The Apply Render Materials interface is a Microvellum function that allows one to assign specific render materials to database materials within one’s material library. Using this interface, one can efficiently control and visually align one’s material library without the need for excessive manual alteration within the database.

This feature is only available in Microvellum BSB, in build 26.1.0520.641 and newer. While usable in both BSB 2025 and 2026, the feature is optimized for 2026. 

Prerequisite View

The Apply Render Materials button can be found in the Library Specification Group interface under Microvellum Options. However, render materials and any relevant messages will not be visible unless one’s drawing view is set to a mode that adds visible textures to product materials, such as Realistic, Conceptual, or Shaded. Ensure that this is the case before attempting to open this feature.

Assign Render Materials Interface

1. Material Face: The specific face of the database material that the texture is being applied to. The available faces for texture application are top face, bottom face, and the core (middle) of the selected material. The fields beneath autofill if a texture is selected from the list, but users can also manually type in the name of a specific texture (an autofill will be applied as you type) to apply it to the selected database material. If the edgebanding library is selected, the edgebanding button will be interactive. Otherwise, it will remain grayed out.

2. Categories: The different categories of rendering material texture within one’s material file. Textures are divided into main categories and subcategories, with main categories including all CAD based textures in BricsCAD/AutoCAD’s default libraries, as well as Microvellum’s comprehensive list of different woods, and subcategories further dividing the library by texture attributes (such as light/medium/dark wood).

3. Render Material List: The list of each render material texture, each with a name and a thumbnail preview for users to view. This section of the interface is where the specific texture is selected to be applied to the database material. Click on the desired texture, then the database material to apply it to the face of, then click the Apply button. Though multiple materials can be selected to have a texture applied, one texture can be selected at a time.

4. Apply Button: The button one clicks to apply the selected texture to the selected material. Only needs to be clicked once if multiple materials are selected.

5. Materials: This interface contains the various material libraries in one’s material file. This includes sheet stock, solid stock, edgebanding, and buyout materials. Users can select which material is going to have the texture applied to it by ticking the checkbox next to the material name. Specific materials can be searched for by name in the search bar.

NOTE: Formula-driven materials do not appear in the interface currently.

Effects

As previously stated, it is possible to select multiple different materials to apply a texture to by ticking the checkboxes next to each material’s name. However, while multiple materials can have a single texture applied to them, only one texture can be selected at a time in the interface. After a texture has been applied to a material, a confirmation message will pop up in the interface.

After completing the process, redraw any products in the room that use the modified material, and the texture should appear on the face it was assigned to. If the material has a grain direction or grain pattern associated with it, it should be visibly displayed on the model, adapting to remain consistent even if the product is moved, rotated, or redrawn.

If a texture is loaded that is not detected in the library, a pop-up warning will appear directing one to the location of one’s rendering data. By default, if this occurs, the software will instead use the material texture that is selected for the finish layer of the product. If a render material is unable to be applied, the pop-up will instead notify users of that.

Redundant Materials

With the introduction of the Apply Render Materials interface, older render materials that are no longer applicable may still be visible. While they are by and large no longer used, obsolete materials have the chance of cluttering the UI, and as such, users opening the Apply Render Materials interface for the first time will be greeted with a pop-up asking if they would like to remove these materials. If users select “No”, the process can be performed later using a new utility within the Database Management Tools titled “Clean up Render Material Names in the Materials Database Table”.