diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
index 11b1f89bae7..8c80242e0dc 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ body:
       label: Version
       description: What version are you running? Look to OpenPype Tray
       options:
+        - 3.18.9-nightly.9
+        - 3.18.9-nightly.8
+        - 3.18.9-nightly.7
+        - 3.18.9-nightly.6
+        - 3.18.9-nightly.5
+        - 3.18.9-nightly.4
         - 3.18.9-nightly.3
         - 3.18.9-nightly.2
         - 3.18.9-nightly.1
@@ -129,12 +135,6 @@ body:
         - 3.16.0
         - 3.16.0-nightly.2
         - 3.16.0-nightly.1
-        - 3.15.12
-        - 3.15.12-nightly.4
-        - 3.15.12-nightly.3
-        - 3.15.12-nightly.2
-        - 3.15.12-nightly.1
-        - 3.15.11
     validations:
       required: true
   - type: dropdown
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/hiero/api/events.py b/openpype/hosts/hiero/api/events.py
index 862a2607c1d..015f023083f 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/hiero/api/events.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/hiero/api/events.py
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 from .lib import (
     sync_avalon_data_to_workfile,
     launch_workfiles_app,
-    selection_changed_timeline,
     before_project_save,
+    apply_colorspace_project
 )
 from .tags import add_tags_to_workfile
 from .menu import update_menu_task_label
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ def afterNewProjectCreated(event):
         # reset workfiles startup not to open any more in session
         os.environ["WORKFILES_STARTUP"] = "0"
 
+    apply_colorspace_project()
+
 
 def beforeProjectLoad(event):
     log.info("before project load event...")
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/hiero/api/lib.py b/openpype/hosts/hiero/api/lib.py
index bf719160d11..af02889ed33 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/hiero/api/lib.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/hiero/api/lib.py
@@ -100,9 +100,9 @@ def flatten(list_):
 
 
 def get_current_project(remove_untitled=False):
-    projects = flatten(hiero.core.projects())
+    projects = hiero.core.projects()
     if not remove_untitled:
-        return next(iter(projects))
+        return projects[0]
 
     # if remove_untitled
     for proj in projects:
@@ -243,8 +243,13 @@ def get_track_items(
     # collect all available active sequence track items
     if not return_list:
         sequence = get_current_sequence(name=sequence_name)
-        # get all available tracks from sequence
-        tracks = list(sequence.audioTracks()) + list(sequence.videoTracks())
+
+        tracks = []
+        if sequence is not None:
+            # get all available tracks from sequence
+            tracks = list(sequence.audioTracks())
+            tracks += list(sequence.videoTracks())
+
         # loop all tracks
         for track in tracks:
             if check_locked and track.isLocked():
@@ -1039,18 +1044,68 @@ def _set_hrox_project_knobs(doc, **knobs):
 
 
 def apply_colorspace_project():
-    project_name = get_current_project_name()
-    # get path the the active projects
-    project = get_current_project(remove_untitled=True)
-    current_file = project.path()
-
-    # close the active project
-    project.close()
-
+    """Apply colorspaces from settings.
+
+    Due to not being able to set the project settings through the Python API,
+    we need to do use some dubious code to find the widgets and set them. It is
+    possible to set the project settings without traversing through the widgets
+    but it involves reading the hrox files from disk with XML, so no in-memory
+    support. See https://community.foundry.com/discuss/topic/137771/change-a-project-s-default-color-transform-with-python  # noqa
+    for more details.
+    """
     # get presets for hiero
+    project_name = get_current_project_name()
     imageio = get_project_settings(project_name)["hiero"]["imageio"]
     presets = imageio.get("workfile")
 
+    # Open Project Settings UI.
+    for act in hiero.ui.registeredActions():
+        if act.objectName() == "foundry.project.settings":
+            act.trigger()
+
+    # Find widgets from their sibling label.
+    labels = {
+        "Working Space:": "workingSpace",
+        "Viewer:": "viewerLut",
+        "Thumbnails:": "thumbnailLut",
+        "Monitor Out:": "monitorOutLut",
+        "8 Bit Files:": "eightBitLut",
+        "16 Bit Files:": "sixteenBitLut",
+        "Log Files:": "logLut",
+        "Floating Point Files:": "floatLut"
+    }
+    widgets = {x: None for x in labels.values()}
+
+    def _recursive_children(widget, labels, widgets):
+        children = widget.children()
+        for count, child in enumerate(children):
+            if isinstance(child, QtWidgets.QLabel):
+                if child.text() in labels.keys():
+                    widgets[labels[child.text()]] = children[count + 1]
+            _recursive_children(child, labels, widgets)
+
+    app = QtWidgets.QApplication.instance()
+    title = "Project Settings"
+    for widget in app.topLevelWidgets():
+        if isinstance(widget, QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
+            if widget.windowTitle() != title:
+                continue
+            _recursive_children(widget, labels, widgets)
+            widget.close()
+
+    msg = "Setting value \"{}\" is not a valid option for \"{}\""
+    for key, widget in widgets.items():
+        options = [widget.itemText(i) for i in range(widget.count())]
+        setting_value = presets[key]
+        assert setting_value in options, msg.format(setting_value, key)
+        widget.setCurrentText(presets[key])
+
+    # This code block is for setting up project colorspaces for files on disk.
+    # Due to not having Python API access to set the project settings, the
+    # Foundry recommended way is to modify the hrox files on disk with XML. See
+    # this forum thread for more details;
+    # https://community.foundry.com/discuss/topic/137771/change-a-project-s-default-color-transform-with-python  # noqa
+    '''
     # backward compatibility layer
     # TODO: remove this after some time
     config_data = get_imageio_config(
@@ -1063,6 +1118,13 @@ def apply_colorspace_project():
             "ocioConfigName": "custom"
         })
 
