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Known Participant
February 5, 2026
Answered

How to view displacement clearly on Mac OS?

  • February 5, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 20 views

Hi, 

I am trying to get up and running with Substance Designer, and I notice the default renderer has been updated since I last used the software. I am working in a fresh scene, and trying to visualize my height/displacement in isolation. My renderer is set to the GPU Pathtracer, and I have increased my tessellation values on a Sphere 2 tiles. However, rolling the lights in the 3d viewport just removes any visibility of the displacement, and I can really only see it in the shadows. I have attached a screenshot for your viewing.

Is this a bug or user error on my part? 

Lastly, is there a way to isolate a node in the 3d view so I can see each change one at a time? I was looking at documentation and apparently 1 or 2 on the keyboard is supposed to do this, but in my case it just toggles the link creation mode.

Thanks.

 

    Correct answer Cyril Dellenbach

    Hello ​@jonoiii,

     

    This is the expected behavior considering nothing is plug neither in the Normal channel, nor in the Ambient Occlusion. Try to plug the Tile Sampler in the Normal node.

     

    Also, if you want to view a specific node in the 3D view:
    RMB > View in 3D view

     

    1 reply

    Cyril Dellenbach
    Community Manager
    Cyril DellenbachCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
    Community Manager
    February 5, 2026

    Hello ​@jonoiii,

     

    This is the expected behavior considering nothing is plug neither in the Normal channel, nor in the Ambient Occlusion. Try to plug the Tile Sampler in the Normal node.

     

    Also, if you want to view a specific node in the 3D view:
    RMB > View in 3D view

     

    Cyril Dellenbach (Micro) | QA Support Artist | Adobe
    jonoiiiAuthor
    Known Participant
    February 5, 2026

    Thank you Cyril. Works great.