Using 2D Paint Mode

2D Paint mode enables you to paint and edit 2D images, which then can be easily integrated into the main project.

Using this tool, you can paint, flip, rotate, and scale patterns to create different texture patterns and use them as masks.

2D and 3D Node graphs and Layer stacks can be linked so that updating the 2D image automatically updates the texture in the 3D Project. To do this, you’ll need to use the Image Write Node.

Access 2D Paint Mode

1. Open from Image Manager

In Image Manager, select an image, right click and select Send Image to 2D Paint.

This opens your image in the 2D pane in the main canvas.

Mari will import a new object and import the image as a Paint Node. The node graph will show Bottom Transparency + Paint node (with the image imported) merged and connected to a channel node.

OR

2. 2D pane

Opening the 2D pane will open an empty image ready for you to paint. Or if you already have an image opened in the 2D mode, you can re-open 2D mode easily by clicking on the 2D pane, next to the Ortho pane.

2D pane open:

Note:  Adding 2D images will also add them to the 2D tab on the Objects Palette. You can import and export the node graph as a .mrimg file from there, by using the right-click options Export 2D Paint and Import 2D Paint, which will allow you to save the 2D node tree / layer stack to disk separate to the main Mari cache.

Paint your 2D image

In 2D Paint Mode, you’ll find the same painting tools as Mari’s 3D canvas. These appear in the usual places in the UI. Any unavailable options that only apply to 3D are greyed out.

Update your image on your 3D object

Use an Image Write Node in your 2D node graph to export an image to the Image Manager. This will automatically update the image on your 3D object when you Bake it, if the image is used in any procedural nodes in 3D mode.

Save/Extract your image

By right-clicking your image in the Image Manager, and selecting Extract Current 2D Paint, this saves a copy of your last edited image to the Image Manager, which can then be used elsewhere.