette won't be there.

Hey @CharlyBrownP (and anyone else?) I noticed your tape had depth here, am guessing it was a combination of height/opacity. I really tried doing this with my tape but found it difficult to get right without some 'weirdness' (especially on the sides). I'm guessing you have since left this idea behind because on discord it's now a flat cutout? I guess my question is this, is it even feasible to try building something like this with depth using just Substance/Marmoset? or is that always going to be impossible? Like even though you have some odd beveling on the sides it's actually ok and potentially could be straighten out, perhaps?

Daniel_Swing · Mar 2018

@capone I think you should add some imperfection to the writing on the tape, it looks way too good to be handwritten.

capone · Mar 2018

Finished. Added some more subtle details/tweaks. Have a marmoset viewer of it on my artstation;

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/xn4x1

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/ye/jx2oyi5jaba7.png

CharlyBrownP · Apr 2018

@capone I used the height map and the intensity in marmoset trying to achieve a little bit depth to the cassette. I need to tesselate a lot since there's a lot of detail in the height. Then I used the cut off (opacity mask) to get rid off the sides without a cassette part. Those artefacts are caused by this tesselation and I think that a smooth or a bevel could fix this. I didn't have enough time but I'm seeing your cassettes are amazing!!

3DKyle · Apr 2018

Challenge 21 is live!

NickWilliams · Apr 2018

@3DKyle and anyone else here who is currently or has ever worked as a texture artist for a game: can you give a little insight on what the average turnover is per material? is there even such a thing? I know we get two whole weeks to complete a challenge on this thread, but was just curious what you're experiences may have been. Also, I don't mean to turn this thread into an AMA. Was just curious about this specifically for self-improvement reasons. Would be super helpful to get some insight! thanks!

3DKyle · Apr 2018

It really depends on the type of material. Normally you would get about 2-3 days to work on a material (sometimes you can do 1 a day if the material is simple enough). The reason the challenge is 2 weeks is for people like me (yet I still not got the time yet) is to let people still have time for social/family/work to still be priority.

If you want to drop me an email or PM then please do I'm open to ask any questions that you have.
@NickWilliams

Derzo · Apr 2018

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/0r/0tyvkc1ci993.png

Day 1 progress, started mainly going for the 3rd reference. The wood that Daniel made is just soo nice, really a challenge to try to replicate that, but I'm happy where I got with it