Pilgway releases 3DCoat 2022.52
Pilgway has released 3DCoat 2022.52, a new version of the sculpting, retopology and 3D painting app.
The release – the first ‘official’ update since 3DCoat 2022 – introduces a multiresolution sculpting system, reworks the Sketch tool for hard-surface modelling, and adds “complete” support for volumetric painting.
Other changes include improved export of models to Blender and Unreal Engine, plus the option to export assets in USD, USDZ and IGES format.
Part of an ongoing series of 3DCoat 2022.x updates
Pilgway typically puts out an update to 3DCoat every three or four days, so 3DCoat 2022.52 really marks the official debut of features originally introduced in earlier releases.
However, it’s a stable build, and one significant enough for Pilgway to have included it in the list of releases on its website: the first addition to the list since the original release of 3DCoat 2022.
Digital sculpting: new multiresolution sculpting system
Key changes in 3DCoat 2022.52 include a new multiresolution sculpting system, with users now able to subdivide a mesh multiple times and ‘walk’ up and down through the subdivision levels during work.
The implementation supports layers and vertex colours, making it possible to make structural edits to a model at the lowest Level of Detail (LOD) without losing changes made at higher LODs.
Hard-surface modelling: reworked Sketch tool
Other changes include a rework of the Sketch tool, for creating hard-surface 3D models by drawing outlines and projecting them in three dimensions, in a similar way to ZBrush’s ShadowBox.
The video above shows it in use inside 3DCoatPrint, the new free edition of the software for preparing models for 3D printing.
3D painting: better support for volumetric painting, new colour smoothing systeem
The update also adds “complete” support for volumetric painting, with painting operations now correctly preserving PBR material properties, and surface brushes now working correctly with volumetric colour.
Paint tools have now been added to 3DCoat’s Sculpt room – the software’s sculpting workspace – as well as the Paint room, to simplify painting workflow.
The Paint room itself gets a new “super-powerful, valence/density independent screen-based colour smoothing” system.
Pipeline integration: improved export to Blender and Unreal Engine 5
3DCoat 2022.52 also streamlines export of assets to other DCC applications, particularly Blender and UE5.
The software’s auto-export system can now export multiple assets, with the option to centre each one and/or export it to its own folder; and can now export assets directly to Blender preserving PBR materials.
In addition, the 3DCoat Blender AppLink – the sole survivor from what was originally a much larger set of third-party integration plugins – is now being maintained directly by Pilgway.
The plugin now export sculpt objects with factures – 3DCoat’s per-vertex textures – to Blender.
In addition, 3DCoat can now export meshes in USD (USDA, USDC and USDZ) and IGES format, although the latter is due to become part of a paid add-on module after the 3DCoat 2022.x releases.
Other changes
Other changes include improvements to UV mapping and retopology, both in terms of workflow and the quality of output; initial support for ACES tonemapping; and a procedural tree generator.
UX changes include the option to create custom UI colour themes, and the hotkeys system has been expanded, including support for materials and masks. You can find a full list of changes via the links below.
Pricing and system requirements
3DCoat 2022 is available for Windows 7+, Ubuntu 20.04+ and macOS 10.13+.
For individual artists, new perpetual node-locked licences of 3DCoat cost €379. Subscriptions cost €19.85/month or €149.85/year. Rent to own plans require 11 continuous monthly payments of €39.70.
For studios, new perpetual node-locked licences of 3DCoat cost €459; floating licences cost €499. Subscriptions cost €29.85/month or €279/year for node-locked; €34.85/month or €299.85/year for floating.
You can find details of educational pricing on Pilgway’s website. All prices exclude tax.
Read an overview of the new features in 3DCoat 2022.52
Read a detailed list of new features in 3DCoat on the product forum
(Changelog is in the third post: individual posts about 3DCoat 2022.x start on page 69 of the thread)