The baking step collects all the layers and send them off to render locally (on your machine) or through Deadline. This process (depending on the size of your scene) will take a long time and it is generally a process you will leave for overnight. In the tab you will be presented with 2 windows that will display all the layers:
Non-Baked Layers: This window will show all the layers that are not unwrapped appropriately or have been unwrapped but have not been baked yet.
Baked Layers: The baked layer window will show you all the layers that have the baked texture applied to the objects in the layer.
Note: The "baked' parameter is based off whether or not a shell material is applied to all of the layers much like how the Unwrapped parameter is based off the UV channel 8.
Bake Selected
Bake Selected
The Bake Selected button will automatically go through the process of backing up the layer into the EnvizPro folder, merge all the objects in each layer together and then proceed with baking all the selected layers.
However, a prompt will show up every time you press the Bake button to ensure you want to continue with this process - If you choose 'Local' your scene will be locked until the bake is over or force quit (not advised).
The Bake [Deadline] button allows you to close the scene and work on other project if needed once it's gone through the merging steps and has been sent to Deadline to bake. While you have access to the scene (especially layers that are being baked via Deadline), do not edit the layers that are being baked because they will be replace by the back up version.
Simple but Important Tip: Please save the file before baking
Import Selected Bakes
Import Selected Bakes
The Import Selected Bakes button goes through each selected layer and reimports everything back so that the bake can be easily viewed. It restores the original mesh while using the new assigned shell material to handle switching between the original and baked material.
Toggle View
Toggle View
The toggle view button allows you to switch between the Baked material and Original material which gives you a bit of a clarity if you need to amend anything.
The toggle view button only works on layers you select in the listbox however there is plans to allow integration between the plugin and the hierarchy
The Baked material works using the UV channels. The original mesh uses the bitmap channel 1 whilst the Baked texture uses the channel 8.