Tips & Tricks for managing art assets

Beyond version control, Anchorpoint offers several additional features that can save time and eliminate the need for multiple web tools or asset management software.

From creating reusable templates for your project and folder structures, to setting up naming conventions, creating master files that you can reference in other scenes and mapping folders as drives, Anchorpoint can significantly streamline your workflow.

Template folder structure

With Anchorpoint you can build databases for your assets by creating naming conventions so you never have to manually rename files or folders again, saving valuable time, especially in VFX, animation or other 3D projects. This approach allows you to quickly create naming conventions that make it easier to identify files and where they belong.

For example, in my 3D projects, I use two standard templates for still images and animation projects. These structures keep my workflow organized and allow me to focus on the creative process.

In spite of that, a common problem when using templates for new projects or shots is the manual renaming of folders and files. It's a tedious process that can lead to errors, especially in a team environment. When creating a new shot, both the folder and the associated 3D/compositing files, such as s01_shot0010_anim_v001.blend, need to be renamed.

To get around this, I use templates with tokens. When a template is copied into a project, terms such as client, project, asset name or shot number are automatically replaced with the correct information, and with Anchorpoint this automation requires no Python knowledge.

Template files

A token acts as a placeholder in a template (e.g. a folder structure) and is later replaced with your project name for example. When a template folder structure is copied to the project directory, a batch rename process automatically converts the tokens.

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For example, a project file structure template may contain tokens. These placeholders - such as [Client], [Project] and standardized data such as [YYYYMMDD] - are replaced with actual data during the process.

Setting up a template with tokens

1. Navigate to your template folder (the empty folder structure) and choose “Save as template” from the context menu.

2. Open the tab where the template will be saved and use square brackets [ ] around words like "Client" or "Project." These become recognized as tokens, and when an artist uses the template, they’ll be prompted to input values for these tokens.

3. You can now create a new folder from the template anywhere in Anchorpoint. The popup will display all tokens set in the template, and inputting the value once will replace the token in all associated folders and files.

Using version control such as Git or Perforce

Anchorpoint’s version control feature lets you track each artist's contributions and the assets they produce. You can review past iterations and provide feedback for the next version.

File history and reviews

While navigating through your project’s timeline, the file history feature allows you to view changes, who made them, and add comments or reviews.

Creating a referenced file

In cases where you need to update a material that’s used extensively across models or scenes, you can reference a master file instead of manually changing each instance in Unity, Unreal or other engines.

1. To enable this, go to Workspace settings > Actions > Create referenced file. Do the same for the other features if you encounter problems.

2. If you have a new texture/material that hasn't been applied yet to your models/scenes, select the texture you want and rename/add an appendix like _v1 to the name. Then right click on it and select Create Reference File which by default will create a duplicate of this asset, but with _m at the end, representing the master file. From now on any other files with the same name but different appendixes can be referenced to replace this _m file. 

3. If you already have a material/texture applied to models and scenes, select it and rename it, by adding _m at the end of the name in your engine and make sure that the renaming process, does not remove the material or texture from your models/scenes in the scene, if it does, reapply it again.

4. Now that you have a master, each time you have a different version of this asset, by using version control, or simply by adding other variants with the same name, but with an appendix with numbers at the end like _vX, e.g. _v2. If you right-click on them and select Create referenced file, it will replace the master _m file with this new material, which in turn will be updated in your engine without having to replace or rename the asset, saving you a lot of hassle.

Mapping folders as a drive

Especially if you use a Google Drive or a Dropbox that is located in different places, it makes sense to keep the path to your project the same for everyone. This prevents broken links to textures in your Blender files.

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To map a project folder as a drive for absolute paths or quick access, simply right-click on the project name in the workspace and select Map as Drive, then choose the desired drive letter.

Sending App links

In order to prevent your team members sending files via Slack for a review, you can also use the App Link feature in Anchorpoint. The original file will stay at it's original folder. You are just sending a link to that file and when your team member clicks on that link, Anchorpoint will open in the correct location and select that file. Right-click the file in Anchorpoint and select Copy App Link. For folders, do the same in the workspace. You can paste the link in messaging apps like Slack or Discord, and team members can open the file/folder in Anchorpoint directly.

Using file converters

Anchorpoint also offers file conversion features. For example, you can convert a .psd to a .png for someone who doesn’t have Photoshop. After conversion, the file is copied to your clipboard for easy sharing.

You can also batch convert images into an image sequence or .mp4 format and even modify the audio of a video file.

Searching in Anchorpoint

Searching in Anchorpoint is faster than in standard file explorers. To make it even more efficient, you can tag files. For instance, to find all files tagged “NPC” in your project, use the shortcut CTRL+P and type "NPC."

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Frequently asked questions

I cannot see certain context menu entries, what should I do?

If you don't see certain features, first check that the feature is enabled in the Workspace Settings, Actions tab. For example Workspace Settings > Actions > Create referenced files must be enabled for you to be able to use the create referenced files feature.

How to tag files?

Use the Attributes feature to create tags, descriptions, user assignments, etc. for files and folders. Link: https://docs.anchorpoint.app/docs/asset-management/attributes/‍

What thumbnails can Anchorpoint display?

Anchorpoint can display thumbnails of file formats such as .blend, .c4d, .sbsar, .sbs, .psd, .ai, .exr, .tga, .fbx, .obj, .gltf, .usd, .wav, .mp3 etc.

Does Anchorpoint work offline?

Anchorpoint is connected to a cloud server to share metadata with your team. But it can also work when your internet connection is down. It will pause synchronization and resume when the internet connection is available.