> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.polygonflow.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.polygonflow.io/getting-started/tool-presets.md). # Tool Presets Dash includes many powerful tools, and the Preset system makes them even easier to reuse. When you create a Dash tool setup you like, you can save it as a preset, including the input meshes. You can then reuse that preset later and instantly recreate the same setup in any scene. Presets make it easy to build reusable workflows and avoid rebuilding the same setups over and over. {% embed url="" %} ## Presets Basics ### Single Tool Presets When you have created a tool you are happy with, it's incredibly easy to save it in a preset that you can re-use later. If it's your first preset of tool X, you will find it in the tool menu, and if you already have some presets of tool X, the preset button is right next to the tool name. In the preset creation window, you can add some basic info such as name, category, description, search tags, and thumbnail. And then there are two important settings: 1. **Preset Scope**: Here, you decide if the preset shall be local or global. Local presets are saved and accessible only in this project, while the global presets are saved in the AppData folder and are thus accessible from any UE project. 2. **Include Interconnected Tools**: This means that if your tool is connected to another tool, for example, through Proximity Mask or scattering on another Scatter, all interconnected tools will be included in your preset. {% hint style="success" %} The Preset System not only makes it easier to create things with Dash, but it also lets you combine tools through our Compound System and basically create new complex tools where the existing Dash tools become building blocks. {% endhint %} {% embed url="" %} ### Compound Presets The compound system of Dash can, of course, also be used with the Preset System. So let's say you have created a forest with 3 Surface Scatters and 2 Path Scatters, then you can add the key settings from each into a Compound by right-clicking on the properties, name the compound Forest, and then create a preset of this forest directly from the Compound tool. Then, if you use the Forest compound from the preset list of compounds, all your 3 Surface Scatters and 2 Path Scatters will be re-created exactly how you saved them. When creating presets and especially compounds, one should not forget about the Reference System. With this, you can right-click on any property in any Dash tool and convert it to a reference, and then you can right-click on another property, in the same or different tool, and connect this to the same reference. And this basically means that you can control several Dash settings through one property. For example, if you have three Surface Scatters, you can link them together through References for their scales, input surfaces, or densities, etc. And if you then add the references to a compound, they appear as Shared Properties, giving you maximal control and structure in your Compounds. {% hint style="info" %} If you are unsure which tools are connected before you create your preset, you can open the Tool Graph from the tool menu to check what is connected to your tool. {% endhint %} {% hint style="success" %} More info on Compounds and References is available in the [Getting Started Guide](https://docs.polygonflow.io/getting-started/quickstart#references). {% endhint %} Here we have 1 Surface Scatter (Foliage), 1 Path Scatter (Lamps), and 1 Road tool. And then we firstly create a reference of the Road Width, and then connect the Parallel Width Distance of the Path Scatter to the same reference. This makes sure we can control both together. We then add this reference and also the density value of my Surface Scatter to a Compound, which we then create a preset out of. {% embed url="" %} ### Using Presets You can see all your presets for any given tool by clicking the Preset Icon next to the tool name in the Tools Panel. For compounds, simply create a Compound from the Tools Panel and then click the Preset icon. \ \ To use a preset, simply select it in the pop-up list. This will re-create the preset at the same exact location where it was created. So if you aren't seeing it directly, select the tool that was created in the outlier and press F to focus on it in the viewport. If you need to move a Preset result with all its dependencies, you can find an option, Select Movable Objects, in the tool menu. This will select all relevant parts of your tool and let you move them all at once without breaking the results. This option is also available in the Compound Tools. {% embed url="" %} {% hint style="warning" %} In order for the presets to spawn the input meshes like scatter objects and surfaces, they have to exist in the exact same location in your project as they did when you created the preset. If they don't, the tools will still spawn but empty, so then you have to assign some input objects to the tools to see some actual results in the viewport. {% endhint %} Once you have spawned a preset, you can, of course, continue to adjust it however you like, including **replacing any or all of the input meshes**. And then, after some changes, you can save it as another preset. And as we expect most users to create a fair amount of presets to improve their UE5 workflows even further, we have also added all your presets to the Dash Content Browser.
