Smart Materials Manager - Documentation

Overview

Smart Materials Manager is a Blender add-on that streamlines material management using the Asset Browser. It enables users to apply, organize, and manage materials efficiently with a one-click workflow. The add-on integrates automatic asset categorization, batch material application, and cleanup tools to enhance efficiency in material handling.

Features

• One-Click Material Application: Quickly apply materials to selected objects.

• Asset Browser Integration: Uses Blender's Asset Browser for better material organization.

• Material Categorization: Organize materials into predefined or custom categories.

• Batch Operations: Apply materials to multiple objects at once.

• Automatic Cleanup: Removes duplicate materials to keep projects optimized.

• Easy Setup: Automatically creates and configures a dedicated materials folder.

• UI Panels for Easy Access: Access features directly from the Properties Editor and Shader Editor.

Installation

1. Download the ZIP file from Blender Market or GitHub.

2. Open Blender and navigate to:
   Edit > Preferences > Add-ons > Install...

3. Select the ZIP file and click Install Add-on.

4. Enable the add-on by checking the box next to Smart Materials Manager.

5. Set up the materials folder in the Addon Preferences:

   • Go to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons > Smart Materials Manager

   • Select or create a folder for your materials.

   • Click Setup SMM Folder to initialize.

Getting Started

1. Setting Up Asset Library

After installation, you need to set up a material library:

• Go to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons > Smart Materials Manager

• Select a Materials Folder where all Smart Materials will be stored.

• Click Setup SMM Folder to automatically generate default categories (Metals, Wood, Plastic, etc.).

• Add this folder to Blender’s Asset Libraries under Preferences > File Paths > Asset Libraries.

2. Applying Materials

• Select an object in the 3D Viewport.

• Open the Properties Editor > Materials Tab.

• Click Apply SMM Material to apply a material from the library.

3. Saving Materials to Library

• Select a material in the Shader Editor.

• Click Save Material to SMM Library.

• Choose a category and name for the material.

• Click Confirm to save it as an asset.

4. Managing Categories

• Click Add Category in the SMM Panel to create a new category.

• Move materials to different categories using Move Materials to Category.

5. Batch Applying Materials

• Select multiple objects.

• Choose Batch Apply Materials.

• Select either Same Material for all or Random Distribution.

• Click Apply.

6. Cleanup Duplicate Materials

• Click Remove Duplicate Materials to automatically remove duplicate SMM materials.

• Optionally, enable Auto Clean on Save in preferences.

UI Panels

1. Properties Editor Panel

Located in Properties > Materials Tab, it provides access to:

• Material Library (List of available Smart Materials)

• Apply Material (Apply materials to objects)

• Save to Library (Store custom materials)

• Batch Apply (Apply to multiple objects)

• Cleanup Tools (Remove duplicates)

2. Shader Editor Panel

Located in Shader Editor > Sidebar, it provides:

• Quick Save to Library

• Category Management

• Batch Operations

• Asset Browser Access

Troubleshooting

1. Add-on Not Appearing

• Ensure the add-on is enabled in Edit > Preferences > Add-ons.

• Restart Blender after installation.

• Check the Blender version (4.3.0 or later required).

2. Materials Not Applying

• Ensure the object has a valid mesh.

• Confirm that the material is correctly assigned in the Asset Browser.

• Check if the materials folder is properly set up in the preferences.

3. Missing Asset Library

• Make sure the Materials Folder is registered as an Asset Library in Preferences > File Paths > Asset Libraries.

• Try manually adding the folder and restarting Blender.

Future Updates

Planned features:

• Live Material Previews

• Material Import from External Libraries

• Support for Shader Node Groups

For updates, visit: Blender Market Page / GitHub.

Support & Feedback

For bug reports and feature requests, visit:

• Bug Tracker: GitHub Issues

• Support Page: Blender Market Support

Credits

Developed by Kartikay Mathur.

License

This add-on is licensed under Proprietary License

For more details, refer to the full license document included in the add-on package.