Substance Library

Detailed Description

Since

R18

See also

The Substance Overview article.

The Substance library contains everything needed to control the Substance Engine integration in Cinema 4D. Main topics are:

• Importing Substance assets into Cinema 4D
• Creating materials from Substance assets and/or manually mapping Substance output channels into Cinema 4D materials (or other places)
• Manipulating Substance Input parameters

Importing Substance Assets:

Note

There's also the command ID_SUBSTANCE_COMMAND_LOADASSET, which may be shorter, if user interaction is wanted.

void MySubstanceImport()
{
  BaseDocument* const doc = GetActiveDocument();
  if (doc == nullptr)
    return;
 
  // Setup import parameters
  Filename fn = "some_path/nice_substance.sbsar";
  SUBSTANCE_IMPORT_COPY copyMode = SUBSTANCE_IMPORT_COPY::NO; // do not copy the Substance archive into the project directory and use absolute path to refer to the file
  const Bool errPopup = false; // Don't open any error messages
  const Bool addUndo = true; // Yes, please add an undo step for the import
  const Bool noMaterial = true; // No material will be created on import
  BaseList2D* myImportedAsset = nullptr;
  SUBSTANCE_IMPORT_RESULT result;
 
  // Import
  doc->StartUndo(); // DON'T FORGET, mandatory since we chose to add an undo step
  result = ImportSubstance(doc, fn, copyMode, errPopup, addUndo, noMaterial, &myImportedAsset);
  doc->EndUndo(); // DON'T FORGET, mandatory since we chose to add an undo step
  if (result != SUBSTANCE_IMPORT_RESULT::SUCCESS)
  {
    // something went wrong, handle error here...
    return;
  }
  // The substance got successfully inserted into the document
  // ...
  // return;
}

Auto-creating basic material from a Substance:

void MySubstanceCreateMaterial()
{
  BaseDocument* const doc = GetActiveDocument();
  if (doc == nullptr)
    return;
  BaseList2D* asset = GetFirstSubstance(doc);
  if (asset == nullptr)
  {
    // No Substance asset in the scene
    return;
  }
 
  const Int32 graphIdx = 0; // Use the first graph of the Substance
  const SUBSTANCE_MATERIAL_MODE mode = SUBSTANCE_MATERIAL_MODE::METALLIC; // Use PBR metallic/roughness workflow
  BaseMaterial* const mat = CreateMaterial(myImportedAsset, graphIdx, mode);
  if (mat == nullptr)
  {
    // Failed to create material
    return;
  }
  doc->InsertMaterial(mat);
}

Iterate over all graphs, inputs and outputs of a Substance:

void MyPrintAllSubstances()
{
  BaseDocument* const doc = GetActiveDocument();
  if (doc == nullptr)
    return;
  AutoAlloc<AtomArray> arrSubstances;
  if (arrSubstances == nullptr)
    return;
  const Bool onlySelected = false; // Get all Substances in the document
  GetSubstances(doc, arrSubstances, onlySelected);
  for (Int32 idxSubstance = 0; idxSubstance < arrSubstances->GetCount(); ++idxSubstance)
  {
    BaseList2D* const asset = static_cast<BaseList2D*>(arrSubstances->GetIndex(idxSubstance));
    if (asset == nullptr)
      continue; // This should not happen, but safe is safe
 
    GePrint("Substance: " + asset->GetName();
 
    String graphName = "";
    void* lastGraph = nullptr, graph = nullptr;
 
    while (graph = GetSubstanceGraph(asset, lastGraph, graphName))
    {
      GePrint("  Graph: " + graphName);
 
      UInt32 inputUid;
      Int32 inputDescId;
      Int32 inputNumElements;
      SUBSTANCE_INPUT_TYPE inputType;
      String inputName;
      void* lastInput = nullptr, input = nullptr;
 
      GePrint("  Inputs:");
      while (input = GetSubstanceInput(asset, graph, lastInput, inputUid, inputDescId, inputNumElements, inputType, inputName))
      {
        GePrint("    " + inputName + " (" + String::HexToString(inputUid) + ", " + String::IntToString(inputDescId) + ", " + String::IntToString(inputNuMElements) + ", " + String::IntToString((Int32)inputType) + ")");
        lastInput = input;
      }
 
      UInt32 outputUid;
      SUBSTANCE_OUTPUT_TYPE outputType;
      String outputName;
      void* lastOutput = nullptr, output = nullptr;
 
      GePrint("  Outputs:");
      while (output = GetSubstanceOutput(asset, graph, lastOutput, outputUid, outputType, outputName, nullptr))
      {
        GePrint("    " + outputName + " (" + String::HexToString(outputUid) + ", " + String::IntToString((Int32)outputType) + ")");
        lastOutput = output;
      }
      lastGraph = graph;
    }
  }
}

Changing Substance input parameters:

This basically works the same as with every other NodeData based entity in Cinema 4D, via SetParameter().

