This is probably a newbie question - but here goes. I've found on the web a lot of material presets that I would like to use. They usually come in zip form, which I unzipped in the materialsuser directory. When I open the librabry in Bryce, only the first 13 show up (the "user" material takes up one space) in the left hand column. I have downloaded about 45 materials. I would like to combine like materials, the glasses, for instance, into one category, the metals into another, etc - much like Bryce's default materials. I realize that I can import them, but that seems very time-consuming. Is there any easy way to combine materials into one category without importing? Thanks in Advance.

I am also very interested in how to clean up such surplus libraries. Anyone got an answer out there?

Pass no temptation lightly by, for one never knows when it may pass again!

In bryce 5, there is a file in called user.mat that is just like 1k or something (it's really small) and it's in the main presets folder. Duplicate that file and call it whatever you want .mat. Then in bryce there is a new category! You need to unzip all of the materials outside of bryce and then you have to go to the presets menu, select the new category, and import the materials into the right places. Hint: You can also duplicate the user.mat file and turn it into user.obp, user.brt, user.bsk, and it will allow you to do the same things for materials, objects, and skies.

I forgot to mention....after you have duplicated the user.mat file you need to either put it into the user folder or the installed folder in the material presets folder.