# F11 — Transfer Weights (Tools Menu)

> SkinLayer Studio **1.3.x Standalone** UI reference.  
> Practice: EP00–EP12 · Features: **F01–F17** (order 50+).

> **What is Transfer for?**  
> Send weights from a dummy/other mesh **once** (choose Method).  
> Different from **Sync Now** (keep a Sync network in lockstep).  
> Example: calf Dummy done → Transfer (Closest Point + Add as new layers) → Body.

> Weight transfer between meshes, plus cleanup tools under the menu-bar **Tools** menu.  
> For the practical dummy → transfer flow, see [Create Dummy · Transfer](/guide/skin-layer-studio/ui-dummy-transfer?lang=en).

---

## Open from the menu

Top menu bar:

```
Tools  →  Transfer Weights...
```

![Tools menu](tools_menu_bar.png)

The same **Tools** menu also has Normalize / Prune / Smooth / Export·Import, etc. (see [Tools menu items](#tools-menu-items) below).

### Other entry points

| Path | Description |
|------|-------------|
| **Tools → Transfer Weights...** | Menu bar (image above) |
| Skin Desk / Sync Map **right-click** | `Transfer Weights...` |
| After dummy work | Run with Source=Dummy, Target=main mesh → [Dummy guide](/guide/skin-layer-studio/ui-dummy-transfer?lang=en) |

---

## Transfer Weights dialog

![Transfer Weights](dummy_transfer_weights.png)

Copies/adds Source mesh layer weights onto the Target mesh.

### Method

| Option | When |
|--------|------|
| **Closest Point (IDW)** | Different topology (dummy→body, clothing, etc.). Inverse Distance Weighting from nearby vertices |
| **Vertex ID (Same Topology)** | Same vertex count · order. 1:1 by index |

If same topology is detected, Vertex ID may be selected by default. Dummy→body is usually **Closest Point (IDW)**.

### Transfer

| Option | Action |
|--------|--------|
| **Overwrite** | **Overwrite** Target’s existing weights/layers (careful) |
| **Add as new layers** | **Add as new layers** on Target (keep existing) — recommended for region dummy work |

### Source / Target

| UI | Description |
|----|-------------|
| **Source** | Sending mesh (e.g. `Dummy_Skin_L_Calf_Seg1`) |
| **Target** | Receiving mesh (e.g. `Dummy_Body`, `Body_Geo`) |
| **⇄** | Swap Source ↔ Target |

Parentheses like `(200v)` are vertex counts.

### Influences comparison

| Display | Meaning |
|---------|---------|
| Green **(matched)** | Same-name bones on Source · Target → used for transfer |
| Yellow (Target only) | Bones only on Target — no matching Source weights |
| Orange/Source only | Bones only on Source — may be lost if missing from Target Skin → reinforce with **Add Inf from Source**, etc. |

Bottom summary example: `5 matched / 82 target-only`

### Buttons

| Button | Action |
|--------|--------|
| **Execute** | Run transfer with current settings |
| **Cancel** | Cancel |
| **Setup Target Skin** | Shown when Target has no Skin — prompts Skin setup |
| **Add Inf from Source** | Add Source-only bones to Target (when shown) |

---

## Layers after transfer

![Layers after Transfer](transfer_layers_result.png)

With **Add as new layers**, Target Layers gains `Calf`, `Thigh`, `Base`, etc.  
Groups (`finger1…` under `Fingers`) are kept according to structure.

---

## Recommended settings (dummy → body)

| Item | Value |
|------|-------|
| Method | Closest Point (IDW) |
| Transfer | Add as new layers |
| Source | `Dummy_…` |
| Target | `Dummy_Body` or `Body_Geo` |

→ **Execute** → check new layers in Layers → refine with Paint if needed.

---

## Tools menu items

![Tools menu](tools_menu_bar.png)

| Menu | Description |
|------|-------------|
| **Transfer Weights...** | Transfer weights between meshes (dialog above) |
| **Normalize Layer...** | Normalize layer weights (sum 1.0, etc.) |
| **Prune Layer...** | Remove **weak weights** under threshold |
| **Smooth Layer...** | Smooth weights/mask for a layer |
| **Remove Unused Influences...** | Remove bones that are 0 on all vertices (Active / All Meshes) |
| **Rename Bones...** | Batch bone rename dialog |
| **Reset Bind Pose...** | Reset bind pose (Active Mesh / All Meshes) — **hard to undo** |
| **Export Weights (.json)** | Save **active** mesh weights as one JSON file |
| **Export Weights to Folder...** | Pick multiple meshes and save JSON to a folder |
| **Import Weights (.json)...** | Import JSON weights onto a loaded mesh |

JSON can also be loaded in the **3ds Max connector**.  
→ [Export / Import Weights (.json)](/guide/skin-layer-studio/ui-export-json?lang=en)

> Normalize / Prune / Remove Unused are the **same family** as the right **Export** tab buttons.  
> Smooth Layer is the same entry as **Smooth Layer...** on the Tools tab.  
> → [Tools panel details](/guide/skin-layer-studio/ui-tools?lang=en)

---

## Difference from Sync Now (short)

| | Transfer Weights | Sync Now |
|--|------------------|----------|
| Use | **One-shot transfer** Source→Target (choose method · layer mode) | **Sync** the mesh network linked by Sync relations |
| Entry | Tools menu / right-click | Skin Desk · Sync Map |
| Region dummy work | Paint dummy → Transfer is typical | Full-body Dummy as SRC, Sync onto parts |

---

## Related docs

| Doc | Contents |
|-----|----------|
| [Create Dummy · Transfer](/guide/skin-layer-studio/ui-dummy-transfer?lang=en) | Create dummy → Transfer practice |
| [Skin Desk · Sync Map](/guide/skin-layer-studio/ui-skin-desk?lang=en) | Sync / Map right-click |
| [Tools panel details](/guide/skin-layer-studio/ui-tools?lang=en) | Export tab · Smooth Layer |
| [Layers panel details](/guide/skin-layer-studio/ui-layers?lang=en) | Layers after transfer |
| [Export / Import Weights (.json)](/guide/skin-layer-studio/ui-export-json?lang=en) | JSON save · Max connector · SLS reload |
| Practice EP05 Merge & Transfer | Full-body practice |

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*Images: `tools_menu_bar.png` · `dummy_transfer_weights.png` · `transfer_layers_result.png`*  
*Written: 2026-07-26*