AI Texturing

Generate PBR textures for a 3D model from a text prompt or a reference image, whether Meshy generated the model or you uploaded it.

Use AI Texturing to texture an untextured mesh, to replace textures you aren't happy with, to change a model's material style, or to get a complete PBR texture set. To touch up one area of a texture instead, use Texture Edit. To paint textures by hand, export the model with its UVs and work in a tool such as Substance Painter. For color or brightness adjustments only, use your DCC tool.

Before you begin

You need a model in your generations. To texture a model you made in another tool, upload it first:

  1. In the panel that lists your generations, click Upload.

  2. Add a .fbx, .obj, .stl, .gltf, or .glb file up to 100 MB.

  3. Click Continue.

Texture a model

To texture a model, follow these steps:

  1. In the panel that lists your generations, click the model.

  2. In the viewer toolbar, click Texture. If the model already has textures, the button is Retexture.

  3. In the panel, select Text Input to describe the material, or Image Input to match a reference image.

  4. If the panel shows a model list, select Meshy 7 - Flagship for the most detail, Meshy 6, or Meshy 6 Lite for the fastest result.

  5. Describe the material or add the image:

    • With Text Input, describe the material in Prompt in up to 800 characters, for example "rusted iron with scratches".

    • With Image Input, add a .png, .jpg, .jpeg, or .webp image up to 20 MB. With Meshy 7 - Flagship, you can also turn on Multi-view to add images from other angles. Multi-view needs a paid plan.

  6. Optional: If the panel shows Generate PBR Maps, turn it on to get metallic, roughness, and normal maps in addition to the base color.

  7. Optional: If the panel shows Texture Resolution, select 2K, 4K, or 8K. 4K and 8K need a paid plan, and 8K is available with Meshy 7 - Flagship only.

  8. Optional: With Meshy 6, turn on Remove Lighting to remove highlights and shadows from the base color.

  9. Click Texture. The panel shows the time and credit cost before you start. Texturing costs 10 credits, or 15 credits at 8K.

  10. Optional: To check the textures under different lighting, switch the viewer to its PBR preview mode, and then change the HDRI in the environment settings.

  11. In the viewer toolbar, click Download to export the model with its textures.

Meshy AI Texturing panel: texture a model from a text or image prompt, with Remove Lighting, PBR maps, and HD Texture options

Settings and tradeoffs

The following table shows what each setting trades off.

SettingOptionsTradeoff
AI modelMeshy 7 - Flagship, Meshy 6, or Meshy 6 LiteMeshy 7 - Flagship gives the most detail and the sharpest textures, in about 2 to 3 minutes. Meshy 6 takes about a minute. Meshy 6 Lite is the fastest, at about 30 seconds, and always generates at 2K.
Remove LightingOn or offOn removes baked highlights and shadows, which suits PBR pipelines. Off keeps the original lighting. Available with Meshy 6 at 2K or 4K.
Generate PBR MapsOn or offOn adds metallic, roughness, and normal maps to the base color for a complete PBR set. Off gives the base color only.
Texture Resolution2K, 4K, or 8K2K generates faster. 4K gives more detail. 8K gives the most detail and costs 15 credits instead of 10.
PromptFree textA more specific prompt gives better results. Combine several style keywords.

Examples

A specific prompt with the right settings gives a complete texture set:

  • Input: a low-poly sword mesh with no textures, and the prompt "ancient elvish blade, silver with blue rune engravings, fantasy style"

  • Settings: Meshy 6 with Remove Lighting and Generate PBR Maps on, at a resolution that suits your use

  • Result: a complete PBR texture set with detailed engravings and an accurate metallic look.

A one-word prompt on a mesh with poor UVs gives a poor result:

  • Input: a dense mesh with overlapping UVs, and the prompt "wood"

  • Result: visible texture seams and distortion.

  • Fix: run Unwrap UV to generate a clean UV layout, and then texture the model again.

Troubleshooting

The following table lists common problems, their causes, and how to fix them.

ProblemCauseFix
Texture seams are visibleThe UV layout is poorRun Unwrap UV, and then texture the model again.
The PBR maps look flatBaked shadows stay in the textureUse Meshy 7 - Flagship, which removes baked lighting automatically, or select Meshy 6 and turn on Remove Lighting.
The texture style doesn't match the promptThe prompt is too shortAdd details about the material, era, wear level, and colors.
Textures load slowly4K and 8K texture files are largeIf you don't need a high resolution, select 2K.
Meshy says the model has too many faces to textureThe model has 8 million faces or moreReduce the face count with Remesh. Meshy opens the Remesh panel for you.

FAQ

How do I add textures to a 3D model in Meshy?
Select a model or upload your own, and click Texture in the viewer toolbar. Enter a material prompt or add a reference image, and then click Texture in the panel.
Can I texture a model I made elsewhere?
Yes. Upload a .fbx, .obj, .stl, .gltf, or .glb file up to 100 MB, and texture it like a model that Meshy generated.
What does Remove Lighting do?
It removes baked-in highlights and shadows from the base color texture, so PBR rendering looks correct under any lighting. It's available with Meshy 6.
What PBR maps does Meshy generate?
With Generate PBR Maps turned on, Meshy generates metallic, roughness, and normal maps in addition to the base color. You can generate at 2K or 4K, or at 8K with Meshy 7 - Flagship.
Why do my textures have seams or distortion?
Poor UVs usually cause this. Run Unwrap UV to generate a clean UV layout, and then texture the model again.

Next steps

  • To generate clean UVs before you texture a model, see Unwrap UV.

  • To optimize the mesh before you texture it, see Remesh.

  • To fix one area of a texture without replacing it, see Texture Edit.