Ucupaint 3.0 is out: Blender texture painting gets separate displacement channels

Version 3.0 of Ucupaint, a free texture painting add-on for Blender, was announced on October 28, 2026. According to 80 Level, developer ucupumar released the update, which includes extensive changes, after about a year of work. The version number jumped directly to 3.0, skipping 2.5 because of the scope of the update. The new release introduces changes across the add-on, from its interface and channel structure to its layers and bake settings.

Interface and channel structure changes

The layer list is more prominent in the Ucupaint 3.0 interface, while other panels are collapsed into sections or pop-up windows by default. The add-on also automatically creates a new Base Layer, which is used to edit the base values of channels.

One major change to the channel layout is that Height and Vector Displacement data are no longer part of the Normal channel. Both data types are now managed in their own channels. Displacement Setup has also been updated as the Quick Displacement Setup operator. The operator enables displacement and subdivides the mesh; because it can be run again, it makes it easier to check whether polygon density is sufficient.

Preview, layers and decal options

Previously, channels and layers had separate preview workflows. In version 3.0, these have been combined into a single mode. It allows users to inspect channels and layers, as well as layer alpha, masks and custom data.

The update adds Adjustment Layers, which apply modifiers to data from the previous layer. Spherical and cylindrical types have also been added to the decal options. The release also includes various bug fixes.

More control over bake targets

A bake target must now be specified before a channel can be baked. The target’s name, resolution and other settings can be edited individually. There is no need to prepare the target manually: Ucupaint can create one for new channels based on the settings in the Bake Ucupaint node.

The new bake system also supports ORM maps and color attributes as targets. This allows target settings to be configured per channel while also bringing different data types into the process.

Impact on architectural and visualization workflows

Those using Blender to prepare textures and materials for architectural visualization projects can manage Height and Vector Displacement data in separate channels. The unified preview helps users inspect channels, layers, masks and alpha values in one mode, while Adjustment Layers offer the option to apply modifiers to data from the previous layer. Setting bake targets per channel also brings output configuration into this workflow.

80 Level reports that Ucupaint 3.0 was tested and is compatible with Blender versions 2.76 through 5.3. This does not guarantee compatibility with other add-ons used in projects; testing in the current setup before moving to existing files would be a cautious approach. The source provides no information about specific hardware requirements or licensing terms.