About Variants

Scene > Variants

Use the Variants module to set up variants to help with product design reviews (PRDs). Create multiple scene variations with variants.

Variants

The Variants module has tabs along the top. Each tab has two sections. The left section lists variants and the right section displays the node name, state, and assigned hotkeys. This is where you can set hotkeys to quickly access your variants. Along the bottom is the Icon Bar.

Variants Module

I Only See a Few Tabs

Depending on the size of the window, not all the variant tabs may be visible. To access other tabs, either expand the Variants module or click the arrows along the top.

All tabs

All the variant tabs are listed below.

Geometry Variants

Allows multiple geometries to exist in the same scene with only one shown at a time.

Actions

!All - Shows all geometry in the variant list.
!Next - Shows the next geometry in the variant list.
!Next(Loop) - Shows the next geometry in the variant. When the end of the list is reached, the next selected is the first item in the list.
!None - Hides all geometry in the variant list.
!Previous - Shows the previous geometry in the variant list.
!Previous(Loop) - Shows the previous geometry in the variant. When the beginning of the list is reached, the next item selected is the last item in the list.

Create All - Adds all Scene Graph-contained geometry switches to the list of geometry variants.
Rename (Ctrl + R) - Renames the selected geometry variant.
Delete (Del) - Deletes the selected geometry variant.
Clear - Deletes the entire variant list.
Show Geometry - Shows the geometry in the Render Window.
Hide Geometry - Hides the geometry in the Render Window.
Show Connected Variant Sets - Selects the variant sets that use this variant.
Select Switch Nodes - Selects the switch nodes in the Scene Graph.
Select Nodes (Ctrl + N) - Selects the nodes in the Scene Graph that apply to the selected geometry variant.

Transform Variants

Allows multiple orientations of the same geometries to exist in the same scene with only one shown at a time.

Actions (Transform Variants)

!Next - Shows the next transformation in the variant list.
!Next(Loop) - Shows the next transformation in the variant. When the end of the list is reached, the next selected is the first item in the list.
!Previous - Shows the previous transformation in the variant list.
!Previous(Loop) - Shows the previous transformation in the variant. When the beginning of the list is reached, the next selected is the last item in the list.
Variant1 - Shows transformation in the first variant. Any additional variants in the transform are listed and displayed by double-clicking.

Create All - Adds all Scene Graph-contained transformation switches to the list of transformation variants.
Rename (Ctrl + R) - Renames the selected transformation variant.
Delete (Del) - Deletes the selected transformation variant.
Clear - Clears the entire variant list.
Select Nodes (Ctrl + N) - Selects the nodes in the Scene Graph that apply to the selected transform variant.
Show Connected Variant Sets - Selects the variant sets that use this variant.

Material Variants

Allows objects to have multiple materials assigned. The supported types of materials variants are switch, Substance, and X-Rite materials. Substance preset and sub materials are listed. You can switch between the states quickly.

Substance in Variants module

Actions (Material Variants)

!Next - Shows the next geometry in the variant list.
!Next(Loop) - Shows the next geometry in the variant. When the end of the list is reached, the next selected becomes the first item in the list.
!Previous - Shows the previous geometry in the variant list.
Previous (loop) - Shows the previous geometry in the variant. When the beginning of the list is reached, the next selected becomes the last item in the list.

Create All - Adds all Scene Graph-contained material switches to the list of material variants.
Rename (Ctrl + R) - Renames the selected material variant.
Delete (Del) - Deletes the selected material variant.
Clear - Deletes the entire variant list.
Show Geometry - Shows the geometry in the Render Window.
Hide Geometry - Hides the geometry from the Render Window.
Show Connected Variant Sets - Selects the variant sets that use this variant.

Light Variants

Enables you to quickly change between multiple lighting scenes.

Actions (Light Variants)

!Disable - Disables the lights in the variant.
!Enable - Enables the lights in the variant.
!Toggle - Switches the state from Enabled to Disabled.

Create All - Adds all Scene Graph-contained light switches to the list of light variants.
Rename (Ctrl + R) - Renames the selected light variant.
Delete (Del) - Deletes the selected light variant.
Clear - Deletes the entire variant list.
Show Connected Variant Sets - Selects the variant sets that use this variant.

Sceneplate Variants

Actions (Sceneplate Variants)

Create All - Automatically creates new variants of the current type.
Rename - Renames the node in the Scene Graph related to the selected variant.
Delete - Deletes the currently selected variant.
Clear - Clears the currently selected variant.
Show Connected Variant Sets - Selects the variant sets that use this variant.

Create All - Adds all Scene Graph-contained sceneplate switches to the list of sceneplate variants.
Rename (Ctrl + R) - Renames the selected sceneplate variant.
Delete (Del) - Deletes the selected sceneplate variant.
Clear - Deletes the entire variant list.
Show Connected Variant Sets - Selects the variant sets that use this variant.

Icon Bar

Create - Automatically creates new variants of the current type.
Select Node - Selects the node in the Scene Graph related to the selected variant.
Delete - Deletes the currently selected variant.