See also

SUBSTANCE_INPUT_TYPE

Warning

Under no circumstances the BaseContainer of a Substance assets should be accessed directly. The IDs for use with SetParameter() can be obtained via GetSubstanceInput().

Chapter Substance shader and its parameters:

The Substance shader has two parameters, SUBSTANCESHADER_ASSET and SUBSTANCESHADER_CHANNEL.

• SUBSTANCESHADER_ASSET is a link to a Substance asset.
• SUBSTANCESHADER_CHANNEL stores the outputUid (to be obtained via GetSubstanceOutput()) of the selected Substance output channel.

Groups
	SUBSTANCE_IMPORT_COPY
	SUBSTANCE_IMPORT_RESULT
	SUBSTANCE_INPUT_TYPE
	SUBSTANCE_MATERIAL_MODE
	SUBSTANCE_OUTPUT_TYPE
	Substance Command IDs
	Substance Message IDs
	Substance Plugin IDs

Classes
struct	SubstanceShdGetBitmap

Create
SUBSTANCE_IMPORT_RESULT	ImportSubstance (BaseDocument *const doc, const Filename &fn, SUBSTANCE_IMPORT_COPY &copyFile, Bool errPopup, Bool addUndo, Bool createMaterial, BaseList2D **assetPtr)
BaseMaterial *	CreateMaterial (BaseList2D *const asset, Int32 graphIndex, SUBSTANCE_MATERIAL_MODE mode)
BaseShader *	CreateSubstanceShader (BaseList2D *const asset)
Bool	AssignChannelToMaterial (BaseList2D *const asset, Material *const c4dMaterial, Int32 channelId, Int32 outputUid, Bool addUndo)

Get and Insert
BaseList2D *	GetFirstSubstance (BaseDocument *const doc)
void	GetSubstances (BaseDocument *const doc, AtomArray *arr, Bool onlySelected)
Bool	InsertLastSubstance (BaseDocument *const doc, BaseList2D *asset)

Graphs, Inputs, Outputs
void *	GetSubstanceGraph (BaseList2D *const asset, void *const prevGraph, String &name)
void *	GetSubstanceInput (BaseList2D *const asset, void *const graph, void *const prevInput, UInt32 &inputUid, Int32 &firstId, Int32 &numElements, SUBSTANCE_INPUT_TYPE &type, String &name)
void *	GetSubstanceOutput (BaseList2D *const asset, void *const graph, void *const prevOutput, UInt32 &outputUid, SUBSTANCE_OUTPUT_TYPE &type, String &name, BaseBitmap **bmpPtr)

Preferences
SUBSTANCE_MATERIAL_MODE	PrefsGetMaterialModeSetting ()
Int32	PrefsGetPreviewSetting ()

Misc
Bool	MaterialUsesSubstance (BaseMaterial *const mat)
BaseBitmap *	GetSubstanceMosaicPreview (BaseList2D *const asset, Int32 w, Int32 h)

Private
void	UpdateImageInputPaths (BaseList2D *const asset, String &path)
void	CloneReferencedSubstances (BaseDocument *const doc, BaseShader *const shd, BaseDocument *const ddoc, BaseShader *const dshd)
void	CloneReferencedSubstancesObject (BaseDocument *const docSrc, BaseObject *const opSrc, BaseDocument *const docDst, BaseObject *const opDst)
void	InsertSubstancePreviewScene (BaseDocument *const doc, BaseList2D *const asset)
const BaseBitmap *	GetContentBrowserOverlay ()

Function Documentation

ImportSubstance()

SUBSTANCE_IMPORT_RESULT ImportSubstance	(	BaseDocument *const	doc,
		const Filename &	fn,
		SUBSTANCE_IMPORT_COPY &	copyFile,
		Bool	errPopup,
		Bool	addUndo,
		Bool	createMaterial,
		BaseList2D **	assetPtr
	)

Imports a Substance Asset file (.sbsar) into doc.