+    # get path the the active projects
+    project = get_current_project()
+    current_file = project.path()
+
+    msg = "The project needs to be saved to disk to apply colorspace settings."
+    assert current_file, msg
+
     # save the workfile as subversion "comment:_colorspaceChange"
     split_current_file = os.path.splitext(current_file)
     copy_current_file = current_file
@@ -1105,6 +1167,7 @@ def apply_colorspace_project():
 
     # open the file as current project
     hiero.core.openProject(copy_current_file)
+    '''
 
 
 def apply_colorspace_clips():
@@ -1114,10 +1177,8 @@ def apply_colorspace_clips():
 
     # get presets for hiero
     imageio = get_project_settings(project_name)["hiero"]["imageio"]
-    from pprint import pprint
 
     presets = imageio.get("regexInputs", {}).get("inputs", {})
-    pprint(presets)
     for clip in clips:
         clip_media_source_path = clip.mediaSource().firstpath()
         clip_name = clip.name()
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animated_reference.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animated_reference.py
index 4537892d6d7..dd7b361780d 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animated_reference.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animated_reference.py
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     PublishValidationError,
-    ValidateContentsOrder
+    ValidateContentsOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 from maya import cmds
 
 
-class ValidateAnimatedReferenceRig(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateAnimatedReferenceRig(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                   OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate all nodes in skeletonAnim_SET are referenced"""
 
     order = ValidateContentsOrder
@@ -16,8 +18,11 @@ class ValidateAnimatedReferenceRig(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     label = "Animated Reference Rig"
     accepted_controllers = ["transform", "locator"]
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         animated_sets = instance.data.get("animated_skeleton", [])
         if not animated_sets:
             self.log.debug(
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animation_content.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animation_content.py
index 99acdc7b8f1..69c43d6bcc0 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animation_content.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animation_content.py
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     PublishValidationError,
-    ValidateContentsOrder
+    ValidateContentsOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateAnimationContent(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
-    """Adheres to the content of 'animation' family
+class ValidateAnimationContent(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                               OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
+    """Adheres to the content of 'animation' product type
 
     - Must have collected `out_hierarchy` data.
     - All nodes in `out_hierarchy` must be in the instance.
@@ -19,6 +21,7 @@ class ValidateAnimationContent(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     families = ["animation"]
     label = "Animation Content"
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     @classmethod
     def get_invalid(cls, instance):
@@ -48,6 +51,8 @@ def get_invalid(cls, instance):
         return invalid
 
     def process(self, instance):
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError(
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animation_out_set_related_node_ids.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animation_out_set_related_node_ids.py
index 6f5f03ab396..e30a58ca998 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animation_out_set_related_node_ids.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_animation_out_set_related_node_ids.py
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     RepairAction,
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateOutRelatedNodeIds(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateOutRelatedNodeIds(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate if deformed shapes have related IDs to the original shapes
 
     When a deformer is applied in the scene on a referenced mesh that already
@@ -28,10 +30,12 @@ class ValidateOutRelatedNodeIds(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
         openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction,
         RepairAction
     ]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all meshes"""
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         # Ensure all nodes have a cbId and a related ID to the original shapes
         # if a deformer has been created on the shape
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_ass_relative_paths.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_ass_relative_paths.py
index 49913fa42b5..ce0610dc204 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_ass_relative_paths.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_ass_relative_paths.py
@@ -8,11 +8,13 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     RepairAction,
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateAssRelativePaths(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateAssRelativePaths(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                               OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Ensure exporting ass file has set relative texture paths"""
 
     order = ValidateContentsOrder
@@ -20,8 +22,11 @@ class ValidateAssRelativePaths(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     families = ['ass']
     label = "ASS has relative texture paths"
     actions = [RepairAction]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         # we cannot ask this until user open render settings as
         # `defaultArnoldRenderOptions` doesn't exist
         errors = []
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_assembly_name.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_assembly_name.py
index 00588cd3006..636b9004e8f 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_assembly_name.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_assembly_name.py
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@
 import maya.cmds as cmds
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateAssemblyName(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateAssemblyName(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                           OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """ Ensure Assembly name ends with `GRP`
 
