ArmorPaint

ArmorPaint is standalone software for painting physically based textures on 3D models. Materials and brushes use nodes, supporting procedural materials, fill layers, and procedural brushes. It includes texture baking and a PBR workflow, with GPU-based painting; the product page describes 4K painting on medium-power integrated hardware and up to 16K on a high-end graphics card. Ray-traced baking, painting effects, and viewport rendering are supported through Direct3D 12, Vulkan, and Metal. Exports include 8-bit PNG and JPG, as well as 16-bit or 32-bit EXR, with Generic, Unreal, and Unity presets. Supported mesh formats include OBJ, FBX, BLEND, STL, GLTF, and GLB. Neural node processing runs locally after models are downloaded; at least 6 GB of video memory is recommended. Hunyuan3D requires 12 GB of GPU memory and is Windows-only. Desktop editions are portable, while sculpting is marked work in progress. ArmorPaint costs $19, paid once, a one-time purchase with updates included.

ArmorPaint offers texture painting, node-based authoring, and a range of export formats in a standalone package. Check the GPU requirements and work-in-progress features against your intended workflow.

It suits 3D artists who need to paint textures on models and want node-based materials, texture baking, and a PBR workflow. Those considering neural processing should check its stated memory and operating-system requirements.

ArmorPaint is standalone software for painting physically based textures directly on 3D models. It best suits artists who want GPU-driven painting and procedural, node-based authoring in a portable desktop app. Its broad export and mesh-format support are compelling, but platform-specific AI support and work-in-progress integrations make workflow fit worth checking.

Overview

ArmorPaint combines 3D texture painting, texture baking, a PBR workflow, and node-based authoring in one package. Materials and brushes use nodes, opening room for procedural materials, fill layers, and procedural brushes rather than limiting authoring to manual strokes. The trade-off is that sculpting remains a work in progress, so this is not a finished all-purpose 3D modeling tool.

The software is designed to run entirely on the GPU. Its maker describes 4K painting on medium-power integrated hardware and up to 16K on a high-end graphics card; those targets make the GPU a central workflow constraint, especially for artists aiming at larger textures. Ray-traced baking, painting effects, and viewport rendering are supported through Direct3D 12, Vulkan, and Metal.

Key features

Nodes, painting, and export

Procedural materials and brushes give artists a way to build repeatable looks and effects, while fill layers help structure texture work. Exports include PNG and JPG at 8-bit and EXR at 16-bit or 32-bit, with Generic, Unreal, and Unity presets among the options. That range serves both lighter image workflows and higher-bit-depth texture pipelines.

Supported mesh formats include OBJ, FBX, BLEND, STL, GLTF, and GLB. OBJ files up to about 4 GB are supported. The format range is useful for artists moving assets between tools, though no single format or preset guarantees that a given project will transfer without adjustments.

AI processing and integrations

Neural node processing runs locally once models have been downloaded, so an internet connection is not required afterward. The manual recommends at least 6 GB of video memory. Neural nodes are listed for Windows with Vulkan, Linux with Vulkan, and macOS with Metal; Hunyuan3D requires 12 GB of GPU memory and is Windows-only. These requirements make the AI features a poor fit for users whose hardware or operating system falls outside those combinations.

Live-link plugins are listed for Blender, Unreal Engine, and Unity, but the manual describes them as in development. They may suit artists willing to follow an evolving integration path, but should not be treated as a settled dependency for a production pipeline.

Pricing

ArmorPaint 1.0 costs $19, paid once, a one-time purchase that includes all updates for free. The plan provides Windows, Linux, and macOS (Apple silicon) downloads. There is no free plan, so artists who want to evaluate the software without paying do not have a free tier to fall back on. The listed desktop purchase does not include iOS or Android downloads.

Platforms

Supported platforms are Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android. On desktop, ArmorPaint is portable: unpack the archive and run it without installation. The one-time plan specifically names Windows, Linux, and macOS (Apple silicon) downloads, while neural node availability depends on the operating system and graphics API.

Who it's for

ArmorPaint is a strong candidate for texture artists who value procedural node authoring, GPU-based painting, and several export and mesh formats in a standalone package. It is less suited to users who need mature sculpting or depend on production-ready live links. Those considering AI features should match their GPU memory and graphics API to the requirements before choosing it.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Node-based materials and brushes support procedural authoring alongside fill layers and texture painting.
• Pros: PNG, JPG, and EXR export options, including higher-bit-depth EXR, suit a range of texture handoffs.
• Pros: The one-time purchase includes all updates for free, and desktop use does not require installation.
• Cons: There is no free plan, so there is no free tier for evaluation.
• Cons: Sculpting is still a work in progress, limiting its role as a broader 3D tool.
• Cons: Neural node support varies by platform and graphics API, with Hunyuan3D restricted to Windows and 12 GB of GPU memory.
• Cons: Blender, Unreal Engine, and Unity live-link plugins remain in development.

Alternatives

For a free, open-source 3D creation suite rather than a paid texture-painting package, consider Blender. If you need a free option during early access and broad platform coverage including API, Surface Labs is another choice. Marmoset Viewer is free when included with Toolbag versions 2.07 and newer, making it relevant for readers who already have that package.

Readers seeking a different procedural material tool can compare InstaMAT, which offers a free Pioneer License for users with revenue or total funding under $100,000, with attribution required. Mari has a free non-commercial plan with export limited to 4K and 16-bit per channel, Python scripting disabled, and a free trial; it is an option for non-commercial Linux or Windows use. Houdini offers a free plan and paid options for Windows, macOS, and Linux, while Gaea has a Windows-only Community Edition for non-commercial use at 1,024 × 1,024 single-build resolution. For web-based generation with a capped free tier of 12 monthly usage units, 1K maximum resolution, and 1 GB storage, consider PBRize.

Browse Game Texture Software and 3D Texturing Software for more options.

Verdict

Choose ArmorPaint if you want a standalone PBR texture painter with procedural nodes, broad format support, and a one-time purchase that includes updates. Its main draw is bringing painting and node-based authoring together, but look elsewhere if you need a free plan, mature sculpting, or dependable finished live-link plugins.