Projection Painting using Stencils

Here’s how to add surface details to your models using projection painting with stencils in Uniform. This feature is compatible with all object types, making it suitable for both high-poly meshes and texture painting in 3D and 2D.

To begin, select the Paint Brush from the bar launcher.

Next, open the gallery, go to Overrides, and search for the Projection Painting Override. This will add new modules to the Global Override list, allowing you to configure brushes and control projection painting settings.

A new section will appear at the bottom of the screen—this is called the Resource Pool. It allows for quick loading and switching between sets of images, meshes, or other data while using a tool. Click the file icon to add an individual image, or use the folder icon to load an entire folder.

Once a folder is loaded, all supported images will be displayed. To delete images or clear the content, use the Image Pool module within the Global Override list for resource management.

Clicking an image in the resource pool activates it. You can now begin projection painting with the Paint Brush. All other brush features, such as stabilizers, custom brush tips, and influence settings, remain available. You can also apply stencils using other surface tools like filters, expand, gradients, and clip gestures.

Hold the M1 shortcut to activate the Viewport Projection Editor. When active, drag anywhere to move the stencil, drag from the top of the circle to rotate it, and drag from the bottom to scale it.

Additional stencil settings can be found in the Viewport Projector module within the global overrides. There, you can adjust stencil opacity and reset its position or rotation.

When you’re finished using the stencil, you can restore the original tool behavior by clicking the Clear Module button in the global override list. Alternatively, you can switch the override lane using the number widgets to an empty one to temporarily disable projection painting. You can also load a different projection painting preset into this lane to work with a separate set of image assets.