> [!abstract] Summary
> **Configure Layer** makes USD save behaviour **explicit** — tell USD where to save, and across **how many layers**. Combine with **Separated Layer Mode** to publish multiple sublayers at once, or use **Flatten Input Stage** to collapse layers and start a fresh stack.
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# Asset — Configure Layer
- Makes **save control explicit** — you tell USD exactly **where** to save.
- **Allows saving as multiple layers** — useful when an asset needs to publish a `mod` layer, a `mtl` layer, etc. in one shot.
## Separated Layer Mode
- Configure multiple layers, then merge them in **Separated Layer Mode** so each one writes to its own file when the network is rendered.
- ![[file-20241130142657364.png|450]]
## Flatten Input Stage
- **Flattens** the input layer stack into a single layer — gives you a clean baseline to start a new layer on top of.
- ![[file-20241130142816017.png|450]]
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# When to Use
- Asset publish with multiple separately-versioned layers (`mod`, `mtl`, `rig` …).
- Sequence master scenes producing `usdLayerMasterEnvironment` + `usdLayerMasterLighting` from the same network.
- Squashing a heavy graph into a single flat layer to ease downstream work.
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# 🔗 Related
- [[../SOLARIS MOC|SOLARIS MOC]].
- [[SOLARIS Layerbreak|SOLARIS Layer Break]] — control what gets written to disk.
- [[SOLARIS Component builder - Explore Variants|Component Builder]] — alternative asset-publish flow.
- [[../../../../PROTOCOL/USD/Notes/USD KNOWLEDGE/6.30 USD Theory|USD Theory]] — layers and layer stacks.