---
title: "Texture Painter Workspace: Every Panel Explained"
description: "A tour of the Texture Painter screen: the top bar, tool rail, options bar, 3D view and view bar, 2D view, Layers, Generate with AI, save status, credits, texture size, view settings and help."
source: https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/workspace
---

# The Texture Painter Workspace

A tour of the Texture Painter screen: the top bar, tool rail, options bar, 3D view and view bar, 2D view, Layers, Generate with AI, save status, credits, texture size, view settings and help.

[Open the Texture Painter](https://www.3daistudio.com/TexturePainter/app)

This page explains every part of the Texture Painter screen, so you always know where to look. The numbers in the picture match the list below it.

![The Texture Painter workspace with twelve numbered markers on its zones](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/workspace-overview.webp)

*The Texture Painter workspace with the numbered zones explained below.*

1. **Sessions** opens the start screen: your sessions, samples and ways to start something new.
2. **Session name and save status.** The dot and word show whether your work is saved. Click it for the session menu.
3. **Undo and Redo.**
4. **Credits, Import, Texture size, Export and Help.**
5. **Tool rail:** Brush, Eraser, Image brush, Decal, Eyedropper and Fill.
6. **Options bar:** the settings of the selected tool, like **Size**, **Opacity** and **Hardness**.
7. **3D view:** where you paint and look at the model. The corner marks show **What the AI sees**.
8. **View bar:** shading, framing, turntable, model rotation, the AI capture frame and view settings.
9. **2D view:** the selected layer on the model, the texture map, or what the AI sees.
10. **Layers:** everything you paint or generate, one layer per row.
11. **Generate with AI:** describe a change and let the AI paint it.
12. **Colours:** the main colour with the second colour behind it, and **Swap colours** below.

## Top bar

| Control | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Sessions** | Opens the start screen with all your sessions. See [Saving and sessions](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/sessions). |
| Session name | Click to rename the session, see the save status, open **Version history** or **Time-lapse video**, or **Save now**. |
| **Undo** / **Redo** | Step back and forward. `Ctrl+Z` and `Ctrl+Shift+Z` (`Cmd` on Mac). |
| Credits | Your credit balance. Click it to get more credits. |
| **Import** | Opens a GLB, glTF, FBX or OBJ file. You can also drop a file on the 3D view. |
| Texture size (for example **4K**) | How sharp your paint can be. See below. |
| **Export** | Download the model or its textures. See [Export](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/export). |
| **?** (Help) | Tutorial, tour, shortcuts, controls, what's new and these docs. |

### Save status

The word next to the session name tells you where your work is:

| Status | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| **Autosave** | Nothing to save yet. Your work will save on its own. |
| **Edited** | Saving when you pause. |
| **Saving…** | Your latest changes are being saved. |
| **Saved** | Everything is in the cloud (paid plans). |
| **On device** | Saved in this browser (free plan, or when cloud saving is paused). |
| **Offline** | Safe in this browser; syncs when you are back online. |
| **Not synced** | Safe in this browser; the painter retries shortly. |
| **Read-only** | Someone else is editing this session. Your changes stay in this browser. |

![The session menu under the session name with the save status and menu items](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/session-menu.webp)

*The session menu: rename the session, see where it is saved, and open All sessions, Version history or Time-lapse video.*

### Texture size

The texture size button sets how sharp your paint can be. Changing it keeps all your layers and takes a few seconds.

| Size | Best for |
| --- | --- |
| **1K** | Fastest, for blocking out colours |
| **2K** | Good for most models |
| **4K** | Sharp up close. The default and recommended size. |
| **8K** | Finished work. Needs a strong graphics card. |

![The Texture size menu with 1K, 2K, 4K and 8K](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/texture-size-menu.webp)

*The Texture size menu. 4K is the default.*

The export size is separate: you can paint at 4K and still download at 8K or 12K. See [Export](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/export).

## Tool rail and options bar

The tool rail on the left holds the six tools. The options bar above the 3D view changes with the tool: for the brush it shows **Size**, **Opacity** and **Hardness**, and the **More brush settings** button for hidden areas and edge fade.

![The tool rail with six tool icons](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/tool-rail.webp)

*The tool rail: Brush, Eraser, Image brush, Decal, Eyedropper, Fill.*

![The brush options bar with Size, Opacity and Hardness](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/brush-options-bar.webp)

*The options bar for the Brush.*

Every tool is explained in [Painting tools](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/painting-tools).

## The 3D view and the view bar

You paint and look at the model in the 3D view. Drag the model to paint, drag the background to turn it, and scroll to zoom. All the ways to move are in [Moving around the model](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/navigation).

