Troubleshoot paint layers

The following table lists common problems related to paint layers and possible solutions:

Problem/Error message	Possible solution
The following error message appears when merging paint layers: Video memory is running low. If you choose to continue, merge operation may be slow.Tip: Hide layers in other paint channels before merging layers.Continue with merge? (Yes, No)	Mudbox has detected that video memory on the computer is running low. The merge may not successfully complete, or if it does complete, the interactive performance of Mudbox may be slow because of low video memory. You can cancel the merge operation and hide any unused paint layers, or any other features (Viewport Filters) that may be consuming video memory in order to free up the memory, before trying to merge the layer again. For more information, see Memory and performance best practices.
Mudbox appears to have slower interactive performance when multiple high resolution paint layers are present.	A number of options exist for optimizing GPU memory. For more information, see Graphics memory optimization.
The automatic projection of paint produced by File > Re-import from PSD has projected onto areas that extend beyond the original capture in the 3D View and appear jagged.	If the subdivision level is set too low when re-importing a paint layer from Photoshop, the projected paint can extend onto the lower level faces from which the higher subdivision levels faces were derived. Ensure that the original subdivision level is set, or further subdivide the model before you re-import. Refer also to the Best practices section in the Export a paint layer of the 3D View to Photoshop topic.
Photoshop doesn’t automatically launch after saving an image when using Export Screen to PSD.	For Photoshop to automatically launch: Photoshop must be installed on your computer. The .psd file format must be associated with the Photoshop application. This ensures that Photoshop is the default application for this image format. You can test whether this occurs on your computer by double-clicking on any file with a .psd extension. If Photoshop launches and loads the .psd file, the association is correct. If it does not, consult the documentation for your computer’s operating system on how to establish a file association with an application.

Troubleshoot error messages when re-importing PSD files

The following error messages can appear when re-importing PSD files using File > Re-import from PSD if Mudbox detects an error in the PSD file you have selected for re-import.

Problem/Error message	Possible solution
No differences found in Texture layer -- not autoprojecting.	Mudbox has not detected any changes between the original PSD layer and the one being re-imported. If this message is displayed the texture is not automatically projected. In this circumstance, the texture is imported into the stencil, and the stencil displayed in the 3D View. The texture must then be manually applied using the Projection brush.
Warning: error with camera position encoding -- stencil may not line up correctly.	Mudbox detects an error in the Background layer that records the original camera position. If this message is displayed the texture is not automatically projected as the pixels in the edited paint layer could be projected onto the model incorrectly. In this circumstance, the texture is imported into the stencil, and the stencil displayed in the 3D View to allow its position to be manually aligned with the model. The texture must then be manually applied using the Projection brush. To avoid this situation, ensure that the Background layer name or image has not been modified in any way.
Warning: No camera position encoding -- stencil may not line up correctly.	Mudbox detects an error in the Background layer that records the original camera position. If this message is displayed the texture is not automatically projected as the pixels in the edited paint layer could be projected onto the model incorrectly. In this circumstance, the texture is imported into the stencil, and the stencil displayed in the 3D View to allow its position to be manually aligned with the model. The texture must then be manually applied using the Projection brush. To avoid this situation, ensure that the Background layer name or image has not been modified in any way.
Error: Unable to read PSD: no layer data.	You have either not selected a valid PSD file or the PSD file has been corrupted in some way.
Error: Unable to load stencil image from PSD.	You have either not selected a valid PSD file or the PSD file has been corrupted in some way.
Error: Unable to find Mudbox Stencil or Texture Layer in PSD.	The PSD file is likely valid but the layer types it is expecting have been deleted or modified in some manner.
Error: Unable to read PSD: bad bit depth (must be 8 bit).	The layers in the file are no longer 8 bits in depth. File > Re-import from PSD supports paint layers that are only 8 bits in depth.
Error: Unable to open PSD file <filename>.	Possible problems with the file include: The file no longer exists in the location you selected. The file doesn’t have read access permissions. The file doesn’t have a valid PSD header.
Error: File is not a PSD	The file selected for re-import doesn’t have a valid file extension. Check the file extension and attempt to re-import.

Tip: In general, many issues in Mudbox can be resolved by deleting your user settings in order to refresh all tools and options to their default values. See Remove your Mudbox user preferences.