> [!abstract] Summary > **Stage Manager LOP** — a GUI for importing assets and arranging them in a custom hierarchy. Convenient for assembly/set-dressing but **flattens the USD layer stack** — destroys references, sublayers, and payloads. Use with caution in production scenes; prefer Reference / Sublayer for non-destructive workflows. --- # Stage Manager - **Import + Custom Hierarchy** in one node. - Use the **Layout Asset Gallery** alongside it to register reusable assets. - Supports **Flatten Layer + Blast / Delete** of existing prims through its interface. ![[file-20241030184722819.png]] --- > [!danger] This node flattens your USD layers > - The node **merges all referenced and sublayered USD data** into a **single flattened layer**. > - The original **layer stack and composition arcs** (references, sublayers, payloads) are **resolved and combined**. > - You **lose** the ability to update downstream assets via reference / payload — anything ingested through Stage Manager is "baked in". --- # When to Use | Use case | Should you use Stage Manager? | |---|---| | Layout-style assembly of components into a static scene | ✅ Convenient, fast | | Quick one-off scene mockup or test | ✅ Fine | | Production set dressing that needs to **stay updatable** when source assets change | ❌ Use Reference / Sublayer instead | | Sequence master environment with shot-level retakes | ❌ Stage Manager bakes layers, breaks the override chain | > [!tip] Production-safe alternatives > Use [[SOLARIS Reference VS Sublayer VS Merge|Reference / Sublayer / Merge]] — they preserve the layer stack so updates propagate. > [!warning] Known issues (Houdini 20.5.445) > Stage Manager has multiple bugs in 20.5.445 — set dressing has been lost in production cases. Save often, and consider building duplicate fallback dressing in a Layout LOP. --- # 🔗 Related - [[../SOLARIS MOC|SOLARIS MOC]]. - [[SOLARIS Reference VS Sublayer VS Merge|Reference VS Sublayer VS Merge]] — preferred, non-destructive alternatives. - [[SOLARIS Layerbreak|Layer Break]] — control what gets written when stage manager is used. - [[../WORKFLOW/SOLARIS Instancing|SOLARIS Instancing]] — Layout LOP-based dressing. - [[../../../../ARTFX OSMIUM/PIPELINE/Notes/DETAILS/PIPELINE ENVIRONMENT|OSMIUM PIPELINE ENVIRONMENT]] — production set-dressing context (warns against Stage Manager).