### Preset Library To make it easy to browse, search, and use all your presets, we have now included a preset library in the Dash Content Browser. Once you find a preset you want to use, simply drag and drop it into your viewport. When your preset has appeared in the viewport, all the relevant dependencies are automatically selected so you can easily move it to the perfect spot. You can right-click on any of your presets to delete them or change their details, such as the name, category, description, search tags, and thumbnail. And to make sure there is some structure in your Preset Library, you can expand the right side folder tree and see that your presets are separated by Local vs Global and by your own Categories you have added in your presets. And at the top of the folder tree, you will also see a folder called Built-In. {% embed url="" %} ## Drawable Presets **Draw presets directly in the viewport, with full control over shape and scale.** All presets that have the draw icon in the top right corner can be drawn in your environments by holding CTRL when dragging your presets into your scene. Then select Draw Preset, draw the curve, hit the STOP button, and see your preset appear in your scene. {% embed url="" %} ### Creating Drawable Presets #### Single Tool Presets All single tool presets from Surface Scatter, Path Scatter, Road Tool, Cable Tool, and Quick Pipe are by default drawable. So just save such a preset, and you will see it appear in the Preset Library with the draw icon in its corner. When you draw a Surface Scatter preset, the area you draw will be used in the Object Mask to confine your scatter to this specific area. And all the surfaces/meshes under your curve will be used as Surfaces in the scatter. {% embed url="" %} \ When you draw a Path-based preset, such as Path Scatter, Road Tool, Cable Tool, or Quick Pipe, the results will use your drawn curve as the input Curve. {% embed url="" %} #### Compound Presets Compound presets can seem more complex, as here you are in control of which containers/settings are used in the drawing process. But it is fairly simple! \ \ If you're saving a compound preset and want to be able to draw it, you need to first fill in the basic preset information and then switch to the tab "Make it drawable".\ \ Here you will see **three containers**, the first being the **Curve Container,** which is mandatory for a drawable preset. If you are using a Path-based preset, here you should drag and drop your Curve container. If you are using a Surface Scatter-based preset, you should drag and drop your Object Mask container from the main Surface Scatter. The second is the optional **Surface Container.** For Path-based presets (Road Tool or Path Scatter), you can drop the Projection Mask container if you want the results to conform to the surface when you later draw the preset. For Surface Scatter-based presets, you **must** drop the Surface Container if you want to draw your preset. \ \ And the third and last, **Containers to Discard**, is also optional and only needed for very specific presets. For example, if you have created a preset of any type and used a proximity mask, you should then drag and drop the Proximity Mask Objects container here. By doing this, you make sure that you can still drag and drop your preset and keep the original look with the proximity mask, and also draw the preset in any other shape/form without having the proximity mask object affect the results.
#### Examples Here is a Surface Scatter compound preset example; It has 4 Surface Scatters that all have their surfaces, and object masks linked through the reference system. And then it also uses the middle curve as a proximity mask for the trees and the big rocks, but this will be added as a "Containers to Discard". {% embed url="" %} Here is a Path Scatter-based compound preset; It uses two Path Scatters, one for the pillars and one for the wooden floor, and one Surface Scatter for the foliage on the pillars. Both Path Scatters are linked together using references for their curves and their projection masks. {% embed url="" %} ## Built-in Presets In order to make it even easier for Dash users to get started creatively, we have also included 50+ built-in presets in the new Preset Library. You can filter these by expanding the right folder view in the preset library. This collection is a mix of one-tool presets and compound presets that are all free to use however you like. So once you have dropped a Dash preset, you can adjust any of the settings and replace the placeholder meshes with any of your own meshes. {% embed url="" %} Huge thanks to Quaternius for creating and sharing some awesome CC0 assets that became perfect preset placeholder meshes. Check out all other Quaternius assets right here: Below you can find all the currently included Dash presets that are available in Dash 1.10.0 and later.
