by CG-Mechanics·Rendering
Images © CG-Mechanics. Used for product review; image policy.
Virtual Layer Displacement earns its place for a focused approach to height-based material blending built around a one-button workflow inside a single material. A 5-star rating from 8 reviews on superhive backs it up.
Virtual Layer Displacement is a Blender addon from CG-Mechanics for blending two PBR materials based on their height. You set up two texture sets inside a single material, then press the button to combine them. The addon began as a node group and is now a full addon, with version 2.2 the current release.
Control over the blend comes from a few inputs. A level slider lets you quickly layer the two materials, and adding an image texture gives more precise mixing. The VarStrength slider adjusts the deformation strength.
The addon supports Blender 3.6 and works with both the Cycles and Eevee render engines. It ships with documentation and is released under the GPL license. On superhive it holds a 5-star rating from 8 reviews, and a demo video is available.
Virtual Layer Displacement is best for blender artists who want to blend two PBR materials by height within a single material setup.
Virtual Layer Displacement is completely free to download and use.
Virtual Layer Displacement blends two PBR materials based on their height. You create two texture sets within one material and press the button to combine them. A level slider lets you quickly layer the materials, while adding an image texture gives more precise control over the mixing. The VarStrength slider adjusts the deformation strength. Together these controls handle the height-based blending inside a single material setup, and documentation is included for reference.
Virtual Layer Displacement lists Blender 3.6 as its supported version. If you are running a different release, it is worth checking the developer's page before installing, since compatibility with newer or older builds is not stated here. The addon has moved through several updates, arriving at version 2.2, and began life as a node group before becoming a full addon. Documentation is included with the download.
Virtual Layer Displacement is listed for both Cycles and Eevee, so you can use it across Blender's two main render engines. The addon blends two PBR materials based on their height, and that height-driven mixing works in either render engine. It is built for Blender 3.6 and installs as a full addon. For confirmation on specific engine settings, the developer's page and the included documentation are the best places to check.
Virtual Layer Displacement is listed as free in this catalog, and it is released under the GPL license. Licensing terms can change over time, so for the current details and any updated distribution terms it is best to visit the developer's page directly. The addon is a Dev Fund contributor and has been available for some time. Checking with CG-Mechanics ensures you have the latest information on how the addon is distributed and what the license permits for your projects.
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