Managing Scenes and Projects > Using Layers to Organize a Scene > 
Manage Layers Dialog
 
 
 
Command entry:Main toolbar (Manage Layers)
Command entry: Layers toolbar (Manage Layers)
Command entry:Tools menu Manage Layers

The modeless Manage Layers dialog, available from the main toolbar, is where you create and delete layers. You can also view and edit the settings for all layers in the scene, as well as the objects associated with them. You can specify the name, visibility, renderability, color, and objects' and layers' inclusion in the radiosity solution from this dialog.

Objects are organized by layer in the dialog, in an expandable list. By clicking ‘+’ or ‘-‘, you can expand or collapse (respectively) the object list for each layer. You can also sort the layers by clicking any of the column heads.

Another useful tool is the ability to open the Object Properties dialog and Layer Properties dialog for one or more highlighted objects or layers directly from the Manage Layers dialog by clicking the corresponding icon.

NoteYou can change the property settings for each layer or object by clicking the corresponding icon in the dialog. With each click, the icons cycle through the various states of the property, including Off () and By Layer (), and, in the Render, Color, and Radiosity columns, By Object. When a property is set to By Layer, the object inherits the property setting from its associated layer.

Procedures

To create a new layer:

When you create new layers, 3ds Max names them sequentially by default: Layer01, Layer02, and so on. After creating a layer, you can rename it. 3ds Max assigns a random color to all new layers. You can accept the default settings or specify other colors.

  1. On the main toolbar, click (Manage Layers).
  2. On the Manage Layers dialog, click (Create New Layer).

    3ds Max displays a new layer in the list with the temporary name Layer01.

  3. Click the Layer to enter a new name.
  4. To create more than one layer, click New again and enter the new layer name.
    TipIf an existing layer is highlighted when you create a new layer, the new layer inherits the properties of the highlighted layer. You can modify the properties of the new layer, if necessary, as illustrated in the following procedures.

To make a layer current:

  1. On the main toolbar, click (Manage Layers).
  2. On the Manage Layers dialog, click the second column next to the layer name.

    A check box appears, indicating that the layer is current.

    NoteThe current layer is also displayed on the title bar of the Manage Layers dialog.

To make a layer current (alternate method):

To hide a layer:

  1. On the Layers toolbar, click (Manage Layers).
  2. Use the Manage Layers dialog to highlight the layers to hide.
  3. In the Hide column, click (Off) to turn Hide on for the highlighted layer(s).

    The Manage Layers dialog displays the Hide icon.

    TipYou can hide all layers by clicking (Hide/Unhide All Layers) on the Manage Layers dialog toolbar.

To freeze a layer:

Freezing layers is useful when you want to edit objects associated with particular layers but also want to view, without editing, objects on other layers. You can't edit or select objects on a frozen layer; however, the objects are still visible if the layer is on. You can make a frozen layer current, and you can add new objects to the frozen layer.

  1. On the main toolbar, click (Manage Layers).
  2. Use the Manage Layers dialog to highlight the layers to freeze.
  3. In the Freeze column, click (Off) to turn Freeze on for the highlighted layer(s).

    The list displays the Freeze icon.

    TipYou can freeze all layers by clicking (Freeze/Unfreeze All Layers) on the Manage Layers dialog toolbar.

To assign a color to a layer:

You can assign a color to a layer using the Manage Layers dialog. For example, you can assign the color red to a layer named HVAC to help you identify the mechanical equipment in your scene.

  1. On the main toolbar, click (Manage Layers).
  2. In the Manage Layers dialog list, click the Color icon for the layer to change (this also highlights the layer).
  3. Use the Layer Color dialog to pick a color, and then click OK.

To rename a layer:

You might want to rename a layer to better define how it's used in your scene. You can rename any layer except Layer 0 at any time during a 3ds Max session.

  1. On the main toolbar, click (Manage Layers).
  2. On the Manage Layers dialog, highlight a layer to rename.
  3. Click the layer’s name again and enter a new name.

To delete a layer:

You can delete an empty layer at any time during a 3ds Max session. However, you can't delete the current layer, Layer 0, or a layer that contains objects.

  1. On the main toolbar, click (Manage Layers).
  2. In the Manage Layers dialog list, highlight one or more layers, and then click (Delete Empty Layer).

To open the Object Properties dialog for an object selection:

  1. On the main toolbar, click (Manage Layers).
  2. In the Manage Layers dialog list, expand the layers that contain the objects to modify and then highlight the objects.
  3. Click the Object Properties icon next to any of the highlighted entries to open the Object Properties dialog for the highlighted objects.

To open the Layer Properties dialog for a layer selection:

  1. On the main toolbar, click (Manage Layers).
  2. Highlight one or more layers in the Manage Layers dialog list.
  3. Click the Layer Properties icon of any of the highlighted layers (each layer’s icon is immediately to the left of the layer name in the list). This opens the Layer Properties dialog for the highlighted layers.
    NoteIf you click the Layer Properties icon of an unhighlighted layer, the dialog opens for that layer only.

Interface

Title Bar

The title bar displays the word “Layer” followed by the name of the active Layer. For example, if Layer02 is the active layer, the title bar will read Layer: Layer02.

Manage Layers dialog toolbar

Create New Layer

Creates a new layer containing any selected objects.

The new layer's name is generated automatically ("Layer01", "Layer02", and so on) but you can change it by clicking the label.

NoteThe new layer becomes the current layer.
Delete Highlighted Empty Layers

Deletes highlighted layers if they are empty.

NoteThis button is unavailable if the highlighted set of layers contains any of the following: nothing (that is, no layers are highlighted), the active layer, objects, Layer 0, or non-empty layers.
Add Selected Objects to Highlighted Layer

Moves currently selected objects into the highlighted layer.

