Painting >
Painting basics

Before you begin painting on a model, consider the type of texture map you want to paint (diffuse/color, bump, gloss, reflection), the resolution/size of the image you want to produce, and finally the bit depth for the image.

The paint criteria are, in general, dependent on your rendering software, or your company’s production workflow requirements.

NoteFor best results, review Prepare a model for painting before you paint a model in Mudbox.

1. Load a model into the 3D View.
2. In the tool trays, select the Paint tab, and select the Paint Brush.

3. Stroke on the mesh to paint.

   The Create New Paint Layer window appears.

   NoteThe first time you paint on a model, the Create New Paint Layer window appears. You must have at least one paint layer in order to paint on a model.
4. In the Create New Paint Layer window, do the following, then click OK:
   - Name: Type a name for the layer.
   - Size: Select the size (resolution) for the image by selecting a number that represents the number of pixels along X and Y for the image (square aspect ratio - 256, 512, 1024, 2048 (default), 4096). The larger the image, the finer and sharper the detail you can apply when painting.
   - Save As: Specify the image file format and bit depth (8, 16, 32) for the image you are going to paint. For a list of supported image formats, see Paint file formats. The higher the bit depth, the smoother the blending of colors in the image. Higher bit depth images can sustain color and contrast adjustments with less degradation in quality compared to low bit depth images.
   - Channel: Specifies on which paint channel to apply the paint and how it appears on the model as a result. For example, if you want the paint to appear as the diffuse base color material for the model, select Diffuse (default). If you want to produce a texture that appears more tactile, for example, one that renders in relief or appears like it is embossed, select Bump Value. For more information on the channel types, see Create New Paint Layer window.
5. Stroke on the mesh in the area you want to apply paint. The default paint color is white.
   NoteThe default color for the Paint Brush tool is white so that when a stamp image is loaded onto a brush, the original color of the stamp image is maintained. Keep this in mind if you change the brush color and use a stamp. You can tint the color of the image when using a stamp by modifying the Color property for the Paint Brush tool.

   How the paint appears on the model is dependent on how you set the Channel setting for the paint layer.

6. To undo your previous paint stroke, select Edit > Undo (hotkey: Ctrl + Z).
7. To erase paint on the current paint layer, click the Paint Erase tool on the Paint Tools tray and stroke across the area you want to erase.
8. To save your paint work, select File > Save.

   When you save your model, any paint layers you created are saved in the same location as your .mud file in a subdirectory with the same name as your .mud file with a -files extension (filename-files). By default, two images are saved for each layer: a background image that represents the material background color, and an image containing the information you painted.

   To save individual paint layers, see Export a paint layer.

Related topics

Prepare a model for sculpting

Painting presets

Create New Paint Layer window

Save your work

Change the paint color

Copy color from a model

Paint using brush stamps

Paint using stencil projection

Paint using layers

Troubleshoot painting

The importance of image bit depth