Since

R18

Parameters

[in]	doc	The document to import into.
[in]	fn	The Substance Asset file.
[in,out]	copyFile	The copy file flag: SUBSTANCE_IMPORT_COPY. Determines if Substance Asset files are copied into the project folder (and therefore referenced with relative path). If set to SUBSTANCE_IMPORT_COPY::ASK, user's choice will be returned. Note: When set to SUBSTANCE_IMPORT_COPY::ASK, the function obviously has to be called in a context, where user interaction is allowed.
[in]	errPopup	If set to true, problems will be communicated to the user with a message requester. Note: When set to true, the function obviously has to be called in a context, where user interaction is allowed.
[in]	addUndo	If set to true, an undo step will be added for the import. Caller has to care for the surrounding BaseDocument::StartUndo() and BaseDocument::EndUndo() calls.
[in]	createMaterial	Set to true, to have a material created based on the configuration in preferences. Set to false, to suppress any creation of materials.
[in,out]	assetPtr	A pointer to a Substance asset pointer. If not nullptr, the pointer to the imported Substance Asset will be returned here.

Returns

The result for the import: SUBSTANCE_IMPORT_RESULT

CreateMaterial()

BaseMaterial* CreateMaterial	(	BaseList2D *const	asset,
		Int32	graphIndex,
		SUBSTANCE_MATERIAL_MODE	mode
	)

Creates a Cinema 4D standard material from asset.

Since

R18

Parameters

[in]	asset	The Substance asset.
[in]	graphIndex	The index of the graph to use (for multi-graph Substances).
[in]	mode	The material creation mode: SUBSTANCE_MATERIAL_MODE

Returns

The created material. The caller owns the pointed material.

CreateSubstanceShader()

BaseShader* CreateSubstanceShader

(

BaseList2D *const

asset

)

Creates a Substance shader linked to asset.

Since

R18

Parameters

[in]

asset

The Substance asset (may be nullptr).

Returns

The created Substance shader. The caller owns the pointed shader.

AssignChannelToMaterial()

Bool AssignChannelToMaterial	(	BaseList2D *const	asset,
		Material *const	c4dMaterial,
		Int32	channelId,
		Int32	outputUid,
		Bool	addUndo
	)

Creates a Substance shader, links it to asset, sets the Substance output to outputUid and assigns the shader to channelId of c4dMaterial.

Since

R18

Parameters

[in]	asset	The Substance asset, the pointed Substance asset needs to be part of the document.
[in]	c4dMaterial	The Material.
[in]	channelId	The channel ID: CHANNEL
[in]	outputUid	The unique ID of the Substance output to use.
[in]	addUndo	If set to true, an undo step will be added for the import. Caller has to care for the surrounding BaseDocument::StartUndo() and BaseDocument::EndUndo() calls.

Returns

true if successful, otherwise false.

GetFirstSubstance()

BaseList2D* GetFirstSubstance

(

BaseDocument *const

doc

)

Retrieves a pointer to the first Substance asset in doc.

Since

R18

Parameters

[in]

doc

The document.

Returns

The first Substance asset or nullptr, if none exists. Cinema 4D owns the pointed Substance asset.

GetSubstances()

void GetSubstances	(	BaseDocument *const	doc,
		AtomArray *	arr,
		Bool	onlySelected
	)

Retrieves all (or only selected) substances assets doc.

Since

R18

Parameters

[in]	doc	The document.
[in]	arr	The AtomArray to fill. The caller owns the pointed array.
[in]	onlySelected	Set to true to get only selected Substance assets.

InsertLastSubstance()

Bool InsertLastSubstance	(	BaseDocument *const	doc,
		BaseList2D *	asset
	)

Inserts asset into doc (as last element).

Since

R18

Parameters

[in]	doc	The document.
[in]	asset	The Substance asset. On success Cinema 4D takes over the ownership of the pointed Substance asset.

Returns

true if success, otherwise false.

GetSubstanceGraph()

void* GetSubstanceGraph	(	BaseList2D *const	asset,
		void *const	prevGraph,
		String &	name
	)

Retrieves the Substance graph. This function may be used to iterate over the graphs of asset.

Since

R18

Parameters

[in]	asset	The Substance asset.
[in]	prevGraph	Pass nullptr to get the first graph, pass a graph pointer to get the following graph.
[out]	name	Name of the returned graph. Only valid if return value != nullptr.

Returns

A pointer to identify the graph, may not be dereferenced. nullptr if graph is not available. Cinema 4D owns the pointed graph.

GetSubstanceInput()

void* GetSubstanceInput	(	BaseList2D *const	asset,
		void *const	graph,
		void *const	prevInput,
		UInt32 &	inputUid,
		Int32 &	firstId,
		Int32 &	numElements,
		SUBSTANCE_INPUT_TYPE &	type,
		String &	name
	)

Retrieves a Substance input of an asset. This function may be used to iterate over the inputs of a graph of asset.