NoteThis button is unavailable if nothing is selected or if more than one layer is highlighted.
Select Highlighted Objects and Layers

Selects all of highlighted objects, as well as all objects contained in any highlighted layers.

NoteThis button is unavailable if nothing is highlighted.
Highlight Selected Objects' Layers

Highlights layers containing the currently selected objects and automatically scrolls so that highlighted layers are visible in the Manage Layers dialog list.

NoteThis button is unavailable if nothing is selected.
Hide/Unhide All Layers

Toggles the display of all layers.

TipThis command is useful for displaying only a few layers in a scene with many layers. First hide all layers and then display only the layers to work on.
Freeze/Unfreeze All Layers

Toggles the frozen state of all layers.

TipThis command is useful if you freeze all layers and then unfreeze only the layers to work on.

List of layers

Displays layers, their associated objects, and their properties. To expand or collapse the object list for each layer, click ‘+’ or ‘-’, respectively. To modify a property, click its icon. To select all layers quickly, right-click and choose Highlight All Layers. To open the Object/Layer Properties dialog, click the icon next to the object or layer.

Each property has a unique icon to indicate that it is enabled, while all properties share the same icon for the off () and By Layer () states.

NoteBy Layer is available only at the object level, in the Render, Color, and Radiosity columns.
TipYou can sort the layers by any of their properties by clicking the column name.
Layers

Displays the names of the layers and objects. To highlight a layer, click its name, or to rename a layer, click its name twice.

Note Clicking the layer icon opens the Layer Properties dialog for all highlighted layers.

Clicking the object icon opens the Object Properties dialog for all highlighted objects.

Current Layer Toggle

The unlabeled column to the right of the layer name indicates the current layer and lets you make a different layer current.

A check mark appears next to the current layer. Click the check box next to another layer name to make it current.

Hide

Hides and unhides layers. When a layer is hidden, it's invisible. You might want to hide layers that contain construction or reference information.

Freeze

Freezes layers. You can't select or edit objects on a frozen layer. Freezing a layer is useful if you want to view information on a layer for reference but don't want to edit objects on that layer.

Render

When on, objects appear in the rendered scene. Non-rendering objects don't cast shadows or affect the visual component of the rendered scene. Like dummy objects, non-rendering objects can manipulate other objects in the scene.

Shape objects have the Render option turned on by default. In addition, they have a Renderable check box in their creation parameters. When both check boxes are on, the shape is renderable. If either check boxes are off, the shape isn’t renderable. If you apply a modifier that converts the shape into a mesh object, such as a Lathe or Extrude modifier, the shape automatically becomes renderable regardless of the state of its local Renderable check box.

For shapes, the Renderable toggle in the Object Properties dialog affects the main object, so it also affects all instances of and references to the shape.

Color

Changes the color associated with the highlighted layers. You can select another color by clicking the color swatch to display either the Object Color dialog (for objects), or the Layer Color dialog (for layers).

You can set an object’s color independently, or turn on ByLayer in the Object Color dialog to use the associated layer’s color.

Radiosity

When on, objects are included in the radiosity solution. Objects not included in the radiosity solution do not contribute to indirect illumination. If these objects are lights, only their direct contribution will be used for rendering.

NoteRemoving objects from the radiosity solution can significantly decrease radiosity processing and rendering time, however it does sacrifice some accuracy in the solution. It can be useful for creating quick test renders.

Manage Layers Dialog Right-Click Menu

A standard pop-up menu opens over the Manage Layers dialog by right-clicking anywhere on the dialog. The menu contains a variety of layer-management and focus operations.

Some of the operations involve highlighted items or selected objects in your scene. Right-clicking an item in the list highlights that entry and removes any existing highlighting, unless you Ctrl+right-click, in which case existing highlighting is preserved.

Rename

Initiates text-editing mode for the highlighted layer's name; press Enter when done.

The software enforces unique layer names. If you enter an existing name, a modal dialog pops up, stating “Invalid Layer Name. The layer names must be unique in this dialog session.”

NoteRename is available only for layers; objects cannot be renamed with the Manage Layers dialog. Likewise, Rename is available only when a single layer is highlighted.
Cut

Stores references to highlighted objects in memory so they can be pasted into another layer.

Cut applies to layers and objects. Cutting a layer applies to all objects on the layer.

NoteObjects are not actually cut from their assigned layer until they are pasted to another one.
Paste

Moves cut objects into the highlighted layer.

If multiple layers are highlighted, Paste applies to the most recently highlighted layer.

Collapse All

Closes all expanded layers, hiding the object lists.

Expand All

Expands all layers, displaying the objects within each.

Create New Layer

Creates a new layer containing any currently selected objects.

The new layer becomes the current layer. Its name is generated automatically ("Layer01", "Layer02", and so on) but can be changed by clicking its label twice.

Delete

Deletes any empty highlighted layer.

NoteThis does not delete objects. Likewise, this command is not available when your selection includes Layer0, any objects, or any layer containing objects.
Add Selected Objects

Places objects currently selected in your scene into the highlighted layer.

NoteThis command is available only when a single layer is highlighted.
Select

Selects in the scene all objects or layers highlighted in the Manage Layers dialog list.

NoteIf you use this command on a layer, all objects in that layer are selected.
Highlight Selected Objects' Layers

Highlights all layers that contain objects in the current scene selection.

Highlight All Layers

Highlights all of the layers in your scene.

NoteThis command does not highlight any objects.
Layer Properties

Opens the Layer Properties dialog for the currently highlighted layers.

Object Properties

Opens the Object Properties dialog for the currently highlighted objects.

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