topic How to actually use a custom appearance library? in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

How to actually use a custom appearance library?

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 22:13:05 GMT

I'm trying to create a library of common materials I use/available in Australia for woodworking. Just the right shade makes it a lot easier to visualise when all our trees are different. I'm having issues trying to actually get it to appear though! I'm certain I'm just missing something and will look dumb when its pointed out.

You can see I've created a custom material library

And then on the appearances panel its... not there (nor under materials)

There used to be a drop down to select the library but that's gone and now I'm completely lost

Re: How to actually use a custom appearance library?

lucasproko — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 16:46:28 GMT

Hey @Anonymous,

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to me that you're missing something. You've uncovered a bit of an inconsistency in our material editing workflows. Just to make sure I fully understand your workflow, is there a reason you chose to create the TWK_F360_Library in the Material Browser rather than editing materials in the Appearances window?

Our best way of creating Custom Appearance Libraries right now are either using the Favorites or My Appearance tabs in the Appearances window. If you right click an appearance, you can add it to My Appearances or Favorites, and these will then be available in all your designs.

You can also do this from the Material Browser by right clicking, and then Adding to Favorites as seen below.

Let me know if these options will fulfill your needs, or if there's issues with these workflows that you think we should address!

Thanks

Re: How to actually use a custom appearance library?

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 22:10:43 GMT

Thanks @lucasproko, I feel a little better knowing the button wasn't there!

To create an appearance from scratch, you have to go through the material editor. Strictly speaking I don't *have* to do it that way (all my appearances are fine to base off any wood), but it felt more 'right' to go 'new -> using type 'wood'' than duplicating, though they're probably the same thing.

My use case for doing it this was is for some appearances to share for my viewers on youtube to follow along with (I have some F360 tutorials on my channel, about to record a few more 'this is how I designed this piece of furniture' videos). There are some other general woods not available in F360 that are commonly used outside the US that'd be good to share.

If I'm wanting to share with others, not part of my team but general community, whats the best way? I can create the library, distribute that, then tell them to add all the appearances to 'favourites' to get them into the Appearances window? A side effect of doing it that way is that 'Copy to My Appearances' doesn't appear on those appearances.

Re: How to actually use a custom appearance library?

tomas.baborsky — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 16:23:38 GMT

I have same problem here. I fully understand to him why he want to use his own library file and it is because of mess!

If I want to have many similar materials it is really hard to know them.

I am little shocked and disappointed that this was not still fixed.....

Re: How to actually use a custom appearance library?

Dave_Ash — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:46:04 GMT

To all, I'm experiencing the same problem, we have multiple clients that all have different finishes (appearances). to have to go through the process of adding them to favourites either as well as or by removing your exiting favourites through the material editor is is nonsensical.

It works with physical material just not appearances, unfortunately for me we us the same material all the time so we can save them in a Design drawing.

also there is no direct cloud link for material libraries other than using desktop connector that only creates a copy saved locally. Odd for a cloud based platform.

Its defiantly an over site and is hampering work flow my end.

@Anonymous please make an update to resolve this.

Re: How to actually use a custom appearance library?

Dave_Ash — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 11:40:45 GMT

Just to update on the post, currently over a year into migrating to fusion and this is still an issue. ive not seenn any updates on this. once more the built in parts list does not include finishes.

@Anonymous 360 are there any planned updates?

Re: How to actually use a custom appearance library?

thomas_ganss — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 16:47:07 GMT

Hey all,

Dropping into this old thread to submit a further complaint/opinion. It seems to me that the Favorites tab is the only place that lets you hold onto your own appearances--Editing them via the material manager doesn't make them appear in My Appearances. What's worse, Favorites seems to only save within one Fusion install--all of my Favorites vanished when I switched PCs! It's very frustrating to have to work around this.

Autodesk should let us access and manage appearance libraries directly in the appearances tab. Everything would be much easier that way.