Since

R18

Parameters

[in]	asset	The Substance asset.
[in]	graph	The graph.
[in]	prevInput	Pass nullptr to get the first input, pass an input pointer to get the following input.
[out]	inputUid	The unique ID of the input. Only valid if return value != nullptr.
[out]	firstId	The ID of the first component of the input parameter in Cinema 4D (see also numElements). This ID can be used to create a DescID for C4DAtom::SetParameter(). Only valid if return value != nullptr.
[out]	numElements	The number of description elements used in Cinema 4D to represent the Substance input parameter. Only valid if return value != nullptr.
[out]	type	The data type of the input: SUBSTANCE_INPUT_TYPE. Only valid if return value != nullptr.
[out]	name	Name of the returned input. Only valid if return value != nullptr.

Returns

A pointer to identify the input, may not be dereferenced. nullptr if input is not available. Cinema 4D owns the pointed input.

GetSubstanceOutput()

void* GetSubstanceOutput	(	BaseList2D *const	asset,
		void *const	graph,
		void *const	prevOutput,
		UInt32 &	outputUid,
		SUBSTANCE_OUTPUT_TYPE &	type,
		String &	name,
		BaseBitmap **	bmpPtr
	)

Retrieves a Substance input of an asset. This function may be used to iterate over the outputs of a graph of asset.

Since

R18

Parameters

[in]	asset	The Substance asset.
[in]	graph	The graph.
[in]	prevOutput	Pass nullptr to get the first output, pass an output pointer to get the following output.
[out]	outputUid	The unique ID of the output. Only valid if return value != nullptr.
[out]	type	The output type ID. Only valid if return value != nullptr.
[out]	name	The name of the returned output. Only valid if return value != nullptr.
[in,out]	bmpPtr	A pointer to a BaseBitmap pointer. If not nullptr, a pointer to a clone of the output channel bitmap will be returned here. The caller owns the pointed BaseBitmap.. Only valid if return value != nullptr.

Returns

A pointer to identify the output, may not be dereferenced, Cinema 4D owns the pointed output., or nullptr if output is not available

PrefsGetMaterialModeSetting()

SUBSTANCE_MATERIAL_MODE PrefsGetMaterialModeSetting

(

)

Convenience function to get the material creation mode set in Substance preferences.

Since

R18

Returns

The material creation mode: SUBSTANCE_MATERIAL_MODE

PrefsGetPreviewSetting()

Int32 PrefsGetPreviewSetting

(

)

Convenience function to get the preview mode for Content Browser set in Substance preferences.

Since

R18

Returns

Zero for mosaic preview, otherwise rendered preview scene.

MaterialUsesSubstance()

Bool MaterialUsesSubstance

(

BaseMaterial *const

mat

)

Checks if mat contains any Substance shaders.

Since

R18

Parameters

[in]

mat

The material to check for Substance shaders.

Returns

true if the material uses a Substance shader, otherwise false.

GetSubstanceMosaicPreview()

BaseBitmap* GetSubstanceMosaicPreview	(	BaseList2D *const	asset,
		Int32	w,
		Int32	h
	)

Returns an image with previews of the output channels of asset.

Since

R18

Note

While the Substance asset won't have to be re-rendered, this operation still involves downscaling of all Substance outputs.

Parameters

[in]	asset	The Substance asset.
[in]	w	The width of the preview image.
[in]	h	The weight of the preview image.

Returns

A pointer to the resulting bitmap. The caller owns the pointed BaseBitmap.

UpdateImageInputPaths()

void UpdateImageInputPaths	(	BaseList2D *const	asset,
		String &	path
	)

Private.

Since

R18

CloneReferencedSubstances()

void CloneReferencedSubstances	(	BaseDocument *const	doc,
		BaseShader *const	shd,
		BaseDocument *const	ddoc,
		BaseShader *const	dshd
	)

Private.

Since

R18

CloneReferencedSubstancesObject()

void CloneReferencedSubstancesObject	(	BaseDocument *const	docSrc,
		BaseObject *const	opSrc,
		BaseDocument *const	docDst,
		BaseObject *const	opDst
	)

Private.

Since

R18

InsertSubstancePreviewScene()

void InsertSubstancePreviewScene	(	BaseDocument *const	doc,
		BaseList2D *const	asset
	)

Private.

Since

R18

GetContentBrowserOverlay()

const BaseBitmap* GetContentBrowserOverlay

(

)

Returns the Substance logo bitmap. Private.

Since

R19

Returns

The logo bitmap. Cinema 4D owns the pointed BaseBitmap.