     Check if assembly name ends with `_GRP` string.
@@ -17,6 +19,7 @@ class ValidateAssemblyName(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     families = ["assembly"]
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
     active = False
+    optional = True
 
     @classmethod
     def get_invalid(cls, instance):
@@ -47,7 +50,8 @@ def get_invalid(cls, instance):
         return invalid
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError("Found {} invalid named assembly "
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_assembly_namespaces.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_assembly_namespaces.py
index 06577f38f7e..9f8d3483fd0 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_assembly_namespaces.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_assembly_namespaces.py
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 import pyblish.api
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
-class ValidateAssemblyNamespaces(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+
+class ValidateAssemblyNamespaces(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                 OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Ensure namespaces are not nested
 
     In the outliner an item in a normal namespace looks as following:
@@ -20,9 +23,11 @@ class ValidateAssemblyNamespaces(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     order = pyblish.api.ValidatorOrder
     families = ["assembly"]
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         self.log.debug("Checking namespace for %s" % instance.name)
         if self.get_invalid(instance):
             raise PublishValidationError("Nested namespaces found")
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_assembly_transforms.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_assembly_transforms.py
index a24455ebaac..de881e2a84e 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_assembly_transforms.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_assembly_transforms.py
@@ -2,10 +2,15 @@
 from maya import cmds
 
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
-from openpype.pipeline.publish import PublishValidationError, RepairAction
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
+    PublishValidationError,
+    RepairAction,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateAssemblyModelTransforms(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateAssemblyModelTransforms(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                      OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Verify only root nodes of the loaded asset have transformations.
 
     Note: This check is temporary and is subject to change.
@@ -34,7 +39,11 @@ class ValidateAssemblyModelTransforms(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
                       " This can alter the look of your scene. "
                       "Are you sure you want to continue?")
 
+    optional = False
+
     def process(self, instance):
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError(
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_camera_attributes.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_camera_attributes.py
index e5745612e99..3aca7c01904 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_camera_attributes.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_camera_attributes.py
@@ -3,10 +3,14 @@
 
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
-    PublishValidationError, ValidateContentsOrder)
+    PublishValidationError,
+    ValidateContentsOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateCameraAttributes(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateCameraAttributes(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                               OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validates Camera has no invalid attribute keys or values.
 
     The Alembic file format does not a specific subset of attributes as such
@@ -20,6 +24,7 @@ class ValidateCameraAttributes(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     hosts = ['maya']
     label = 'Camera Attributes'
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = True
 
     DEFAULTS = [
         ("filmFitOffset", 0.0),
@@ -62,7 +67,8 @@ def get_invalid(cls, instance):
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the nodes in the instance"""
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
 
         if invalid:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_camera_contents.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_camera_contents.py
index 767ac55718f..689189371ad 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_camera_contents.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_camera_contents.py
@@ -3,10 +3,13 @@
 
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
-    PublishValidationError, ValidateContentsOrder)
+    PublishValidationError,
+    ValidateContentsOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin)
 
 
-class ValidateCameraContents(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateCameraContents(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                             OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validates Camera instance contents.
 
     A Camera instance may only hold a SINGLE camera's transform, nothing else.
@@ -22,6 +25,7 @@ class ValidateCameraContents(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     label = 'Camera Contents'
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
     validate_shapes = True
+    optional = False
 
     @classmethod
     def get_invalid(cls, instance):
@@ -71,7 +75,8 @@ def get_invalid(cls, instance):
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the nodes in the instance"""
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError("Invalid camera contents: "
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_current_renderlayer_renderable.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_current_renderlayer_renderable.py
index f072e5e3234..992143e8277 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_current_renderlayer_renderable.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_current_renderlayer_renderable.py
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 import pyblish.api
 
 from maya import cmds
-from openpype.pipeline.publish import context_plugin_should_run
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
+    context_plugin_should_run,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateCurrentRenderLayerIsRenderable(pyblish.api.ContextPlugin):
+class ValidateCurrentRenderLayerIsRenderable(pyblish.api.ContextPlugin,
+                                             OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate if current render layer has a renderable camera
 
