Save or export paint layers

When you save a model, Mudbox automatically saves any paint layers in the same directory as your .mud file. The paint layers are saved in a subdirectory with the same name as your .mud file with a -files extension (for example, <filename>-files).

Exporting paint layers can be useful, for example, if you want to further edit or enhance the image in an image editing application, or convert the paint layer into another file format. For a list of supported image formats, see Paint file formats and color bit depth. You can export the image from any paint layer and save it in any paint layer format that Mudbox supports, including Ptex. You can export a single paint layer, export all layers for a particular model, or export all paint layers in the scene.

If you export your model using the FBX file format, any paint layers are saved in the same directory as your FBX file in a subdirectory with the same name as your FBX file with a .fbx-files extension (for example, <filename>.fbx-files).

For models with UVs, Mudbox saves one image for each paint layer by default, unless multiple UV tiles exist. In that case, Mudbox saves one image per UV tile. In addition, a background image that represents the background color for each channel (diffuse, specular, gloss) is saved to the files subdirectory.

For models set up for Ptex, Ptex textures are stored by default as .tiffs and not as Ptex files in the <filename>-files directory. If your pipeline requires Ptex textures, you can set Mudbox to automatically extract and save Ptex paint textures instead, although this does slow the process of saving your .mud files with painted Ptex models.

To have Mudbox automatically extract and save Ptex paint textures

1. Turn on the Save PTEX Textures with .mud file preference (under the Files heading in the Preferences window).

   The next time you save the scene, the paint layers are saved as Ptex files in the associated <filename>-files folder.

To export a single paint layer

1. Select the paint layer you want to export in the Paint Layers window.
2. Right-click the layer or open the Layers window menu (), and select Export Selected.
3. In the Export Paint Layer window that appears, select a directory and image format file type, then enter a name for the image and click Save.

To export all paint layers for an active or selected model

1. Do either of the following:
   • Select the model(s) with paint layers you want to export. (See Select and move items.)
   • Ensure the model whose layers you want to export is active in the scene.
2. Select File > Export All Paint Layers from the main menu bar.
3. In the Export All Paint Layers window that appears, use the Export Paint Layers for drop-down list to select the model(s) whose layers you want to export:
   • Select Active Model to export layers for only the last active model.
   • Choose Selected Models to export layers for the selected model(s).
   NoteThe Active Model option updates to display the name of the active model, and Selected Models updates to display the number of selected models.
4. Set any other file save options you want, including adjustments to the file name template, then click Export.

   All paint layers for the selected model are saved in the directory you specified in the Export All Paint Layers window. By default, layers are saved to your Data directory.

To export all paint layers

1. Select File > Export All Paint Layers from the main menu bar.
2. In the Export All Paint Layers window that appears, ensure that the Export Paint Layers for drop-down list is set to All Models.
3. Set any other file save options you want, including adjustments to the File Name Template (used to create file names for all the saved paint layer files), then click Export.
   TipWhen exporting all layers for multiple Ptex meshes that share the same material, add $O to the File Name Template field in the Export All Paint Layers options to ensure files for all objects are saved separately.

   (Using the $O wildcard character appends the object name to each paint layer file name.)

   All paint layers in the scene are saved using the file naming convention and the directory you specified in the Export All Paint Layers window.