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Saving images for stencils and stamps

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:

1. Launch Photoshop.
2. Select File > New... The New window appears.
3. 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.
4. Paint your stamp or stencil.
5. When finished, save the image by selecting File > Save As...
6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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.
9. 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.

Related topics

Sculpt using stencils

Stencil properties