     There is a bug in Redshift which occurs when the current render layer
@@ -20,9 +24,11 @@ class ValidateCurrentRenderLayerIsRenderable(pyblish.api.ContextPlugin):
     order = pyblish.api.ValidatorOrder
     hosts = ["maya"]
     families = ["renderlayer"]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, context):
-
+        if not self.is_active(context.data):
+            return
         # Workaround bug pyblish-base#250
         if not context_plugin_should_run(self, context):
             return
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_glsl_material.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_glsl_material.py
index 3b386c3def1..a34f8206ec7 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_glsl_material.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_glsl_material.py
@@ -6,10 +6,14 @@
     RepairAction,
     ValidateContentsOrder
 )
-from openpype.pipeline import PublishValidationError
+from openpype.pipeline import (
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateGLSLMaterial(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateGLSLMaterial(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                           OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """
     Validate if the asset uses GLSL Shader
     """
@@ -23,6 +27,8 @@ class ValidateGLSLMaterial(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     active = True
 
     def process(self, instance):
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         shading_grp = self.get_material_from_shapes(instance)
         if not shading_grp:
             raise PublishValidationError("No shading group found")
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_glsl_plugin.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_glsl_plugin.py
index da065fcf946..61201afa21b 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_glsl_plugin.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_glsl_plugin.py
@@ -5,11 +5,13 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     RepairAction,
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateGLSLPlugin(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateGLSLPlugin(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                         OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """
     Validate if the asset uses GLSL Shader
     """
@@ -19,8 +21,11 @@ class ValidateGLSLPlugin(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     hosts = ['maya']
     label = 'maya2glTF plugin'
     actions = [RepairAction]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         if not cmds.pluginInfo("maya2glTF", query=True, loaded=True):
             raise PublishValidationError("maya2glTF is not loaded")
 
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_instancer_content.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_instancer_content.py
index 236adfb03d7..92bbd1ef78a 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_instancer_content.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_instancer_content.py
@@ -2,10 +2,14 @@
 import pyblish.api
 
 from openpype.hosts.maya.api import lib
-from openpype.pipeline.publish import PublishValidationError
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateInstancerContent(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateInstancerContent(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                               OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validates that all meshes in the instance have object IDs.
 
     This skips a check on intermediate objects because we consider them
@@ -14,9 +18,11 @@ class ValidateInstancerContent(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     order = pyblish.api.ValidatorOrder
     label = 'Instancer Content'
     families = ['instancer']
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         error = False
         members = instance.data['setMembers']
         export_members = instance.data['exactExportMembers']
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_instancer_frame_ranges.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_instancer_frame_ranges.py
index 714c6229d6e..05917b5b3bd 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_instancer_frame_ranges.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_instancer_frame_ranges.py
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 
 import pyblish.api
 
-from openpype.pipeline.publish import PublishValidationError
-
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 def is_cache_resource(resource):
     """Return whether resource is a cacheFile resource"""
@@ -34,7 +36,8 @@ def filter_ticks(files):
     return tick_files, ticks
 
 
-class ValidateInstancerFrameRanges(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateInstancerFrameRanges(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                   OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validates all instancer particle systems are cached correctly.
 
     This means they should have the files/frames as required by the start-end
@@ -46,6 +49,7 @@ class ValidateInstancerFrameRanges(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     order = pyblish.api.ValidatorOrder
     label = 'Instancer Cache Frame Ranges'
     families = ['instancer']
+    optional = False
 
     @classmethod
     def get_invalid(cls, instance):
@@ -157,7 +161,8 @@ def get_invalid(cls, instance):
         return invalid
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
 
         if invalid:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_loaded_plugin.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_loaded_plugin.py
index eac13053db4..2a790c56630 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_loaded_plugin.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_loaded_plugin.py
@@ -4,17 +4,20 @@
 
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     RepairContextAction,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateLoadedPlugin(pyblish.api.ContextPlugin):
+class ValidateLoadedPlugin(pyblish.api.ContextPlugin,
+                           OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Ensure there are no unauthorized loaded plugins"""
 
     label = "Loaded Plugin"
     order = pyblish.api.ValidatorOrder
     host = ["maya"]
     actions = [RepairContextAction]
+    optional = True
 
     @classmethod
     def get_invalid(cls, context):
@@ -35,7 +38,8 @@ def get_invalid(cls, context):
         return invalid
 
     def process(self, context):
-
+        if not self.is_active(context.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(context)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError(
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_look_shading_group.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_look_shading_group.py
index dbe7a70e6a6..e2c241f9a0b 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_look_shading_group.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_look_shading_group.py
@@ -5,16 +5,17 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     RepairAction,
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateShadingEngine(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateShadingEngine(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                            OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate all shading engines are named after the surface material.
 