### Single Tool Presets Presets using one tool instance.
Surface Scatter
PresetToolsDescriptionTypeCover image
Rocks_NoiseSurface ScatterRocks scattered with a noise mask using Surface Scatter.Single Tool/files/I3LjOTC4hINMAT7PW8ot
Bushes_ProximitySurface ScatterBushes around a rock using a Surface Scatter with proximity mask.Single Tool/files/EwF8gtcnPhWBmyNcz21y
Basic_ForestSurface ScatterA tree Surface Scatter confined with curves through Object and Proximity Mask.Single Tool/files/ysfC9XoqwkMW5wqVQD3W
Moss_RockSurface ScatterMoss scattered on a rock using Surface Scater with a noise mask.Single Tool/files/Xgx7WwgH7rmrGg3TpR6m
Radial Scatter
PresetToolsDescriptionTypeCover image
Rock_TowerRadial ScatterA Radial sScatter that stacks rocks in a tower-like shape. And it uses a proximity mask with a sphere./files/VZK0HhorX5tBeRpgW2Zd
Stone_StairsRadial ScatterA Radial Scatter that uses the Height setting to create a staircase out of a stone asset./files/3qbUjMkrXPXMgppXCUtx
Circular_GardenRadial ScatterA Radial Scatter that scatters flowers in concentric circles. An Proximity Mask curve creates the path./files/LQDFVyNOPY8d8eKipIJq
Path Scatter
PresetToolsDescriptionTypeCover image
Tree_AvenuePath ScatterA Path Scatter that scatters trees along a curve to create an avenue. It uses Parallel Width and Proximity Mask./files/03RkLUolqZspXMa5wVS8
Cliff_CanyonPath ScatterA Path Scatter that scatters rocks along two curves to create a canyon. It also uses some Jitter and Random Spin./files/PhaBldRPdS9OvtNUfGd8
Hanging_VinesPath ScatterVines scattered on a wall along a curve. Using Path Scatter./files/16qbIx2862PvxyuXK6KU
Farm_FencePath ScatterA single Path Scatter that places an fence asset along a curve. /files/4Xd5iT438JvFHQZoPWp0
FencePath ScatterA single Path Scatter that places an standing plank asset along a curve./files/1ZRW4HEVKWAGw7spXjUq
Pillar_FencePath ScatterA single Path Scatter that places a pillar and a plank assets in a fixed pattern along a curve. /files/9JbpGKORHgFx4f9JdgKl
Wooden_PathwayPath ScatterA single Path Scatter that places an laying plank asset along a curve./files/WxCRZiNh3JMrsqa450gf
Grid Scatter
PresetToolsDescriptionTypeCover image
Rock_WallGrid ScatterA Grid Scatter that stacks rocks in a wall-like shape. The breakups comes from a Proximity Mask and Remove Mask./files/Cqz8aBk5ma4GWuUxIn65
Rock_FloorGrid ScatterA Grid Scatter that scatters rocks in a 2D pattern on the floor. And it uses the Noise Mask./files/6Y0SYxrXr2jfnBUQvCDw
Road Tool
PresetToolsDescriptionTypeCover image
Projected_RoadRoad ToolA Road Tool projected on its underlying curvy surface./files/ysnQ53GzFfMj5B7qggYN
Bumpy_RoadRoad ToolA Road Tool with some Noise added to make it bumpy./files/xFrADnF44n0C2QKbjjB7
Cable Tool
PresetToolsDescriptionTypeCover image
Cable_RobotCable ToolA Cable Tool that uses Self-Scatter on top of a single robot asset. It also uses Gravity, Radius and Duplicates settings./files/ikUU4I2eOg6nCvGalIXF
Vine Tool
PresetToolsDescriptionTypeCover image
Overgrown_CarVine ToolA Vine Tool that covers a full car. The car is the surface and an actor is used as origin./files/7uXq5srb3ijYk3ocePv7
Tree_RootsVine ToolA Vine Tool that create roots when using the plane as surface and the tree as origin./files/SB3ya0RFFODGTavsfFCw
### Compound Presets Presets combining multiple tool instances.
Same-Tool Presets
Multiple instances of one tool
PresetToolsDescriptionTypeCover image
Double_CliffsPath Scatter x2This is a compound of 2 Path Scatters, using 1 curve. The 1st forms the outer layer of rocks. The 2nd forms the inner layers./files/lEFaZirP8lUiFIbZpwkE
Light_PathwayPath Scatter x2This is a compound of 2 Path Scatters, using 1 curve. The 1st scatters the pathway of rocks. The 2nd scatters lights outside of the pathway./files/i5HDwIelCQxFWkC3TDoi
Real_RoadRoad Rool x3This is a compound of 3 Road Tools and one curve. One for the main road, one for the side markings, and for the the center markings./files/gt6D1bmP3y4XqWkN6JAF
Mossy_RocksSurface Scatter x2This is a compound of 2 Surface Scatters. The 1st scatters rocks on the plane. The 2nd scatters moss on top of the rocks./files/M8xClUz2XNVvgbrKr5zc
Dense_ForestSurface Scatter x3Compound of 3 Surface Scatters. Tight trees, heavy bushes, almost no empty ground./files/ZmJODJvPCxCINhz6erQp
Open_ForestSurface Scatter x3Compound of 3 Surface Scatters. Wide Spacing, lots of grass, few bushes./files/Ha0hbkmYVhsfugcett9C
Young_ForestSurface Scatter x3Compound of 3 Surface Scatters. Small trees and bushes, few large ones. Lots of bushes and grass/files/eqnN2i4OW88Z9uAAU3fG
Rocky_ForestSurface Scatter x3Compound of 3 Surface Scatters. Trees mixed with lots of rocks./files/XbX2iRp0hbHXT8M2iepV
Rock_PathPath Scatter x2Rocks scattered with a Path Scatter and then foliage on the sides using another Path Scatter./files/iRWzpfWuASIDIeDG843E
Farm_LandGrid Scatter x33 Grid Scatters, using different assets and proximity masks to control their placement./files/ak69krbJSOqF1yUgfPlV
Mixed-Tool Presets
Combinations of different tools
PresetToolsDescriptionCover image
Rock_BridgeCable Tool, Quick Pipe, Surface Scatter x3, Path Scatter x3This compound consisting of various tools creates a non-hanging rope bridge, controlled by a single curve./files/6i0UJo7vlGEOEVNJampu
Rope_BridgeCable Tool, Quick Pipe, Path Scatter x2, Surface ScatterThis compound consisting of various tools creates a hanging rope bridge, controlled by a single bent curve.

