Managing content with Smart Content Manager
Smart Content Manager (SCM) is a new system that allows you to browse, manage, and download all your digital content in the same place. It is useful for aggregating assets used among multiple users in a project.
1. Finding and Installing Content
• Content Status: If a thumbnail is grayed out, it means you have purchased the content but it has not been installed on your local machine. If you see a little green cloud icon on a grayed-out thumbnail, you own the content but have not downloaded it yet.
• Downloading: You can multi-select items, right-click, and choose “install content” to queue them for installation all at once.
• Views: You can switch between the Pack tab (content organized in bundles) and the Item tab (individual assets, generally used for custom folder creation). When you download content, the SCM automatically switches back to the Pack view.
2. Using Old (Legacy) Content
If you have assets from previous versions (like CC3 or iClone 7), there are two ways to bring them into the new SCM:
1. Drag and Drop: You can drag files from your PC’s Explorer directly into the SCM. This is the fastest way, but it duplicates the files. This method is only recommended for custom assets, as other asset types will lose their pack information.
2. Linking (Recommended): Use the down arrow menu on the right of the SCM and select the “Link” option. This allows you to access all previous CC3 content. Linking is recommended because it avoids duplicating files, saving redundant hard drive space, and it maintains the original pack information. You only need to do this linking process once. To find your linked CC3 custom content, you must change the source from the dropdown menu to “CC3 Custom Content”.
3. Organizing Your Own Assets
• Thumbnails: The thumbnail reflects your current camera view. To get a better result, you can right-click on the saved item and select Capture Thumbnail.
• Custom Paths: You can define a custom file path in the Content Manager settings. If defined, all your custom content will be saved there.
• Filter: You have the option to apply a number of simple search filters.Therefore, the main use of filters is to enable efficient searching and categorization of your digital assets within the SCM.
• My Collection & Tag : Check here: Organizing Content by Collection
• Mark as Invisible Content: You can even hide a content with Content Manager, kindly refer to the manual page about Hide & Show content: https://manual.reallusion.com/content-manager/2.0/03-pack-view/hiding-contents.htm
4. Backing Up and Transferring Content
• Backup: All content is stored in the cell pack folder. To back up your content, you must first copy the entire cell pack folder.
• Restore: On a new PC, copy the cell pack folder to the same folder structure. Then, go to the SCM settings and use the plus symbol (+) to navigate and link to the copied cell pack folder.
• Exporting Data: You can export content tags or developer packs using the “export data” option in the SCM menu. Be aware that external files like linked textures or videos will not be transferred over when exporting packs.
5. Others
• Download Actorcore content: Content Manager can download Actorcore purchased content as well, refer to: https://kb.reallusion.com/Product/53042/How-to-Download-Content-from-ActorCore-into-iClone-8
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