     Shading engines should be named "{surface_shader}SG"
     """
-
     order = ValidateContentsOrder
     families = ["look"]
     hosts = ["maya"]
@@ -22,9 +23,12 @@ class ValidateShadingEngine(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     actions = [
         openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction, RepairAction
     ]
+    optional = True
 
     # The default connections to check
     def process(self, instance):
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
 
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_maya_units.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_maya_units.py
index ae6dc093a91..553fd06f8e7 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_maya_units.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_maya_units.py
@@ -7,11 +7,13 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     RepairContextAction,
     ValidateSceneOrder,
-    PublishXmlValidationError
+    PublishXmlValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateMayaUnits(pyblish.api.ContextPlugin):
+class ValidateMayaUnits(pyblish.api.ContextPlugin,
+                        OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Check if the Maya units are set correct"""
 
     order = ValidateSceneOrder
@@ -35,6 +37,7 @@ class ValidateMayaUnits(pyblish.api.ContextPlugin):
         "Maya scene {setting} must be '{required_value}'. "
         "Current value is '{current_value}'."
     )
+    optional = False
 
     @classmethod
     def apply_settings(cls, project_settings):
@@ -52,7 +55,8 @@ def apply_settings(cls, project_settings):
         cls.validate_fps = settings.get("validate_fps", cls.validate_fps)
 
     def process(self, context):
-
+        if not self.is_active(context.data):
+            return
         # Collected units
         linearunits = context.data.get('linearUnits')
         angularunits = context.data.get('angularUnits')
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_lamina_faces.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_lamina_faces.py
index f120361583c..eda1c63ddd6 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_lamina_faces.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_lamina_faces.py
@@ -2,10 +2,14 @@
 
 import pyblish.api
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
-from openpype.pipeline.publish import ValidateMeshOrder
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
+    ValidateMeshOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateMeshLaminaFaces(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateMeshLaminaFaces(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                              OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate meshes don't have lamina faces.
 
     Lamina faces share all of their edges.
@@ -17,6 +21,7 @@ class ValidateMeshLaminaFaces(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     families = ['model']
     label = 'Mesh Lamina Faces'
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = True
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_invalid(instance):
@@ -28,6 +33,8 @@ def get_invalid(instance):
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the nodes in the instance 'objectSet'"""
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
 
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
 
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_ngons.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_ngons.py
index 5b67db33070..0e70360442c 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_ngons.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_ngons.py
@@ -3,10 +3,14 @@
 import pyblish.api
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.hosts.maya.api import lib
-from openpype.pipeline.publish import ValidateContentsOrder
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
+    ValidateContentsOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateMeshNgons(pyblish.api.Validator):
+class ValidateMeshNgons(pyblish.api.Validator,
+                        OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Ensure that meshes don't have ngons
 
     Ngon are faces with more than 4 sides.
@@ -21,6 +25,7 @@ class ValidateMeshNgons(pyblish.api.Validator):
     families = ["model"]
     label = "Mesh ngons"
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = True
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_invalid(instance):
@@ -39,6 +44,8 @@ def get_invalid(instance):
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the nodes in the instance "objectSet"""
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
 
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_no_negative_scale.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_no_negative_scale.py
index 48b4d0f557e..048d757000c 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_no_negative_scale.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_no_negative_scale.py
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     ValidateMeshOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
@@ -15,7 +16,8 @@ def _as_report_list(values, prefix="- ", suffix="\n"):
     return prefix + (suffix + prefix).join(values)
 
 
-class ValidateMeshNoNegativeScale(pyblish.api.Validator):
+class ValidateMeshNoNegativeScale(pyblish.api.Validator,
+                                  OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Ensure that meshes don't have a negative scale.
 
     Using negatively scaled proxies in a VRayMesh results in inverted
@@ -32,6 +34,7 @@ class ValidateMeshNoNegativeScale(pyblish.api.Validator):
     families = ['model']
     label = 'Mesh No Negative Scale'
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_invalid(instance):
@@ -52,7 +55,8 @@ def get_invalid(instance):
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the nodes in the instance 'objectSet'"""
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
 
         if invalid:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_non_manifold.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_non_manifold.py
index 6fd63fb29f2..d9a21dddbff 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_non_manifold.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_non_manifold.py
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     ValidateMeshOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
@@ -15,7 +16,8 @@ def _as_report_list(values, prefix="- ", suffix="\n"):
     return prefix + (suffix + prefix).join(values)
 
 
-class ValidateMeshNonManifold(pyblish.api.Validator):
+class ValidateMeshNonManifold(pyblish.api.Validator,
+                              OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Ensure that meshes don't have non-manifold edges or vertices
 
     To debug the problem on the meshes you can use Maya's modeling
@@ -28,6 +30,7 @@ class ValidateMeshNonManifold(pyblish.api.Validator):
     families = ['model']
     label = 'Mesh Non-Manifold Edges/Vertices'
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = True
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_invalid(instance):
@@ -44,7 +47,8 @@ def get_invalid(instance):
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the nodes in the instance 'objectSet'"""
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
 
         if invalid:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_shader_connections.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_shader_connections.py
index 1db7613999b..9c57bc8d101 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_shader_connections.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_shader_connections.py
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     RepairAction,
     ValidateMeshOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
@@ -79,7 +80,8 @@ def disconnect(node_a, node_b):
             cmds.disconnectAttr(source, input)
 
 
-class ValidateMeshShaderConnections(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateMeshShaderConnections(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Ensure mesh shading engine connections are valid.
 
