DocumentationSubstance 3DSubstance 3D Painter

Curvature

Last update: August 11, 2026

In: mask, generator, grayscale, blend
Description
The Curvature generator creates a mask based on the baked Curvature map with the option to blend a texture or micro details into the mask.

The curvature generator outputs a monochrome (black and white) texture. As a result, it’s useful for generating masks rather than applying directly to a layer.

A baked position map is required as an input. Learn more about baking here.

Inputs

Input name
Description
Texture Color
Use a custom texture or anchor point.
Micro Normal Color
Use a custom normal texture or anchor point.
Micro Height Color
Use a custom texture or anchor point.
Curvature Grayscale
Use the baked Curvature map.
World Space Normals Color
Use the baked World Space Normals map.
Position Gradient Color
Use the baked Position map.

Parameters

Parameter name
Description
Global Invert
Inverts the final result after all effects are combined.
Global Blur
Softens the final mask uniformly after all effects are combined.
Global Balance
Shifts the balance of the final mask after all effects are combined between black or white, like a brightness adjustment.
Global Contrast
Adjusts the contrast of the final mask after all effects are combined.
Use Texture
Toggle usage of a custom texture map on or off.
Use Micro Details
Toggle usage of custom micro details map on or off.

Curvature

Parameter name
Description
Invert
Invert the generated curvature map.
Mode

Set the Curvature mode.

  • Edges: Masks the edges (convex areas)
  • Cavities: Masks the cavities (concave areas)
  • Dual: Masks concave and convex areas.
  • Unprocessed: Normal Curvature mask.
Sharp
Adjust the strength of the sharp curvature details.
Fine
Adjust the strength of the fine curvature details.
Soft
Adjust the strength of the soft curvature details.
Medium
Adjust the strength of the medium curvature details.
Large
Adjust the strength of the large curvature details.
Big
Adjust the strength of the big curvature details.
Huge
Adjust the strength of the huge curvature details.
Contrast
Adjust the contrast/falloff of the Curvature.
Brightness
Adjust the luminosity of the Curvature.

Texture

Parameter name
Description
Texture Opacity
Control the visibility of the custom texture.
Invert
Invert just the custom texture.
Grayscale Conversion
Select the method used to convert from color input to black and white.
Blending Mode
Set the blending mode for the custom texture.
Scale
Adjust the size of the custom texture.
Contrast
Set the contrast/falloff of the custom texture.
Brightness
Set the luminosity of the custom texture.
Triplanar

When Triplanar is enabled, the texture is projected from three directions (X, Y, Z axes) instead of relying only on UVs.

  • Without triplanar enabled, the texture follows the UV layout.
  • With triplanar enabled, the texture is projected from multiple angles and blended.
Triplanar Contrast
Adjust how smoothly a texture blends when it is projected using triplanar mapping. This adjusts the softness of the blending between the projections from each direction.

Micro Details

Parameter name
Description
Micro Height
Toggle usage of a custom Micro Height map on or off.
Micro Normal
Toggle usage of a custom Micro Normal map on or off.
Curvature Type

Set the Curvature type.

  • Standard: Produces a usually quite sharp result, but can lack wider details.
  • Sobel: Produces similar results compared to standard, but slightly blurrier because it evaluates the normal map using a Sobel filter.
  • Smooth: Produces different levels of blur (like mipmaps) to accumulate information. This usually provides smoother curves, but details can get lost.
Curvature Intensity
Adjust the strength of the Curvature in Standard and Sobel Curvature modes.
Height Details Intensity
Adjust the strength of the Micro Height details.
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