The corner marks show the square the AI receives when you generate, labelled **What the AI sees · 2K**. The small coloured axes at the top right show which way the model faces.

The view bar at the bottom of the 3D view holds:

| Control | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Parts** | For models with several parts: paint, hide or isolate one part. Shown only when the model has more than one part. |
| **Textured** / **Unlit** / **Clay** / **Normals** | Shading. **Unlit** (the default) shows flat colours, best for painting. `Z` switches between them. |
| **Frame model** | Fits the whole model in view (`Shift+F`). |
| **Turntable** | Slowly spins the model. Any navigation stops it. |
| **Rotate the model** | Turns the model in 90° steps around X, Y or Z. Use it when a model lies down or faces away. Your paint turns with it. |
| **AI capture frame** | Shows or hides the corner marks of what the AI sees. On by default. |
| **View settings** | Lighting, material and navigation settings. |

![The view bar with Textured, Unlit, Clay and Normals and five icon buttons](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/view-bar.webp)

*The view bar: shading modes, then Frame model, Turntable, Rotate the model, AI capture frame and View settings.*

### Shading modes

![The wolf in Textured shading with soft lighting](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/shading-textured.webp)

*Textured: your texture with lighting.*

![The wolf in Clay shading, all grey](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/shading-clay.webp)

*Clay: a plain grey shape, to judge the form.*

![The wolf in Normals shading, in blue, pink and green](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/shading-normals.webp)

*Normals: surface directions in colour, to spot seams.*

> [!NOTE]
> You can only paint in **Textured** and **Unlit**. In **Clay** or **Normals**, the 3D view shows a note with a **Switch to Unlit** link, and dragging the model turns the view instead.

### View settings

The gear icon at the right end of the view bar opens **View settings**.

| Setting | Options | Default |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Lighting** (used in Textured shading) | Studio Small, White Studio, Brown Photo, Wooden Studio, Pergola, Bell Tower | Studio Small |
| **Exposure** | 20 to 300% | 120% |
| **Environment** | 0 to 400% | 180% |
| **Light direction** | 0 to 359° (or `Shift` + right-drag in the 3D view) | 160° |
| **Roughness** | 0 to 100% | 90% |
| **Metalness** | 0 to 100% | 0% |
| **Floor grid** | On / off | On |
| **Rotate around** | Point under cursor, Model centre | Point under cursor |
| **Zoom to cursor** | On / off | On |
| **Navigation input** | Auto, Mouse, Trackpad | Auto |

The navigation settings are explained in [Moving around the model](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/navigation#navigation-settings).

![The View settings popover with lighting presets, sliders and navigation options](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/view-settings.webp)

*View settings: lighting and material for Textured shading, the floor grid, and navigation.*

## The right side: 2D view, Layers and Generate with AI

- **2D view** shows the selected layer on the model, the flat texture map, or what the AI sees. Open or close it with the **2D view** button in the options bar or `\`. See [The 2D view](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/2d-view).
- **Layers** lists everything you paint or generate. See [Layers](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/layers).
- **Generate with AI** turns a description into a new AI layer. See [AI painting](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/ai-painting).

Fold **Layers** or **Generate with AI** with the arrow next to its title. Drag the dividers between panels to resize them; double-click a divider to reset it.

## Help

The **?** at the top right opens Help:

| Item | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Watch the tutorial** | Opens the video tutorial on YouTube. |
| **Show the tour again** | Replays the three-step tour. |
| **Keyboard shortcuts** | Opens the shortcut sheet (`?`). |
| **Controls** | Rotate, pan and zoom with a mouse, trackpad, touch or pen. |
| **What's new** | Recent updates and fixes. |
| **Docs** | Opens these docs. |

![The Help menu with six items](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/help-menu.webp)

*The Help menu.*

![The tour card Paint by hand next to the tool rail](https://docs.3daistudio.com/assets/images/docs/texture-painter/tour-step.webp)

*The first step of the tour, Paint by hand.*

## Related

- [Moving around the model](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/navigation)
- [Painting tools](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/painting-tools)
- [Keyboard shortcuts and gestures](https://docs.3daistudio.com/textures/texture-painter/shortcuts)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Which shading mode should I paint in?

**Unlit**, the default. It shows your colours flat, without lighting, so what you paint is what you get. Switch to **Textured** to check how the model looks with light.

### What does the texture size change?

How much detail your paint can hold. Higher sizes look sharper up close but need more from your graphics card. You can change it any time without losing layers.

### My model is lying on its side. How do I fix it?

Open **Rotate the model** in the view bar and turn it in 90° steps around X, Y or Z until it stands upright. Your paint turns with the model.

---

> Documentation index for AI agents: https://docs.3daistudio.com/llms.txt