User Guide Cancel

Vector editing tools | Substance 3D Designer

Vector editing tools

This page describes the editing tools available in the 2D View panel for compatible vector graphics.

In this page


Overview

The 2D View panel offers basic vector editing tools which let you create or edit vector graphics manually directly within Substance 3D Designer. These tools are particularly useful, for instance, for quickly creating masks or patterns.

The tools support pen input. To take advantage of pen displays, you may undock the 2D view panel, then place and resize it into any configuration which is more comfortable for painting.

Edits can be undone individually, and all the other features of the 2D View panel are still available to you while you edit the vector image, such as Histogram panel, Tiled display, and Background image.

Tip:

Windows only

Tablet users should apply the settings described in the following page for the most reliable experience in Designer: Configuring Pens and Tablets

Caution:

You can paint only on 8-bit vector graphics resources which are new or imported.


New SVG resource dialog

Enabling the vector editing tools

The vector editing tools will be enabled automatically in the 2D view panel when the following criteria regarding a vector graphics image are met:

New vector graphics images can be created the following ways:

  • In the Explorer panel, click RMB on an SBS package or a folder within a package to open their contextual menu, then open the New submenu and select the SVG option
  • In a graph, create an SVG node and select the From new resource... option in the contextual menu

The New vectorial data window will open, letting you set the name and resolution of the new vector graphics resource.

Tip:

For the best performance with the vector editing tools, we recommend using vector graphics images with resolutions which are powers of two – e.g. 128, 256, 512, 1024, ...

Exporting vector graphics from other software

Designer only supports vector graphics using the SVG file format.

For the best compatibility and reliability in Designer and its editing tools, please make sure all objects are converted to outlines and ungrouped to separate objects using flat colors, so that none of the following remain:

  • Text
  • Gradients
  • Patterns (both for fills and stroke outlines)
  • Styles

Adobe Illustrator users can refer to the attached image for recommended SVG export settings.

Note:

To learn more about SVG limitations, exporting from other software and SVG properties in Designer, please refer to the Vector graphics (SVG) resource section.


Tools

The painting tools and options are arranged in toolbars within the 2D view panel. These toolbars can be relocated to any side of the panel or as a floating toolbar, by clicking and holding LMB on their handle – displayed as a triple line – then releasing LMB at the desired location.

Two toolbars are displayed when the vector editing tools are enabled:

  • Tool selection toolbar: lets you select a tool as well as the fill/outline colors, and is placed on the left side of the 2D View panel by default
  • Tool options toolbar: lets you set the options for the currently selected tool, and is placed on the top side of the 2D View panel by default

Keyboard shortcuts let you access tools quickly, and are marked below between parentheses after the tool/function name:


Shape operations

Shape operations

In addition to the tools listed above, a number of operations can be performed on selected shapes, using the contextual menu available when clicking RMB. These operations nearly all have a keyboard shortcut (in parentheses below) are organised in the following categories:

Get help faster and easier

New user?