Asset Library
The Asset Library panel is the browsable store for all saved VIZid content — materials, colours, environments, cameras, textures, backplates, models, measured materials and IES profiles. Open it from View ▸ Library. If the entry is greyed out, choose View ▸ Unlock Advanced UI first.
Panel layout
The panel has three sections:
- Top strip — a live search field and two icon buttons: New Folder (always visible) and Import to Library… (visible when the current category supports file import: Textures, Backplates, Models, Measured or IES Profiles).
- Body — a resizable splitter with the folder tree on the left and the thumbnail grid on the right. A facet chip strip sits above the grid and appears when the current folder has filterable tags.
- Bottom strip — a thumbnail size slider (also Ctrl+wheel on the grid) and a status line.
Categories
Click a root in the folder tree to switch category:
| Category | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Materials | Saved surface materials |
| Colours | Palette colour swatches |
| Environments | HDRI and dome presets |
| Cameras | Saved camera settings |
| Textures | Imported texture images |
| Backplates | Background images |
| Models | Saved mesh assets |
| Measured | Measured-material data files |
| IES Profiles | Photometric IES files |
| Primitives | Built-in shape presets |
Browsing
Click a folder in the tree to load its thumbnails. Hover over a tile to see its full name. The search field at the top filters visible tiles to names and tags matching your text; clear it to restore the full grid. Facet chips (when shown) let you narrow by class, finish, colour, texture or type within the folder.
Adjust tile size with the slider at the bottom left, or Ctrl+wheel on the grid.
Applying an asset
Double-click a tile (or press Enter) to activate the asset. Behaviour varies by category:
- Material — applies to the current selection. If nothing is selected, a prompt reads "Select part(s) first, then double-click a material."
- Environment — adds the environment and applies it immediately.
- Camera — adds the camera settings and applies them immediately.
- Backplate — sends the image to the active camera.
- Model — imports the model at the scene centre.
- Primitive — adds the shape at the scene centre.
Drag a tile onto a folder in the tree to move it there (same category only). Drop .ies files from Windows onto the grid to import them directly.
Press Ctrl+D on a tile to mark it as a favourite (or remove the mark).
Saving a material to the library
- In the Material panel, finish editing the material.
- Click Save to Library in the identity band, or right-click a folder in the tree and choose Save Current Material Here….
- A dialog opens. When the material has no library link the title is Save Material to Library; when it is already linked, the title is Update Library Material and the button reads Update.
- Name — the name shown in the grid. The button is disabled while this is empty.
- Scope — Global (shared library), Local (this machine's folder), or Brand (shown as "Brand (no active project)" and greyed when no project is open).
- Folder — pick from the list or type a new path; new folders are created on save.
- Tags — comma-separated keywords for search and facets.
- Category — optional sub-category label.
- If the material belongs to a multi-material set, a toggle (on by default) offers to save the whole set.
- Press Save (or Update). If the asset library backend is not running, the status bar reads "Asset library backend isn't running" and nothing is saved.
To update an existing linked library entry, edit the material in the Material panel and click Update Library.
Breaking the link
Click Break Link in the Material panel identity band to detach the material from its library entry. The material keeps its current values but stops tracking or receiving library updates.
Item context menu
Right-click any tile for options:
| Action | When available |
|---|---|
| Apply to Selection | Materials only |
| Save a Copy to My Library… | Read-only (pack) materials only |
| Add to Favourites / Remove from Favourites | Always |
| Move to Folder… | Editable items, in categories whose folders can be edited. Shown disabled as "Move to Folder… (read-only)" for read-only pack materials. |
| Rename… | Editable materials. Shown disabled as "Rename… (read-only)" for read-only pack materials. |
| Versions… | Editable materials only (not shown for read-only materials) |
| Set Thumbnail from View | Textures, Backplates and Models |
| Remove from Library… | Editable items. Shown disabled as "Remove from Library… (read-only)" for read-only pack materials. Confirmation reads 'Remove "X" from the shared library? This can't be undone.' |
Folder tree context menu
Right-click a folder in the tree:
| Action | Notes |
|---|---|
| New Folder… | Creates a sub-folder under the clicked node |
| Rename Folder… | Sub-folders only |
| Delete Folder… | Sub-folders only. Deletes the folder and every asset inside it. The confirmation names the count: 'Delete "X" and the N asset(s) inside? This can't be undone.' |
| Save Current Material Here… | Materials category only |
Related
- Materials — saving and linking materials from the Material panel
- Materials panel — machine-local saved-material grid
- Colourways — variant sets