     In some scenarios Maya keeps connections to multiple shaders even if just
@@ -96,10 +98,12 @@ class ValidateMeshShaderConnections(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     label = "Mesh Shader Connections"
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction,
                RepairAction]
+    optional = True
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the nodes in the instance 'objectSet'"""
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
 
         if invalid:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_vertices_have_edges.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_vertices_have_edges.py
index 71678594443..9275bb31234 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_vertices_have_edges.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_mesh_vertices_have_edges.py
@@ -4,10 +4,15 @@
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.hosts.maya.api.lib import len_flattened
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
-    PublishValidationError, RepairAction, ValidateMeshOrder)
+    PublishValidationError,
+    RepairAction,
+    ValidateMeshOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateMeshVerticesHaveEdges(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateMeshVerticesHaveEdges(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate meshes have only vertices that are connected to edges.
 
     Maya can have invalid geometry with vertices that have no edges or
@@ -32,6 +37,7 @@ class ValidateMeshVerticesHaveEdges(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     label = 'Mesh Vertices Have Edges'
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction,
                RepairAction]
+    optional = True
 
     @classmethod
     def repair(cls, instance):
@@ -72,7 +78,8 @@ def get_invalid(cls, instance):
         return invalid
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError(
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_model_content.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_model_content.py
index 19373efad92..343133f738d 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_model_content.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_model_content.py
@@ -5,12 +5,14 @@
 from openpype.hosts.maya.api import lib
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateModelContent(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
-    """Adheres to the content of 'model' family
+class ValidateModelContent(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                           OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
+    """Adheres to the content of 'model' product type
 
     - Must have one top group. (configurable)
     - Must only contain: transforms, meshes and groups
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@ class ValidateModelContent(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
 
     validate_top_group = True
+    optional = False
 
     @classmethod
     def get_invalid(cls, instance):
@@ -91,7 +94,8 @@ def _is_visible(node):
         return list(invalid)
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
 
         if invalid:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_default_camera.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_default_camera.py
index f0aa9261f72..62b46125a43 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_default_camera.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_default_camera.py
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
@@ -15,7 +16,8 @@ def _as_report_list(values, prefix="- ", suffix="\n"):
     return prefix + (suffix + prefix).join(values)
 
 
-class ValidateNoDefaultCameras(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateNoDefaultCameras(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                               OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Ensure no default (startup) cameras are in the instance.
 
     This might be unnecessary. In the past there were some issues with
@@ -28,6 +30,7 @@ class ValidateNoDefaultCameras(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     families = ['camera']
     label = "No Default Cameras"
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_invalid(instance):
@@ -37,6 +40,8 @@ def get_invalid(instance):
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the cameras in the instance"""
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError(
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_namespace.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_namespace.py
index 13eeae58591..59ec4f3cc35 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_namespace.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_namespace.py
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     RepairAction,
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
@@ -24,7 +25,8 @@ def get_namespace(node_name):
     return node_name.rpartition(":")[0]
 
 
-class ValidateNoNamespace(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateNoNamespace(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                          OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Ensure the nodes don't have a namespace"""
 
     order = ValidateContentsOrder
@@ -33,6 +35,7 @@ class ValidateNoNamespace(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     label = 'No Namespaces'
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction,
                RepairAction]
+    optional = False
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_invalid(instance):
@@ -41,6 +44,8 @@ def get_invalid(instance):
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the nodes in the instance"""
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
 
         if invalid:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_null_transforms.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_null_transforms.py
index 187135fdf30..acd742e4a05 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_null_transforms.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_null_transforms.py
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     RepairAction,
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
@@ -37,7 +38,8 @@ def has_shape_children(node):
     return True
 
 
-class ValidateNoNullTransforms(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateNoNullTransforms(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                               OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Ensure no null transforms are in the scene.
 
