LogInUnity has recently launched a prototype of its LookDev Studio tool that helps artists speed up their workflows.
The prototype allows creators to quickly import, iterate on, and refine their art under different lighting conditions in a context of a scene. The prototype is available today for access and the Unity team wants to hear what you think.
LookDev Studio's layout has been streamlined featuring fewer tabs for a more artist-focused interface that offers easy access to models, materials, and textures so you don’t have to worry about folder hierarchies or other misleading components.
As of this moment, the prototype is designed for artists working in Unity’s High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP). You can now import and view individual assets and small dioramas under various light conditions. Users also requested the support of Universal Render Pipeline (URP) so the team plans to add it in future versions.
One of the strengths of LookDev Studio is that you have the ability to automate some of the import process steps. For example, you can drag and drop models and textures into the Scene view. The tool makes sure that each asset type is automatically assigned to its respective folder to generate new materials.
Further, if you import textures or models with associated textures, the Texture Allocator assigns them to auto-generated materials. You can drag and drop your different textures into the appropriate channel, or select the Texture Allocator button in the UI. The prototype can define common suffixes for Texture types to automatically assign individual textures.
LookDev Studio comes with four different high-dynamic-range images (HDRIs) and lighting configurations which can be quickly rotated using a hotkey.
Inside, you will also find a set of models and materials to start exploring the features of the HDRP renderer without importing your own assets. The best way to test the prototype is by using the Unity IP high-resolution character model called Fia, also included in the prototype.