Dive into our step-by-step guide and discover how easy it is to start designing in Mattoboard and create beautiful 3D material boards.
Designing in MattoBoard is free to start. Head to MattoBoard.com and click on "Start Designing." Fill in a few details about yourself and select a password to set up your account. Once registered, you’re ready to start creating 3D material boards.
Start with a blank board by dragging objects from the left menu and assigning materials from the right. Alternatively, you can drag materials directly into the 3D scene from their thumbnail, which will automatically apply them to an appropriate object. Explore the “Accessories” menu for a variety of products and fixtures to enrich your design. Use the height adjustment slide and rotation arrows to view each material and product in complete 3D!
Watch how to drag and drop materials here. Watch how to rotate materials here.
The built-in lighting feature lets you modify the board’s lighting environment. Adjust the temperature and intensity to see how your materials interact under different lighting conditions. Use the light position slider to shift the light across your 3D material board, revealing how each finish interacts with the light for a truly immersive experience.
Watch how to experience light in 3D here.
Go beyond aerial view and experience your whole board in 3D. Hold down shift while selecting and dragging the material board background and watch the magic happen.
Access a Deep Render© of your board from the download menu (Pro). The rapid rendering time means you only need to wait a few minutes for the magic to happen. Download a high-res, photorealistic image of your board that is perfect for client presentations as it captures every product detail with remarkable accuracy, from textures and lighting to shadows and reflections.
Watch how to use Deep Render© here.
Create beautiful and watchable content with the record your board feature (Pro). Show off your design skills by showcasing your 3D material board in video format. Entice viewers with product spins, light movements and showing off how you design in MattoBoard. Perfect for Instagram, Tok Tok and YouTube creators.
Watch how to record your board here.
Upload images from your computer in the left images tab or drag them in from websites into your board. We recommend using the remove background feature for a cleaner, more professional look (Pro). MattoBoard also offers a built in image library of pre-curated images of interior spaces and products for additional inspiration.
Watch how to add images here. Watch how to remove image backgrounds here.
For a comprehensive list of everything on your board alongside website links, select the material sheet icon. You can export this as a PDF (Pro) for easy reference or share it with your team or clients.
Watch how to generate a material sheet here.
Can’t find that specific material you’re looking for? Upload your own in the “My Materials” tab. You can use an image from a branded website or take your own - just make sure the image is high resolution. Fill in the material details such as product name and material category and hit save. This will now be in your personal library. Drag and drop the material into the 3D scene and use the material editing feature in the right properties menu to edit scale, texture and glossiness.
Watch how to upload and edit your own materials here.
Simply drag a paint object onto your board and select a color from the menu on the right. Use the color filters to find the exact shade you need. Once your paint is on the board, you can customize the finish - from flat to high gloss - right in the properties menu, allowing you to see how each finish interacts with light for a perfect match to your design vision.
If you don’t see the exact paint color you’re looking for, easily upload your own. Head to the “My Materials” tab and select “Create new paint” to add a custom color using a HEX code or the color graph. Select your finish, save, and you’re ready to go!
Watch how to add paint to your material board here. Watch how to upload your own paint colors here.
MattoBoard offers a wide range of templates to jumpstart your design. Choose from blank or pre-curated templates. Blank templates allow you to customize entirely, while curated templates offer pre-designed boards that you can adjust by adding, swapping, or removing elements as needed to suit your projects needs. If you’re a content creator, these are great to use alongside the record your board feature to generate compelling content in no time.
Watch how to get started with 3D material board templates here.
Add text by selecting the text tab and dragging the text icon onto your board. Type and format your text in the right menu, then move it into place. For added clarity, use annotation lines: just drag and drop them into the 3D scene, wait for the screen to gray over, and draw your line. Position these lines to label or highlight key details with precision.
Watch how to add text to your material board here.
Save specific materials, products and images by adding them to a collection. Access your collections through the left menu, where you can edit details and share the collection, along with associated mood boards, with colleagues or clients.
Click the save icon in the top menu to store your progress. All saved projects are accessible in your Project Home under “Your Projects.”
Watch how to save your material board here.
Share your board by clicking the share icon. Download high-quality renders or share a 3D link with clients and colleagues, enabling them to experience your board in 3D with light and shadow. You can also adjust editing permissions as needed.
Watch how to share your board in 3D here.
What are you waiting for? Click ‘Start designing now’ to start creating professional 3D material boards for your interior design projects. To access MattoBoard’s full professional potential, sign up to MattoBoard Pro. Find out more here.
Questions or feedback? Email us at studio@mattoboard.com
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