Layers window
 
 
 

In Mudbox, a layer is like a transparent piece of acetate that can contain information. Mudbox provides two layer types: sculpt and paint.

The Layers window lets you control both of these layer types. To view the Layers window, click the tab titled Layers in the upper right corner of the user interface.

Mudbox attempts to select the correct layer type depending on which tool (sculpt or paint) you currently have selected. In many cases, you’ll need to click the Sculpt or Paint mode button at the top of the Layers window to perform layer operations.

The Layers window menu ( ) lets you perform many layers operations. The contents of this menu change depending on which layer mode (Sculpt or Paint) is selected.

For more information on the Layers window menu, see Sculpt Layers window.

Sculpt layers

Sculpt layers let you:

Paint layers

Let you create texture information (for example, diffuse color, specular, bump, reflection, and so on) by painting directly on your 3D model.

The paint information is saved as discrete channels. Any paint layers you create are automatically saved with your .mud file. You can also export paint layers as maps in a variety of file formats. You can modify the properties on a particular paint layer (for example, opacity) or delete it without affecting the texture properties on other layers. You can set layer blend modes for paint layers. You can import images to paint layers.

You can view how your texture painting appears in the 2D texture space of your model using the UV View. The UV texture coordinates for the model are also displayed which can be a useful visual reference. Sculpt and paint layers can be used in combination to let you split surface detail for a material - for example, you can create texture map sets for a shading material with separate channels for skin, mud, warts, and scars, and then store each channel's detail on a separate layer.

You can view the images you paint using the Image Browser.

Related topics

Sculpt using layers

Paint using layers

Using the Image Browser

Create New Paint Layer window

Painting basics