     Warning:
@@ -54,6 +56,7 @@ class ValidateNoNullTransforms(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     label = 'No Empty/Null Transforms'
     actions = [RepairAction,
                openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_invalid(instance):
@@ -70,6 +73,8 @@ def get_invalid(instance):
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the transform nodes in the instance """
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError(
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_vraymesh.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_vraymesh.py
index 22fd1edc29b..d6d8fc25424 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_vraymesh.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_no_vraymesh.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 import pyblish.api
 from maya import cmds
-from openpype.pipeline.publish import PublishValidationError
-
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 def _as_report_list(values, prefix="- ", suffix="\n"):
     """Return list as bullet point list for a report"""
@@ -10,15 +12,18 @@ def _as_report_list(values, prefix="- ", suffix="\n"):
     return prefix + (suffix + prefix).join(values)
 
 
-class ValidateNoVRayMesh(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateNoVRayMesh(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                         OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate there are no VRayMesh objects in the instance"""
 
     order = pyblish.api.ValidatorOrder
     label = 'No V-Ray Proxies (VRayMesh)'
     families = ["pointcache"]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         if not cmds.pluginInfo("vrayformaya", query=True, loaded=True):
             return
 
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_node_no_ghosting.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_node_no_ghosting.py
index 0f608dab2c2..dc0e1aba469 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_node_no_ghosting.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_node_no_ghosting.py
@@ -3,10 +3,14 @@
 import pyblish.api
 
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
-from openpype.pipeline.publish import ValidateContentsOrder
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
+    ValidateContentsOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateNodeNoGhosting(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateNodeNoGhosting(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                             OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Ensure nodes do not have ghosting enabled.
 
     If one would publish towards a non-Maya format it's likely that stats
@@ -23,6 +27,7 @@ class ValidateNodeNoGhosting(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     families = ['model', 'rig']
     label = "No Ghosting"
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     _attributes = {'ghosting': 0}
 
@@ -46,7 +51,8 @@ def get_invalid(cls, instance):
         return invalid
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
 
         if invalid:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_plugin_path_attributes.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_plugin_path_attributes.py
index cb5c68e4ab4..3382e2ab338 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_plugin_path_attributes.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_plugin_path_attributes.py
@@ -8,11 +8,13 @@
 from openpype.hosts.maya.api.action import SelectInvalidAction
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidatePluginPathAttributes(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidatePluginPathAttributes(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                   OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """
     Validate plug-in path attributes point to existing file paths.
     """
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ class ValidatePluginPathAttributes(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     families = ["workfile"]
     label = "Plug-in Path Attributes"
     actions = [SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     # Attributes are defined in project settings
     attribute = []
@@ -56,6 +59,8 @@ def get_invalid(cls, instance):
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all directories Set as Filenames in Non-Maya Nodes"""
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError(
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_render_image_rule.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_render_image_rule.py
index 030e41ca1f2..c0d2472a67b 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_render_image_rule.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_render_image_rule.py
@@ -5,10 +5,15 @@
 from maya import cmds
 
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
-    PublishValidationError, RepairAction, ValidateContentsOrder)
+    PublishValidationError,
+    RepairAction,
+    ValidateContentsOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateRenderImageRule(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateRenderImageRule(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                              OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validates Maya Workpace "images" file rule matches project settings.
 
     This validates against the configured default render image folder:
@@ -22,9 +27,11 @@ class ValidateRenderImageRule(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     hosts = ["maya"]
     families = ["renderlayer"]
     actions = [RepairAction]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         required_images_rule = os.path.normpath(
             self.get_default_render_image_folder(instance)
         )
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_render_no_default_cameras.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_render_no_default_cameras.py
index 9d4410186b1..e7957851d65 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_render_no_default_cameras.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_render_no_default_cameras.py
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     ValidateContentsOrder,
     PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateRenderNoDefaultCameras(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateRenderNoDefaultCameras(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                     OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Ensure no default (startup) cameras are to be rendered."""
 
     order = ValidateContentsOrder
@@ -17,6 +19,7 @@ class ValidateRenderNoDefaultCameras(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     families = ['renderlayer']
     label = "No Default Cameras Renderable"
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_invalid(instance):
@@ -32,6 +35,8 @@ def get_invalid(instance):
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the cameras in the instance"""
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError(
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_render_single_camera.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_render_single_camera.py
index 2c0d6041756..706704099d4 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_render_single_camera.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_render_single_camera.py
@@ -7,11 +7,13 @@
 from openpype.hosts.maya.api.lib_rendersettings import RenderSettings
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateRenderSingleCamera(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateRenderSingleCamera(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                 OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate renderable camera count for layer and <Camera> token.
 
