Physically Accurate Game Boy DMG-01 Screen In Substance 3D Designer

Senior Material Artist Kai "Kizzle" Mergener, known for his various tutorials and tools, has recreated an authentic murky DMG‑01 STN LCD screen, the one used in the original Game Boy, inside Substance 3D Designer.

Although Kai explored Game Boy display materials years ago, this version is entirely rebuilt from the ground up to simulate the screen with accuracy. Created with Pixel Processors, it features: 160x144 pixelation (supports any input image), value equalization for balanced contrast, voltage-based color quantization, true to original LCD behavior, screen-door effect based on the STN layout, subtle vignette and aged desaturation, bezel shadowing, per-pixel and per-patch hue shifts simulating polarizer rotation and a "sunburn" effect to mimic overexposed or degraded pixels over time. All of these are driven by SDF math and dynamic blending inside custom pixel logic, as shared by Kai.

Check out the version with our logo:

If you're into technical art, stay tuned: Kai will be sharing a breakdown video on the project soon. In the meantime, get his Kizzle Splatter Node and explore his YouTube channel, where you'll find various tutorials, such as obsidian material creation, embroidery generator, and more:

Also, join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.