If your next 3D shot demands a textured globe with properly mapped UDIMs and a side of sanity, the Figments UDIM Globe add-on might be worth a look. The free tool lets artists generate globe objects complete with baked-in UVs optimised for UDIM texture layouts—a rare case where world-building starts with fewer headaches. Created by developer Figments, this add-on creates spherical objects with UDIM-compliant UVs right out of the gate. No manual UV unwrapping, no endless fiddling with seams—just a sphere and a texture-ready UV layout that starts at tile 1001 (UDIM’s default numbering) and continues eastward as needed.
UVs, but make them planet-sized
The key feature of UDIM Globe is automatic generation of UVs that tile across UDIM spaces, allowing artists to wrap textures seamlessly around the sphere using tile-based workflows. This is particularly handy for artists working in physically based rendering (PBR) setups, where assets often need high-res, multi-tile textures for close-up beauty shots. The tool doesn’t just generate the sphere and UVs. It also creates a rotation rig, so the globe can be spun in your scene immediately after creation—useful for animations or motion graphics.
Use cases and limitations
The add-on targets workflows where globe-style objects need UDIM textures applied efficiently. Think of it as a shortcut for animation, visualisation, or VFX shots that include Earth-like bodies, stylised planets, or any situation requiring procedural yet UDIM-compatible geometry. That said, there are no additional controls for surface detail, shader presets, or deformation—this is not a planet generator in the vein of Gaea or World Machine. It’s a UV-and-rotation solution, not a full-on terrain engine.
Compatibility and install
Figments UDIM Globe runs in Blender, and installation follows the default Blender add-on process: download the toolset here via GumRoad (hosted by Figments), install it as a zipped archive in Blender’s preferences, and start mapping. Because this is a free, open-source utility, artists are encouraged to check the tool’s GitHub page for updates, notes, and community feedback. As with any new plugin, especially in production workflows, it’s best to test it in isolated setups before committing it to pipeline-critical tasks.
Price and availability
This asset pack is completely free – even for commercial use! But any payment or donation is greatly appreciated. The add-on can be downloaded from GumRoad.
