Substances can be exported from Allegorithmics Substance Designer as .sbsar files. These files are procedural textures that can have exposed parameters for making adjustments outside of Substance Designer. Typically, these “Substances” will then be rendered as image maps. The Substance Reader allows you to do that inside of Lightwave, with the ability not only access, but also animate any exposed parameters.

Upon clicking the substance reader button, you will be prompted to select a .sbsar substance file.