3D artist Alex Martinelli has released a Geometry Nodes setup for Blender that converts any mesh into a sponge-like structure using volumetric processing. The tool converts the input mesh into a volume grid and performs subtraction operations in volume space to create a porous internal structure. The resulting object can remain a volume or be converted back into a polygonal mesh inside Blender.

Procedural Sponge Modifier in Blender Geometry-Nodes.
Get it for FREE on Gumroad: https://t.co/6fGqdIBo7j#b3d #geometrynodes pic.twitter.com/rN5SVrGQkT

— Alex Martinelli (@5agado) January 15, 2026

The modifier is entirely procedural and non-destructive. Artists can adjust parameters controlling the density and scale of the pores, allowing for anything from mildly absorbent props to geometry that looks as if it should be left to dry near an open window. The approach avoids manual modelling and relies on Blender’s volume and Geometry Nodes systems rather than sculpting or texture-based tricks.

Volumes, bubbles, and bathroom acoustics

According to the creator, the tool requires Blender 5.0 or newer. Rendering guidance recommends using Cycles for volume output, as It handles volumetric rendering more reliably than Eevee in this context. This is not presented as a performance claim, merely practical advice from the creator. No benchmarks or render time comparisons are provided. The setup does not include presets for specific real-world materials. Any resemblance to kitchen sponges, bath sponges, or that one sponge that should really have been thrown away last year is purely the responsibility of the user.

Distribution and pricing

The Procedural Sponge Modifier is available via Gumroad with a base price of zero euros. Users can download the file for free or pay an optional fee. No additional licence terms or usage restrictions are specified beyond Gumroad’s standard terms. At press time, no formal documentation beyond the node graph itself is provided.

Production reality check

As with any Geometry Nodes asset that relies on volumetric processing, results will depend heavily on mesh scale, resolution, and scene settings. Artists planning to use the generated geometry in downstream pipelines such as export to other DCCs or engines should test conversions carefully. Dense sponge meshes can become very heavy very quickly, much like a real sponge that has absorbed far too much water and regret. New tools and procedural assets should always be tested in actual production environments before being adopted into established workflows, preferably before the sponge starts dripping.

https://sagado.gumroad.com/l/ucjwm

The post Blender turns meshes into sponges. Rubber duck not included first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Alex Martinelli’s Procedural Fern file is a Geometry Nodes–driven asset, not a traditional mesh or model. The procedural approach means all parameters—leaf count, angle, roll, global noise, shape, and distribution—are exposed and can be animated, keyframed, or driven by external attributes. No manual duplication, no static geometry.

Free procedural fern in Blender Geometry-Nodeshttps://t.co/MhH6yQmSZd

– recursive leaves distribution
– control and randomize roll factor
– distribute in circle or area
– control leaves count, shape, roll, distribution and orientation
– extra global noise for realism pic.twitter.com/AredHCLo5Q

— Alex Martinelli (@5agado) June 9, 2025

The core rig uses recursion in Geometry Nodes for distributing leaves, achieving the fractal-like quality of real ferns. Roll randomness injects plausible, non-uniform behavior, so you avoid “copy-paste” repetition. Leaf inclination and global noise let you art-direct plant look and feel without ever entering Edit Mode.

The system can deploy ferns in either a circle or arbitrary area pattern. This is critical for large-scale shots—think forest ground cover or fantasy set dressing—where variation is essential for realism and avoiding pattern artifacts.

Shader & Material: Built-In, But Flexible

Martinelli’s rig ships with a texture-based Blender material. According to the Gumroad page, this is designed to offer “variation in surface appearance” out of the box. In production, this means assets can be instanced at scale with baked-in randomness, cutting down on manual shader tweaks per plant.

Texture maps are linked and ready; customization is possible by swapping or editing these textures. This setup is compatible with Blender’s native rendering stack (Cycles, Eevee) and does not require third-party plugins.

Pipeline Integration: Animation, Instancing, Export

Because the ferns are procedural, animators can keyframe nearly every visual property—opening, closing, growth, or environmental reactions. The rig is non-destructive: parameter changes ripple down the node chain instantly. For scatter tools or large scenes, the rig’s “area distribution” means you can plug into particle systems or Geometry Nodes scattering networks with minimal prep.

However, procedurally-driven Geometry Nodes assets are not the same as classic static meshes for export. Artists intending to move assets to USD, Alembic, or game engines will need to apply the modifiers or bake the geometry. This adds a manual step, so test your export workflow for compatibility before deploying the asset at scale.

Usability & Stability: Is It Production Ready?

Test results from both 80 Level and Gumroad suggest the rig is stable in Blender 4.3+ and performs as expected for typical VFX/environment work. All controls are accessible in the modifier stack, no scripting or add-ons required.

The node network is “non-destructive,” so you can duplicate, instance, and tweak without corrupting the base rig. That said, performance will depend on leaf count, recursion depth, and instancing scale. For hundreds of thousands of instances, be aware of memory usage and preview lag. Production artists should test for frame drops or viewport slowdowns on complex scenes.

Licensing, Distribution, and Community Support

The rig is offered as a free download (name-your-price) and includes no usage restrictions as stated on Gumroad. Martinelli invites questions and feedback via Twitter/X or Threads. Other procedural assets (flowers, flocking, etc.) are available from his channel.

Source

Procedural Fern – Plant (Blender Geometry‑Nodes)

The post Procedural Ferns in Blender first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.