Manage parameters

Last update: Thu Feb 26 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

When you need to control parameters in any way other than adjusting them directly, Designer offers several useful actions to:

Copy and paste the values of all the parameters of a node
Save the values or all the parameters of a node to a preset file, to be reused later
Expose the parameters of nodes to make them accessible and link them together
Hide or show parameters according to the values of other parameters
Use a Substance function graph to compute the value of a parameter

Parameter actions

The tools available for managing parameters are available in the following locations:

Global actions

When the properties of a node are displayed in the Properties dock, the node parameters can be managed globally using the ‘Manage parameters’ menu in the following section header:

For atomic nodes: Specific parameters
For instance nodes: Instance parameters

Global 'Manage parameters' menu in Properties

{modal="regular"}

Actions in this menu will impact all the parameters listed in that section:

Expose parameters: Opens the ‘Batch expose parameters’ dialog. For every exposed parameter, the action creates a new graph input and automatically sets a function using that graph input. Learn more about exposing parameters in this dedicated page.
Copy parameters: See Copy and paste parameters section below.
Paste parameters: See Copy and paste parameters section below.
Save parameters as a preset file: Learn more about parameter presets in this dedicated page.
Apply parameters from a preset file: Learn more about parameter presets in this dedicated page.
Reset all: Resets all parameters to their default values and ranges. If a functions were applied to any parameters, they are dismissed.

NOTE

Some actions are not available for some atomic nodes. See Atomic nodes limitations below.

Single parameter actions

If you want to manage a single parameter, use the ‘Manage function’ menu opposite to the parameter label.

Local 'Manage parameters' menu in Properties

{modal="regular"}

You can apply a Substance function graph to that parameter in three ways:

Expose as new graph input: Which creates a new graph input and automatically sets a function using that graph input. Learn more about exposing parameters in this dedicated page.
Empty function: Author a function from scratch.
Constant value: Edit a function starting from a constant value node set to the parameter’s current value.
Reset: Resets the parameter to its default value and range. If a function was applied to the parameter, it is dismissed.

NOTE

The copy/paste and preset file actions are global to all parameters and are thus not available for single parameters.

Some parameter actions from the global menu listed above are available in the node contextual menu. Click RMB on a node and go to ‘Manage parameters’ to access them.

Note that the copy/paste actions are not available in this menu. You may find them in the node properties as explained above.

The same limitations listed below for atomic nodes apply to this menu.

'Manage parameters' menu in node contextual menu

{modal="regular"}

Copy and paste parameters

It is possible to copy all parameters values for a source node, and paste them onto a target node. The parameters of the source and target nodes are matched based on both their identifiers and types.

For example, a parameter ‘Scale’ which identifier is ‘scale’ and type is ‘Float’ can be copied and pasted onto another parameter ‘Shape Scale’ when its identifier is also ‘scale’ and its type is also ‘Float’.

This feature works in the same way as using a parameter preset file. Indeed, the data copied to the clipboard is the same as the data stored in SBSPRS preset files, and can be pasted into any text editor to be reviewed and edited.