Preferences

In the True-VDB addon preferences, you have the following asset-related settings:

Asset Path

The Asset Path setting determines where the VDB packs will be installed. By default, the addon will store the content in a specific file path. If you wish to choose a different location, you can click the folder button and select a new path.

Asset Linking

With the Asset Linking setting, you can choose how the assets are integrated into your scene:

Append: Selecting "Append" will add the assets to your scene, allowing for editing and modifications.

Link: Choosing "Link" will link the assets to your scene, which means they cannot be directly edited unless you make them local.

Initial Asset Placement

The Initial Asset Placement setting determines the position of the VDB asset when it is added to your scene. You have the following options:

3D Cursor: If you select this option, the VDB asset will be placed at the location of the 3D cursor.

Grab and Move: With this option, you can manually move and place the asset as you desire by moving the mouse around.

Default: Choosing the "Default" option will place the VDB asset at the same location as it was in the source blend file.

Edit VDB Settings

In the "Edit VDB Settings" section, you can customize various aspects of the selected VDB item. Here are the available options:

VDB Item: Use this dropdown menu to select the VDB item you want to edit. Once selected, you can modify its settings and properties.

Info Area: The Info Area displays relevant information about the selected VDB item. You can edit its name and specify the display node. The display node represents the node in the VDB's shader that will be shown in the side panel after adding the VDB to your scene. Other information in the Info Area is for display purposes only.

Categories: This is a list of all available categories for organizing VDB items. Enable the checkbox in front of the category names to determine in which categories the current VDB item should appear.

Store Material: By enabling this option, you can store the shader of the current VDB item for use on other VDBs. After enabling this option, the stored shader will be available in the "Change Material" dropdown within the side panel under "Material Settings."

Notes: The Notes field allows you to provide a description for the VDB item. You can modify this description, and it will be displayed as a tooltip when you hover over the asset in the viewport UI.

Change Icon: This option allows you to change the icon associated with the selected VDB item. You can choose a different icon to better represent the VDB or suit your preferences.

Edit Material Settings

In the "Edit Material Settings" section, you can customize various aspects of the selected material. Here are the available options:

Material Dropdown: Use this dropdown menu to select the material you want to edit. Once selected, you can modify its settings and properties.

Name: You can edit the name of the selected material. Provide a descriptive name that helps identify the material's purpose or characteristics.

Description: The Description field allows you to provide additional information about the material. This description will be shown as a tooltip in the material picker, providing helpful details about the material's usage or features.

Display Node: The Display Node represents the node in the Material's shader that will be shown in the side panel after applying this shader to a VDB. This node helps visualize the material's appearance and settings in a convenient way.

Change Icon: This option allows you to change the icon associated with the selected material item. You can choose a different icon to better represent the material or suit your preferences, making it easier to identify and differentiate materials visually.

Show Packs

The "Show Packs" section provides information about all the VDB packs that are currently installed in your system. Each VDB pack represents a collection of VDB assets that can be used in your scenes.