Mudbox supports several
image formats for stencils and stamps. While images that are 8 bits
in depth can be used, better results can be achieved with images
that are 16 or 32 bit depth.
If you plan to use vector
displacement maps for stamps or stencils they can be created in
Mudbox via texture extraction and saved as 32 bit TIFF images. For
more information on extracting a vector displacement map, see
Extract a vector displacement map.
Using Photoshop for stencils
and stamps
If you want to create stamps and
stencils with an alpha channel (RGBA), and have16 bits per channel
as their bit depth, you can use an editing application such as Adobe
Photoshop, using the following steps:
- Launch Photoshop.
- Select File > New... The New window
appears.
- In the New window,
set the following options and click OK.
- Width: As
required.
- Height: As
required.
- Color Mode:
RGB Color - 16 bit
- Background Contents:
Transparent (Ensures an alpha channel is created for the image.)
- Advanced > Color
Profile: Don’t Color Manage this Document (Ensures the
file is not tagged with an existing color profile.
A new blank image appears
in the work area. A checkered background on the canvas indicates
the presence of the alpha channel.
NoteThe Height and Width
for a stamp image can range anywhere between 256 and 512 pixels,
and must be square in proportion. If producing an image for a stencil,
the Height and Width can be non-square in proportion.
- Paint your stamp or stencil.
- When finished, save the image by selecting File
> Save As...
- In the Save As... window,
specify a filename for the image, set the following items, then
click Save.
- Format: Select
TIFF from the drop-down list.
- Save Options: Save:
Layers: Off
- In the TIFF Options window
that appears, set the following options, then click OK.
- Image Compression: LZW.
- Pixel Order:
Interleaved (RGBRGB)
- Byte Order:
IBM PC
- Save Transparency:
On
- Layer Compression:
Discard Layers and Save a Copy.
- If you want the image to appear in the
Stamp or Stencil tray, copy it to the following Mudbox directories:
- (Windows) <drive>:\My Documents\Mudbox\2011\data\Stamps
- (Windows) <drive>:\My Documents\Mudbox\2011\data\Stencils
- (Mac OS X) /Users/<username>/Library/Application
Support/Autodesk/Mudbox 2011/Stamps
- (Mac OS X) /Users/<username>/Library/Application
Support/Autodesk/Mudbox 2011/Stencils
NoteLoading an image
into the tray isn’t a requirement for using an image as a stamp
or stencil, but it is useful if you want to reuse it.
- When placed in these directories the
new image appears in the associated tray the next time you launch
Mudbox.
NoteIf the stencil or
stamp image does not appear in the appropriate tray, your Mudbox
settings may be corrupted. Exit Mudbox, delete the Settings directory,
and restart Mudbox.
