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ABOUT ME

Meet Sébastien

Sébastien Deguy serves as Vice President of 3D & Immersive at Adobe, where he leads initiatives combining Adobe's creative tools with Substance 3D technology. In 2001, he founded Allegorithmic, developing the revolutionary Substance 3D suite for material authoring and texturing. He led the company for 17 years until its acquisition by Adobe in 2019.

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His work fundamentally changed visual effects in film production. The Substance 3D tools proved essential in creating effects for major films, including "Spider-Man: No Way Home," "Dune," and "Blade Runner 2049." In 2023, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored Deguy and his team with a Scientific and Technical Academy Award for the development of Substance Designer and the Substance Engine, recognizing their transformative impact on movie visual effects and animation.

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The roots of Substance technology trace back to Deguy's computer science PhD thesis. He developed mathematical models for complex texture generation, which became the foundation for professional 3D material creation tools. His technical expertise pairs with deep artistic interests - he produces animated films, writes, and creates music. Most recently, he co-founded Sans Strings Studio, where he creates innovative CG puppetry and real-time animation using Unreal Engine technology, as showcased in projects like "Gleeful Beasts."

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Born in France's Auvergne region, Deguy originally aimed to attend film school before pursuing mathematics and computer science. Though rejected from film school, he found a different path to impact filmmaking through technology. He developed tools that help artists and creators bring their visions to life across gaming, film, and immersive media.

 

Today at Adobe, Deguy focuses on making professional 3D creation technology accessible to artists worldwide while pushing technical boundaries in material authoring and texturing. His work combines mathematical precision with artistic sensibility, reflecting his belief that technology should serve creative expression.

Certifications

  • Stanford Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate (2014-2017)

  • Gamification Certification from Coursera (2014)

  • Introduction to Computational Arts: Processing from Coursera (2014)

Qualifications

  • PhD in Computer Science from Université d'Auvergne (1998-2001)

  • Stanford University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program (2014-2017)

  • Technical Achievement Academy Award (2023)

  • Expert in 3D texturing and material authoring

  • 20+ years experience in computer graphics and software development

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