Filtering Images and Paint

Mari includes a set of filters you can use to transform the paint on your model. You can apply filters to:

• paint in the current channel,

• only the current unbaked paint (the contents of the paint buffer), or

• an image within the Image Manager.

Unlike adjustment filters, the Filters accessed from the menubar apply a transformation to one of the following:

• The paint or image on the paint buffer

• The current paint target

• Selected patches on the current paint target (in patch selection mode).

• Selected faces on the current paint target (in face selection mode).

Though many of the filters available are the same or similar, those in the Filters menu do not affect the layer stack beyond what you choose to apply the filter to. In addition, you can preview your changes on the canvas before applying them.

There are many filters to choose from, and a complete list is provided in Available Filters, but a brief example of the filters Mari can apply are:

• Blurs to the painting,

• Inverted colors,

• Changes to hue, saturation, or value,

• Removal of specific color channels,

• Application of OCIO colorspace, and

• Added noise.

Every filter has the option to use a mask to control what part of the painting it affects. Depending on what you are applying the filter to, you can mask specific channels or apply an image from the Image Manager to create a mask.

Some filters do not require any configuration. For example, the Edge Detect filter has no user-configurable settings. Other filters provide a wide range of configuration options, including the ability to create, manage and load preset filters. For example, the Color Curves filter gives you very fine control over the contents of the RGB color components.

As well as using Mari's pre-defined filters to edit the paint on a the paint target or in the paint buffer, you can use them as part of a custom color profile. These filters only affect how the colors display on-screen (rather than actually changing the painting itself). See Managing Colors for details on setting up custom color profiles.

To make it easier, Mari provides an interactive preview of each filter. As you change the settings for the filter, the main canvas updates to show a preview of how the filter looks.

Tip:  Filter previews are not available for scalar channels.

Mari also offers filters in 3D space, which do not experience artifacts due to boundaries such as patch edges. These filters behave similarly to traditional filters but are object-based. These filters can be accessed from the Objects > Generate menu.

Video:  To learn how to use Filters, watch Understanding Mari Filters.
This video shows the workflow using Mari 3. Even though the Mari 4 workspace is different, the workflow remains the same. To have a look at the main UI differences, see Mari 3.3 vs 4.0.