Channel Functions

A list of functions for adding, editing, and removing channels and channels presets can be found in the table below.

Function	How to access it	What it does	Opens this dialog box	Notes
Add channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Add Channel • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Add Channel • Button \| Channels Palette >	Adds a new channel to the current project.	Add Channel Dialog
Create channel presets	• Menubar \| Channels > Channel Presets • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Channel Presets	Allows you to create a new channel preset to use as a template for new channels.	Channel Presets Dialog	Click the checkbox for channels you want to add, and click OK. You can customize available categories of channel presets using an XML file (see Defining Custom Channel Presets) in a folder specified in your preferences.
Remove channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Remove Channel • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Remove Channel • Button \| Channels Palette >	Removes the selected channel, and any layers associated with it, from the channels list.
Convert channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Convert Channel • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Convert Channel • Button \| Channels Palette >	Changes the color depth of the channel to either 8bit (Byte), 16bit (Half), or 32bit (Float).	Convert Type Dialog	Determines number of pixels per RGB channel.
Duplicate channel	• Keyboard \| Alt+drag and drop channel	Duplicates the channel and all the layers belonging to that channel.
Flatten channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Flatten • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Flatten	Flattens the channel data and bakes down the texture.
Channel transfer	• Menubar \| Channels > Transfer • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Transfer	Transfers channels from one object or version to another.	Channel Transfer Dialog
Cut channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Cut • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Cut • Keyboard \| Ctrl/Cmd+X	Cuts the channel and all associated layers from the channels list and places it in the clipboard.
Copy channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Copy • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Copy • Keyboard \| Ctrl/Cmd+C	Copies the channel, and all associated layers from the channels list and places it in the clipboard.
Paste channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Paste • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Paste • Keyboard \| Ctrl/Cmd+V	Pastes any cut or copied channel and associated layers from the clipboard to the channels list.
Export current channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Export Current Channel • Right-click \| canvas > Export > Export Current Channel • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Export Current Channel	Exports the current channel to a series of files.	Export Dialog
Export all channels	• Menubar \| Channels > Export > Export All Channels • Right-click \| canvas > Export > Export All Channels • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Export > Export All Channels	Exports all the channels in the channels palette to a series of files.	Export Dialog
Export everything	• Menubar \| Channels > Export > Export Everything • Right-click \| canvas > Export > Export Everything • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Export > Export Everything	Exports the channels for all the objects in your project to a series of files.	Export Dialog
Flatten and export the current channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Export Flattened > Export Current Channel Flattened • Right-click \| canvas > Export Flattened > Export Current Channel Flattened • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Export Flattened > Export Current Channel Flattened	Flattens the current channel and exports it to a series of files.	Export Dialog
Flatten and export all channels	• Menubar \| Channels > Export Flattened > Export All Channels Flattened • Right-click \| canvas > Export Flattened > Export All Channels Flattened • Right-click \| Channels Palette > Export Flattened > Export All Channels Flattened	Flattens all the channels in the channels palette and exports it to a series of files.	Export Dialog
Flatten and export everything	• Menubar \| Channels > Export Flattened > Export Everything Flattened • Right-click \| canvas > Export Flattened > Export Everything Flattened • Right-click \| Channels Palette > Export Flattened > Export Everything Flattened	Flattens the channels for all objects in your project and exports them to a series of files.	Export Dialog
Import into a layer stack	• Menubar \| Channels > Import > Import into Current Channel • Right-click \| canvas > Import > Import into Current Channel • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Import > Import into Current Channel	Imports the file as layers into the layer stack of your current, selected channel.	Import Dialog
Import into a new channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Import > Import into New Channel • Right-click \| canvas > Import > Import into New Channel • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Import > Import into New Channel	Import the file as a new channel in the Channels Palette.	Import Dialog
Resize channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Resize • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Resize	Resize options are: • 256x256 • 512x512 • 1024x1024 • 2048x2048 • 4096x4096 • 8192x8192 • 16384x16384 • 32768x32768
Lock channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Lock Channel • Right-click \| channel in Channels Palette > Lock Channel • Button \| Channels Palette >	Lock the selected channel so that the channel nor any of the layers in the associated layer stack can be edited or deleted.		Lock icons in the Channels Palette show the current state of the channel.
Unlock channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Unlock Channel • Right-click \| channel in Channels Palette > Unlock Channel • Button \| Channels Palette >	Unlocks the selected channel so that the channel or the layers within the layer stack can be edited.		Lock icons in the Channels Palette show the current state of the channel.
Lock all channels	• Menubar \| Channels > Lock All Channels • Right-click \| Channels Palette > Lock All Channels	Locks all the channels in the Channels Palette, regardless of what is selected.
Unlock all channels	Menubar \| Channels > Unlock All Channels Right-click \| Channels Palette > Unlock All Channels	Unlock all the channels in the Channels Palette, regardless of what is selected.		In addition to the unlock options listed here, you can also unlock channels by selecting Unlock Entire Object.
View the Next Channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Next Channel • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Next Channel • Mouse \|	Selects the next channel in the list.
View the Previous Channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Previous Channel • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Previous Channel • Mouse \|	Selects the previous channel in the list.
Snapshot all channels	• Menubar \| Channels > Snapshots > Snapshot All Channels • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Snapshots > Snapshot All Channels	Takes snapshots of all the channels in the Channels Palette.
Snapshot the current channel	• Menubar \| Channels > Snapshots > Snapshot Current Channel • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Snapshots > Snapshot Current Channel	Takes snapshots of only the current selected channel.
Manage snapshots	• Menubar \| Channels > Snapshots > Manage Snapshots • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Snapshots > Manage Snapshots	Opens the Snapshots palette.
Delete all snapshots	• Menubar \| Channels > Snapshots > Delete All Snapshots • Right-click \| in Channels Palette > Snapshots > Delete All Snapshots	Deletes all the snapshots taken for the current project.