Importing and Creating Custom Library Materials

QUESTION

I have a custom image that I would like to use in my plan as a material, such as for siding, roofing, terrain, wallpaper, or to apply to another type of object. How can I bring this image into Home Designer and use it as a material?

ANSWER

Materials are digital images that can be applied to the surfaces of objects. You can create your own custom materials and save them in your User Catalog.

To add a custom material to the library

1. If you will be using a custom image saved on your system as a material, it's recommended to place image file in a location where it will not be moved or deleted, especially if you're using a legacy product. 
   
   We recommend placing the image file in the programs Textures folder. The default file location of the Textures folder is listed below for each platform.
   
   
   • Windows: C:\Users\[YOUR USERNAME]\Documents\Home Designer [YOUR PRODUCT VERSION] Data\Textures
   • Mac: /Users/[YOUR USERNAME]/Documents/Home Designer [YOUR PRODUCT VERSION] Data/Textures
   
   

   Note: If the programs data folder was moved, or installed to a different file location, then navigate into the programs Preferences, select the Folders dialog panel, and use the file path under the My Data Folder heading to locate the programs data folder, along with the Textures sub-folder. 

   
   
2. Once the image is placed in the recommended location, select View> Library Browser  to open the Library Browser side window if it's not already open. 
   
   
   
3. Right-click on the User Catalog folder and select New> Material from the contextual menu.
   
   

   Note: On a Mac, hold down the Control key while clicking to initiate a right-click command. More information about right-click commands on Apple input devices can be found in the following Apple resource: Right-click on Mac.

   
   
   
   
   
4. In the Define Material dialog that displays: 
   
   
   
   
   • Provide a Material Name.
     
     
   • Access the Texture panel or click on the Texture radio button if you're using Home Designer Suite (legacy), and then click either Browse or Select next to Texture Source to browse for the image you'd like to use for your custom material. If the image was placed in the programs Textures folder as recommended in Step 1, browse to this folder and select the image. 
     
     

     Note: The Select Texture File dialog will display the file types which can be used to create custom materials, which includes: *.jpg, *.bmp, *.png, *.tif, *.tiff, and *.gif.

     
     
   • Adjust the Scale, Offset and Angle, as well as any additional settings that you may want to change at this time. 
     
     
   • For more information on the various settings here, select the Help button at the bottom of the dialog to open your program's documentation.
   
   
   
5. Click OK to add the new material to your User Catalog folder.
   
   
   
   

You are now ready to apply this material to objects in your plan by using either the object's specification dialog or the Material Painter  tool.