{"id":2218,"date":"2022-09-19T17:24:42","date_gmt":"2022-09-19T17:24:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/3dcoat.com\/documentation\/?post_type=manual_documentation&p=2218"},"modified":"2025-12-23T18:06:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T18:06:41","slug":"smart-materials","status":"publish","type":"manual_documentation","link":"https:\/\/3dcoat.com\/documentation\/manual\/brush-components\/smart-materials\/","title":{"rendered":"Smart Materials"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Smart Materials<\/a> allow you to paint with physically accurate materials (PBR), as well as create them.<\/p>\n\n\n

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They can be projected upon your mesh with various methods and allow for advanced textures to be painted very quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to save PBR Library downloads<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Version 2021+ added completely new folders structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almost all is split between two folders – data and UserPrefs.
As it is logical, UserPrefs is user-created content. Data is sort of temporary stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The folder in documents changed, now it is Docs\/3DCoat
– As soon as 3DCoat detects some files copied to the location in Documents, it will convert the files to the new structure.
– Also, if you will install 3dcpack it will be installed correctly (except presets that use old tools that are not present in the toolset).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, you may copy it from download folder to Docs\/3DCoat.
Or in Documents\\3DCoat\\UserPrefs\\SmartMaterials\\corresponding PBR folder name<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How apply materials in different objects of the same model ?<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  • 3DCoat lets you do that through its layer system automatically. If you want something to only apply to a specific part, hide some paint objects or mask the layer.
    This is the main strength of 3DCoat as opposed to other programs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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    • 3DCoat will let the user pick the objects (contiguous meshes) and fill them with a Smart Material using the FILL tool.

      You can also click on individual UV shells\/islands in the 2D Texture Editor if you prefer to work that way. There are other options as well, such as filling everything (visible in the scene) on a single layer, filling by UV Map, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      – Naming Smart Materials in the materials list.<\/p>\n\n\n

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