Assign a shader to a surface using the Apply Shaders tool

The Render > Apply Shaders tool simplifies the workflow for assigning shaders. The tool provides two menus that display when you click the and . Use these menus to assign shaders to your models quickly and easily.

Using the , you can assign shaders using four different filters.

The provides four tools that perform shading functions.

To enter the Apply Shaders tool

Open the Visualize control panel.
Choose Render > Apply Shaders. The view changes to decorate mode and switches to hardware shade display (using the settings defined in WindowDisplay > Hardware Display ❒). By default, only the view and the Visualization panel show. You can select which interface elements show by selecting Render > Apply Shaders ❒.
The tool also enters the last active tool, by default, Assign by Component.

You can assign shaders using this tool, or you can switch to a tool.

Note
When you first select the Apply Shaders tool, a help image displays in the bottom right corner of the view indicating what to do in the tool. The image disappears when you press a mouse button.

When you first press the after entering the tool, a help prompt appears under the control, instructing you to choose an assignment mode. When you first press the after entering the tool, a help prompt appears under the control, instructing you to choose a tool state.

To exit the Apply Shader tool

Select another tool.

To assign a shader

Hold the and drag to select an assignment mode.
Assign by Component

Assign the active shader to a single surface or mesh.

Assign by Material

Assign the active shader to all the geometry that use the same material as the clicked geometry.

Assign by Object

Assign the active shader to all the components that are grouped in the same object.

Assign by Layer

Assign the active shader to all the geometry in the same layer as the clicked geometry.
Select the shader you want to assign.
With the , click the geometry or drag a box around it.

To pick a shader assigned to geometry and make the shader active

Hold the and drag to select the Shader Picker tool.
With the , click the geometry that has the shader you are picking. The shader assigned to the clicked geometry becomes active and the tool switches to the last active Apply tool.

To edit the projected texture assigned to geometry

Hold the and drag to select the Open Shader Editor tool.
With the , click the geometry that has the projected texture that you want to edit assigned to it.
The Shader Editor displays, where you can edit the projected texture.

To duplicate the shader assigned to geometry

Hold the and drag to select the Duplicate Shader tool.
With the , click the geometry that has the shader you want to duplicate assigned to it.
The shader assigned to the geometry is duplicated and then assigned to the geometry

To create a layered shader and add to it the shader assigned to geometry

Hold the and drag to select the Create Layered Shader tool.
With the , click the geometry with the shader assigned to it that you want add to a new layer.
A layered shader is created and the shader assigned to the picked geometry is added to the new layered shader. The layered shader is then assigned to the clicked geometry.