Viz Artist User Guide
Version 3.14 | Published October 30, 2020 ©
Built Ins
In Built Ins, there are a standard set of Viz Artist installation plug-ins.
Most plug-ins can be added to Containers, except, for example, Scene plug-ins. Because Viz Artist uses an open interface for the plug-ins, new geometries can either be obtained or created and then installed with Viz Artist. Also, most plug-ins have a properties editor. When a plug-in is applied to a Container in the Scene Tree, a plug-in icon is added to the target Container.
The Built Ins button on the Main Menu gives access to the various plug-ins:
This section contains information on the following procedures:
Content Tabs
The Built Ins are contained under various tabs and in folders.
Click on a Built In tab to open its panel and folder list. Double-click a Built In tab to open its panel and go to the default folder in the folder list. Default folders are:
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Geometry plug-ins (GP): Default
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Container plug-ins (CP): Global
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Shader plug-ins (SH): Default
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Scene plug-ins (SP): Default
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Media Assets (MA): Channel
Plug-in Context Menu
A right-click on a plug-in icon to open the plug-in context menu.
Geometry, Container and Shader Menu
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Add to Container(s): Adds the selected plug-in to a Container(s).
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Add as Favorite: Adds the selected Texture to the Favorites Bar.
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Delete from Favorites: Deletes the selected Texture from the Favorites Bar.
Scene Menu
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Add to Scene: Adds the selected plug-in to a Scene.
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Remove from Scene: Removes the selected plug-in from a Scene.
Media Asset Menu
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Add <Media Asset> as Texture: Adds the selected Media Asset to a Scene (automatically adds a new Container).
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Add <Media Asset> as DVE: Adds the selected source as DVE.
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Show settings of <Media Asset>: Shows the settings of the Media Asset, if it has been added to the scene and the Scene Tree is in Texture or DVE view.
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Add as Favorite: Adds the selected source to the Favorites Bar.
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Delete from Favorites: Deletes the selected source from the Favorites Bar.
For the Background and Foreground media assets, the context menu shows the Favorite options only.
View and Search for Plug-ins
All plug-ins can be dragged straight into the Scene Tree (except Scene plug-ins). Double-click a folder tab to go to the Default folder for that plug-in category.
To View Plug-ins
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Select Built Ins.
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Select the appropriate plug-in category, either:
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From the drop-down menu that shows above the plug-ins view, or
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Click on of the tabs.
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The All folder in the left panel, offers an uncategorized view of all plug-ins. Pressing a letter on the keyboard to jump to a plug-in which starts with that letter.
To Search for a Plug-in
You can drag plug-ins from the search results to the desired destination.
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Select Built Ins.
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Open the plug-in search panel, by opening the Built Ins drop-down menu and selecting Search..., or pressing CTRL + F.
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Enter a search string and click on Go (4), or press ENTER.
Add Plug-ins to Containers
Most plug-ins can be dragged to a target Container(s) in the scene tree (1), the Properties Panel (2) or the Scene Editor (3). Each plug-in also has a context menu where a plug-in can also be added to a Scene.
To Add a Geometry Plug-in
A Container can only contain one Geometry plug-in at a time. If a new Geometry plug-in is added, the fist one is removed from the Container.
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Drag the Geometry plug-in icon to either:
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A Container or multi selected Containers.
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The scene tree area (creates its own container).
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The Scene Editor area.
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The Container Editor area.
or
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Highlight the target Container(s).
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Right-click the plug-in icon and select Add to Container(s) from the plug-in context menu.
To Add a Container Plug-in
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Drag the Container plug-in icon to either:
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A Container or multi selected Containers.
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An object in the Scene Editor (only some container plug-ins do this, when they do, the object becomes active when the icon is moved over the object).
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The Container Editor area.
or
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Highlight the target Container(s).
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Right-click the plug-in icon and select Add to Container(s) from the plug-in context menu.
To Add a Shader Plug-in
A Container can only contain one Shader at a time. If a new Shader is added, the fist one is removed from the Container.
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Drag the icon to either:
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A Container or multi selected Containers.
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An object in the Scene Editor.
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The Container Editor area.
or
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Highlight the target Container(s).
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Right-click the plug-in icon and select Add to Container(s) from the plug-in context menu.
To Add a Scene plug-in
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Open the Scene plug-in tab:
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Click on Scene Settings > Plug-in.
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Click on the Scene plug-in icon (1). When a scene plug-in has been applied to the scene, this icon turns to orange .
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Drag the Scene plug-in icon to the Scene drop area.
or
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Right-click the Scene plug-in icon to open the plug-in context menu.
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Click on Add to Scene...
To Add a Plug-in to Multiple Containers
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Highlight the required Containers.
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Drag a plug-in icon to a highlighted Container.
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Release the plug-in icon.
or
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Drag a plug-in icon.
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Hold the plug-in icon over a Container.
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Continue to hold the left-click and do a right-click to drop the plug-in icon on the Container.
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Continue to hold the left-click and repeat for each required Container.
To Add a Plug-in to Favorites
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Right-click the icon to open the plug-in context menu.
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Click Add as favorite...
You can also add plug-ins as favorites from the search panel.
To Open a Plug-in Properties Editor
Click on the Media Asset icon, in the Container or the in the Properties Editor.