Importing and modifying Effects Assets

Import Effects Assets

You can import Effect Assets from the Content Browser and apply them to objects in your scene. You can then use the asset’s published attributes to make most required modifications to your effect.

To import an effects asset

1. In the FX menu set, select Effects > Get Effects Asset.

   The Content Browser appears with the Effects Assets tab selected.

   Note:

   If the Content Browser does not display the Effects Assets tab, select Tabs > Revert to Default Tabs in the Content Browser.

2. Select the icon for the effects asset file you want to use and middle-drag it into the scene.

   Maya imports the effects asset into the scene and the asset object appears in the Outliner, identified by the assets icon. For an effect that includes Nucleus objects, a Nucleus node is published to the asset. See Effects Assets and collision objects.

   Note:

   Many of the assets contain descriptions of their contents in the Notes sections of their Attribute Editor tabs. These descriptions can help you better understand how the effects are applied.

Some assets can be parented to polygon objects that are outside the asset. You can do this by applying the effect.

To apply an effect

1. Select the object you want to interact with the effect.
2. From the FX menu set, select Effects > Apply Effect.

   The effects asset is now parented to the selected object.

   Note:

   You can import or reference a file containing an effects asset and use it in your scene. After the effect is in the scene, you can apply it to objects like other effects assets.

Modify an applied effect

Each effect asset has a number of published attributes that you can use to modify the effect’s behavior.

1. In the Outliner, select the effects asset.
2. In the asset Attribute Editor, in the Published Attributes section, expand channels.

   The effect's published attributes are displayed.

   Note:

   You can access the attributes of the asset's internal nodes by expanding the asset in the Outliner, then selecting the individual nodes. Be aware that adjusting the internal node attributes may affect the way the Published Attributes control your effect.