Allegorithmic has released the second “Signature Series” collection of materials exclusively for Substance Source: 18 unique, science fiction-themed materials from leading video game artist Chris Hodgson designed to give users a creative head-start on building their own extraterrestrial world, complete with space-faring vessels and exotic alien life.
Hodgson is a texture and material artist at Naughty Dog, with more than a decade of experience in the gaming industry. His credits include AAA titles like Payday 2, Tom Clancy’s The Division and Watch Dogs, as well as working at renowned development studios such as Starbreeze and Ubisoft. Hodgson drew inspiration from sci-fi films of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s including Alien, Blade Runner and The Thing for his new Signature collection, created with Substance Designer and Substance Painter.
The materials also feature new techniques only recently available to Substance users, including subsurface scattering (to give your alien’s skin that much sought-after glow). As with all Substance Source materials, Hodgson’s creations are fully customizable and meant for users of all levels — each includes the complete .sbs file, allowing users to adjust the graphs and learn how, and why, Hodgson used certain nodes, while beginners can simply download a material and tweak the basic parameters to create something unique.
“I’ve been using Substance professionally for years now, and it has helped me expand my creativity in ways I wasn’t able to before,” said Hodgson. “When the opportunity arose to create this collection, it gave me the chance to delve deeply into a genre I’ve always loved, and push myself to create things I’ve only ever dreamed about. Being able to share those results with others is just an incredible feeling.”
The Chris Hodgson Signature Series consist of five categories of materials: “Alien Growth,” a set of organic-inspired materials meant to be both exotic and even a little disgusting; “Alien Panel” contains structures and panels that you might associate with a frightening alien civilization, including skeletal and techno-infused hallways; the “Sci-Fi Industrial Panel” group moves from the horror of H.R. Giger to the grittiness of cyberpunk, reflecting an urban setting of metal and electrical cables; “Sci-Fi Panels” offers brighter, cleaner materials with a touch of retro style; and “Alien Terrain” offers everything users will need to create their own alien landscapes.
Hodgson’s collection is the second Signature Series release of 2018, with a third planned for later this year. The set is available now as part of a Substance Source subscription ($19.90/month Indie; $99.90/month Pro), but users can also download and test the Alien Growth Brain Cells” material now for free. Hodgson will host a livestream webinar next month on Allegorithmic’s YouTube channel to discuss his creative process and give practical customization tips for the materials (date/time TBA).
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