Node Editor templates determine the attributes that are displayed for a specific node type. By creating Node Editor templates, you can customize your nodes to display with the attributes of your choice. These templates determine the look of the nodes in the Node Editor and in the work area of the Hypershade.
You can create a Node Editor template via the Edit Custom Attribute List marking menu in the Node Editor, or via the marking menu in the Hypershade work area. See Customize a node attribute list in the Node Editor and Hypershade marking menus for more information.
By default, each shading node in the Hypershade already has an associated Node Editor template so that it displays with only the most commonly used attributes for lookdev workflows. However, you can further customize the list by selecting the Edit Custom Attribute List marking menu.
After you create your Node Editor template, it is saved as a NE<NodeType>Template.xml file to the following location:
MAYA_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE_WRITE_PATH (if set)
..\prefs\viewTemplates (if environment variable not set)
See Save preferences for information on where preferences are saved.
When you create a new node, Maya searches for Node Editor templates in the following order. The first template found is used.
By default (that is, MAYA_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE_PATH is not set):
..\prefs\viewTemplates
Otherwise, if you have set MAYA_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE_PATH:
In the Node Editor, press 4 to view nodes in custom template mode.
You can also set the Default node view mode to Custom Mode in the Preferences window, Node Editor section, so that any newly created nodes also appear in custom template view.
In the Hypershade, newly created nodes automatically display with the attributes specified in the template. You can also press the hotkey 4 to change to this custom template view mode.