Export a paint channel containing multiple layers to Photoshop

1. (In Mudbox) In the Paint Layers window, select the paint channel containing the layers you want to export. For example, Diffuse, Gloss, or Bump.
2. Right-click the channel or one of the layers and select Export Channel to PSD (or select > Export Channel to PSD from the window menu button.)
3. In the Export Paint Channel to PSD window that appears, select a directory, enter a filename, then click Save.
   NoteIf the selected channel includes any layers greater than 8 bits, Mudbox automatically exports a 16 bit PSD file.

   The paint channel containing the multiple paint layers is exported. Photoshop launches automatically, and the file appears in the Canvas view.

   NoteIf Photoshop does not launch automatically, see Troubleshoot paint layers.

   (In Photoshop) The Layers window (Hotkey: F7) displays the paint layers you exported from Mudbox with two additional layers: Mudbox Base Mesh, and Mudbox <channel name> Background.

   If the texture is composed of multiple UV tiles, a separate .psd file is created for each tile. The origin tile file name (U0, V0) is named similar to the file name you specify. Non-origin UV tile files have their tile position appended to their file name (for example: <layername>_unumber_vnumber appended to the file names where number specifies the starting point in UV space for that tile.

   
   • Mudbox Base Mesh: Contains an image of the model's UV tile layout (based on the base subdivision level for the model), and is intended to be a visual reference. Locked by default and should not be modified.
   • Paint layer name <n>: The layers in the paint channel you exported are displayed with their respective layer names. Any layer blend mode, opacity, visibility, or lock settings from Mudbox are maintained in Photoshop.

     If the Mudbox paint channel contains paint layers with different resolutions and file formats, all images are scaled to match the highest resolution image. Any images scaled during import are returned to their original resolution, bit depth, and file format when the paint channel is re-imported to Mudbox using Import Channel from PSD.

   • Mudbox <channel name> Background - Contains the diffuse color of the default material background color, also intended to be a visual reference. Locked by default and should not be modified.

     You can turn the visibility on or off for any layer as you work in Photoshop. The visibility settings are ignored when the file is re-imported to Mudbox.

     Important

     Do not change the layer names or the text or numerical content within the angle brackets <> when working on the file in Photoshop. Editing either the layer name or the numerical strings prevents the layers from being imported back to Mudbox.

     In general, the channel export and import workflow requires that you not delete or change the order of the original layers or make changes to the layer blend modes or opacity settings while in Photoshop.

4. Perform any paint work or edits as required on the paint layers using the tools within Photoshop, ensuring that you do not change the layer order.
   Note You can create other paint layers in the file but they must be merged with one of the original paint layers before the file is re-imported to Mudbox.
5. When finished working in Photoshop, save the file by selecting File > Save.
6. (In Mudbox) In the Paint Layers window, right-click the channel or one of its layers and select Import Channel from PSD (or select > Import Channel from PSD from the window menu button.)

   The Open browser window appears.

   When you import the .psd file into the original file in Mudbox using Import Channel from PSD it determines what edits were made on the paint layers and imports only the layers that changed since the export, scales them if required, and converts them back to their original bit depth. The contents of the Mudbox Base Mesh and Mudbox <channel name> Background layers are ignored during the re-import.

   Note When re-importing a paint channel containing multiple UV tiles Mudbox attempts to load one .psd file per UV tile. The origin tile (U0, V0) is loaded by selecting the specified .psd file name as usual and the associated non-origin tiles are subsequently loaded automatically. If a .psd file for a non-origin tile is missing, it is ignored and the associated UV tile is not updated in Mudbox.
7. Save the file in Mudbox to ensure the Photoshop edits are updated in the original texture files associated with the paint layers for the paint channel.

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