/files/xEkzwh5Y4Nt8F0o0Gdhn
Mossy_WallGrid Scatter, Surface ScatterThis compound combines a Grid Scatter and a Surface Scatter to create a rock wall with foliage scattered on it. /files/HcwwFHAen8Q1J2UkCR6p
Mossy_TowerRadial Scatter, Surface ScatterThis compound combines a Radial Scatter and a Surface Scatter to create a rock tower with foliage scattered on it. /files/0IfZChbHMDBkMjt5SI7z
Abandoned_ParkingGrid Scatter, Surface Scatter x3This compound combines a Grid Scatter and a Surface Scatter to scatter cars, foliage and rocks with several proximity masks./files/YZ4jJHgoXXGr66Kznzyb
Park_PathSurface Scatter, Path Scatter, Road ToolThis compound creates an road with lights and foliage on its side using the Road Tool, Path Scatter and Surface Scatter. /files/VJHofiYWzhQSGspfJV05
Overgrown_CliffsPath Scatter x2, Surface Scatter x2This is a compound that creates 2 layers if cliffs with Path Scatters and then scatters foliage on the cliffs and on the ground using Surface Scatter./files/QoIbf1B7sWyaehiaMrPh
Overgrown_PathwayPath Scatter x2, Surface Scatter x2This is a compound that creates an overgrown rock path with lights on each side. It uses Path Scatters and Surface Scatters./files/wM29wGSryEFejj5CrSmt
SuburbGrid Scatter x2, Surface ScatterThis compound scatters a street mesh and houses with two different Grid Scatters and then scatters some bushes with Surface Scatter. (You need to use 2x divisions on the houses compared to the streets)/files/rLmPjuDEDT4y1uX89jSZ
Power_LinesPath Scatter, Cable ToolLight Poles scattered with Path Scatter and cables from the cable tool./files/BxkfjTUZo1F5N4JKA8l9
Overgrown_FencePath Scatter, Surface ScatterA single Path Scatter that places an standing plank asset along a curve. And foliage is added using Surface Scatter. /files/gZmUV6BAispTaoklNa9v
Overgrown_Pillar_FenceSurface Scatter, Path ScatterA single Path Scatter that places two wood assets along a curve. And foliage is added using Surface Scatter. /files/abbB00hDgIoj00D7Iyk9
Board_WalkPath Scatter x2, Surface ScatterOne Path Scatter for the standing planks, one the for flat planks. And a Surface Scatter for the foliage. /files/FCii3EescVWPOFu48zxr
Border_FencePath Scatter x2, Surface ScatterOne Path Scatter for the standing planks, one the for flat planks. And a Surface Scatter for the foliage. /files/PCVhaqIRm8Os4AXWVnGM
Overgrown_PierPath Scatter x2, Surface ScatterOne Path Scatter for the pillars, one for the flat planks. And a Surface Scatter for the foliage. /files/jJPaW3K1YHx1qZuCLYPx
Custom_Fence1Quick Pipe, Cable ToolA Quick Pipe is used for the poles and a Cable Tool is used for the strings. /files/ZoUDsZ9QAcFZPDrW8jgY
Custom_Fence2Quick Pipe, Cable Tool x2A Quick Pipe is used for the poles and two Cable Tools is used for the strings. /files/pvNsgHgAHOAxciGldMvx
Wire_FenceQuick Pipe x2, Cable ToolA procedural fence using 2 Quick Pipes and 1 Cable Tool./files/EedarfJ9IGY70pUhU3jL
Road_RailsRoad Tool, Cable Tool, Quick PipeA road tool with rails on the side using a Quick Pipe and a Cable Tool./files/qJsG6NzJLhMg7AiRDSjY
RailwayRoad Tool, Path Scatter x2The planks and the rocks comes from 2 Path Scatters, and the track comes from the Road Tool using Parallel Width./files/UOlCAjxITuMfAKCmakAq
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