What is a Substance 3D file?

A Substance 3D file (*.sbs), also known as a package, is a container for resources such as Substance graphs, which are dynamic generators of textures that can be exported to be used in many applications.

Substance graphs are dynamic because contrary to a classic bitmap file, the creator of a Substance graph can choose to expose parameters in order to provide controls over the results generated by the graph.

For example, it is possible to change on-the-fly the amount of dust on an object, the color of a soccer team jersey, or the pattern of a cut stone floor. Your imagination is virtually the only limit.

A package can be published to a compiled, self-contained Substance 3D archive file (*.sbsar) so that the graph it contains can then be used in external applications for which a Substance integration exists.

Substance graphs can produce textures that are 100% procedural, resulting in very light package file sizes.

Example of brick wall material made by Käy Vriend.
Parameters can be changed to dynamically control the material’s appearance.