Procedures

To use the Brush Preset Manager:

1. Access any of the brush tools listed above.

   The tool starts with a default brush.

2. Right-click an empty area on a toolbar, such as the main toolbar below the Named Selection Sets drop-down list, and choose Brush Presets.
   

   This opens the Brush Presets toolbar.

3. On the toolbar, click Brush Preset Manager.

Interface

Context

Choose the context for the settings in the list window. The Brush Presets feature recognizes four contexts and shows the current context as active:

• VertexPaint (modifier)
• PaintDeform (Paint Deformation; Edit/Editable Poly)
• PaintSoftSel (Paint Soft Selection; Edit/Editable Poly)
• Paint Skin Weights (Skin modifier)

Icon Size Min/Max

Sets the range of the brush size depicted on the toolbar. Changing the actual brush size between the minimum and maximum settings changes the image of the brush as depicted on its button to show its size relative to the other presets. Changes to the brush size outside these limits are not reflected on the toolbar buttons.

Add

Adds a new preset to the list, using the current brush settings. When you click Add, you're prompted to enter a name for the new preset. Edit the name and then click OK to create the new preset. The new preset appears highlighted at the end of the list and the toolbar.

NoteIf 50 presets already exist, you won't be able to add any new ones.

Duplicate

Adds a copy of the highlighted preset to the list. When you click Duplicate, you're prompted to enter a name for the new preset. Edit the name and then click OK to create the new, duplicate preset. The preset appears highlighted at the end of the list and the toolbar.

NoteIf 50 presets already exist, you won't be able to add any new ones via duplication.

Delete

Deletes the brush preset highlighted in the list from both the list and the toolbar.

Load

Lets you load a saved Preset (BPR) file. Click Load to open the Load Brush Preset File dialog, click a BPR file to load, and then click Open. The loaded Preset file replaces the current presets.

Save

Lets you save a custom Preset (BPR) file, containing all current brush presets. Click Save to open the Save Brush Preset File dialog, specify a BPR file to save, and then click Save. You can then load the Preset file into 3ds Max at any time.

[presets list]

Shows all presets in a scrollable list. Each list entry shows a small version of the button image, the preset name, ranges for Strength and Size, Mirror and Mode settings, and other settings depending on the context.

To rename a button preset, double-click its name and then edit or enter a new one. Other settings are available from the applicable rollout and the Painter Options dialog. For example, you can set the brush strength and size on the applicable rollout, but to set the range, which is used by a pressure-sensitive input device such as a pen and tablet, you must use the Painter Options dialog. Mirror options are also available only from this dialog.

The list shows the following general and contextual information:

• General (all contexts):
  • Strength (with range)
  • Size (with range)
  • Mirror on/off (with axis and offset, if on)
  • Falloff values (set via the Painter Options graph, displayed as a gradient in the button image)
• VertexPaint
  • Mode (brush state: Paint, Erase, Blur Brush)
  • Color
  • Opacity
  • BlurStrength (if Mode=Blur Brush)
• PaintDeform
  • Mode (brush state: Push/Pull, Relax, Revert)
  • Axis (if brush is Push/Pull)
  • Push/Pull Value (if brush is Push/Pull)
• PaintSoftSel
  • Mode (brush state: Paint, Blur, Revert)
  • Selection Value
• Paint Skin Weights (Skin modifier)
  • Mode (Paint, Blend [Paint Blend Weights=on])