Authoring Hub - How to automatically create materials

This article explains how to automatically generate design-ready materials and geometries from item data. 

The Create Materials from Item Data command automatically:

• Generates materials from item thumbnails
• Assigns geometries based on item classification

Creating materials from item data

Step 1: Select items

1. Open the required catalog in the Authoring Hub
2. Select all items that need materials and geometries
3. Ensure items have thumbnails and are properly classified

Step 2: Create material from item data

1. Click Actions

2. Select Create material from item data

   

Materials are now generated from product thumbnails and geometries are assigned based on classification. Items are ready for review and 3D visualization. 

Step 3: Review generated items and save the catalog

The command creates new items with materials and geometries. Review the generated items before saving.

Note: blueprint in item's name identifies the original item. 

For each original item, a new item is created containing:

• Material generated from the item thumbnail
• Geometry assigned based on item classification
• mCode defining material properties

The mCode of the material impacts how it will render in applications. Verify that the mCode is correct for each generated material.

For more information on material codes, see this article. 

Step 4: Handle original items

Since the mapping creates new items, the original items (without materials) still exist in the catalog.

To avoid duplicates, choose one of the following:

• delete original items, if original items are no longer needed.
  To delete items, click Actions and Delete. 
• or hide original items, if they should be preserved but not visible in applications.
  To hide items, select the required items, click Actions and Edit. Then select Update in the Action field, choose visible in the Field dropdown, and set the value to false.

Once review is complete, save the catalog version to make the changes permanent.

Step 5: Certify the Catalog

Make sure that the catalog meets application requirements and publish it in Content Studio. 

Step 6: Use materials in SpacesFlex

Open SpacesFlex application and refresh the scene to load newly created materials which are design-ready and can be applied instantly.