Proxy tags are unique names you assign to proxy references to more easily manage those proxy references from within the Reference Editor. You can apply a proxy tag to a file or proxy reference when you:
When you apply a proxy tag to a file reference, the tag is not used until a proxy set is created for the file reference. A proxy set is created when the first proxy is added to the file reference.
The Proxy Tag options lets you specify the label/tag you want applied to a file or proxy reference when it is first created. Once a proxy tag is applied it appears in the list of proxy references within the Reference Editor. Proxy tags also let you globally load, unload, or switch between proxies based on their tag.
Maya keeps track of, and can distinguish between, the last proxy tag used for a file reference, and the last proxy tag used for a proxy reference. This ability streamlines the tagging process regardless of your preferred workflow.
For example, you may want to tag multiple file references in succession with a tag named hiRes when you first create each one. In this case, you need only type the tag name once and it is automatically assigned to successive file reference tags. If you want to tag multiple proxies for those same references, you only need type in the proxy tag name for the proxy once, and the proxy tag will be remembered for successive proxies.
Alternatively, you may want to create and tag one file reference named hiRes and then immediately create and tag its corresponding proxy reference named loRes. You can then create the next file reference and it will automatically be assigned the tag hiRes, then create its proxy reference, and it will automatically be assigned the tag loRes. Because Maya can distinguish between the most recent file reference and proxy reference tags specified, this alternating tagging workflow is possible. For more information see Proxy Menu.
Proxy Tags can be used for many other proxy situations; for example, modelFur vs. modelNoFur, or SceneDynamics vs. SceneNoDynamics.
You can now rename proxy tags for references and proxies using the Reference Editor. This is useful if you want to keep your proxy tags organized or descriptive, or if you want to reuse proxy tags to streamline the process of switching proxies.
You cannot use the same proxy tag more than once within any given proxy set. All proxy tags in a set must be unique.