     Pipeline is supporting multiple renderable cameras per layer, but image
@@ -24,11 +26,14 @@ class ValidateRenderSingleCamera(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     families = ["renderlayer",
                 "vrayscene"]
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     R_CAMERA_TOKEN = re.compile(r'%c|<camera>', re.IGNORECASE)
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the cameras in the instance"""
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError("Invalid cameras for render.")
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_renderlayer_aovs.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_renderlayer_aovs.py
index f8de983e060..3e7f8d9591d 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_renderlayer_aovs.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_renderlayer_aovs.py
@@ -3,13 +3,17 @@
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.client import get_subset_by_name
 from openpype.pipeline import legacy_io
-from openpype.pipeline.publish import PublishValidationError
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateRenderLayerAOVs(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateRenderLayerAOVs(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                              OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate created AOVs / RenderElement is registered in the database
 
-    Each render element is registered as a subset which is formatted based on
+    Each render element is registered as a product which is formatted based on
     the render layer and the render element, example:
 
         <render layer>.<render element>
@@ -27,8 +31,12 @@ class ValidateRenderLayerAOVs(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     hosts = ["maya"]
     families = ["renderlayer"]
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
+
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError(
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_contents.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_contents.py
index 106b4024e28..9c679013ec3 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_contents.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_contents.py
@@ -3,11 +3,13 @@
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     PublishValidationError,
-    ValidateContentsOrder
+    ValidateContentsOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateRigContents(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateRigContents(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                          OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Ensure rig contains pipeline-critical content
 
     Every rig must contain at least two object sets:
@@ -21,11 +23,14 @@ class ValidateRigContents(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     hosts = ["maya"]
     families = ["rig"]
     action = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = True
 
     accepted_output = ["mesh", "transform"]
     accepted_controllers = ["transform"]
 
     def process(self, instance):
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError(
@@ -213,6 +218,7 @@ class ValidateSkeletonRigContents(ValidateRigContents):
     label = "Skeleton Rig Contents"
     hosts = ["maya"]
     families = ["rig.fbx"]
+    optional = True
 
     @classmethod
     def get_invalid(cls, instance):
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_controllers.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_controllers.py
index 82248c57b3f..0cf320045c9 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_controllers.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_controllers.py
@@ -5,13 +5,15 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     ValidateContentsOrder,
     RepairAction,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.hosts.maya.api.lib import undo_chunk
 
 
-class ValidateRigControllers(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateRigControllers(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                             OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate rig controllers.
 
     Controls must have the transformation attributes on their default
@@ -33,6 +35,7 @@ class ValidateRigControllers(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     label = "Rig Controllers"
     hosts = ["maya"]
     families = ["rig"]
+    optional = True
     actions = [RepairAction,
                openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
 
@@ -50,6 +53,9 @@ class ValidateRigControllers(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     }
 
     def process(self, instance):
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
+
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError(
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_controllers_arnold_attributes.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_controllers_arnold_attributes.py
index 03f6a5f1ab6..c32ca6a9262 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_controllers_arnold_attributes.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_controllers_arnold_attributes.py
@@ -5,14 +5,16 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     ValidateContentsOrder,
     RepairAction,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 from openpype.hosts.maya.api import lib
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 
 
-class ValidateRigControllersArnoldAttributes(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateRigControllersArnoldAttributes(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                             OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate rig control curves have no keyable arnold attributes.
 
     The Arnold plug-in will create curve attributes like:
@@ -35,6 +37,7 @@ class ValidateRigControllersArnoldAttributes(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     label = "Rig Controllers (Arnold Attributes)"
     hosts = ["maya"]
     families = ["rig"]
+    optional = False
     actions = [RepairAction,
                openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
 
@@ -48,6 +51,9 @@ class ValidateRigControllersArnoldAttributes(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     ]
 
     def process(self, instance):
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
+
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError('{} failed, see log '
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_joints_hidden.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_joints_hidden.py
index 2bb5036f8ba..4f9fc6577c9 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_joints_hidden.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_joints_hidden.py
@@ -7,11 +7,13 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     RepairAction,
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateRigJointsHidden(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateRigJointsHidden(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                              OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate all joints are hidden visually.
 
     This includes being hidden:
@@ -28,6 +30,7 @@ class ValidateRigJointsHidden(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     label = "Joints Hidden"
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction,
                RepairAction]
+    optional = True
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_invalid(instance):
@@ -36,6 +39,8 @@ def get_invalid(instance):
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the nodes in the instance 'objectSet'"""
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
 
         if invalid:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_out_set_node_ids.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_out_set_node_ids.py
index 80ac0f27e69..1a43ae810ad 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_out_set_node_ids.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_rig_out_set_node_ids.py
@@ -7,11 +7,13 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     RepairAction,
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateRigOutSetNodeIds(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateRigOutSetNodeIds(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                               OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate if deformed shapes have related IDs to the original shapes.
 
     When a deformer is applied in the scene on a referenced mesh that already
@@ -30,10 +32,12 @@ class ValidateRigOutSetNodeIds(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
         RepairAction
     ]
     allow_history_only = False
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all meshes"""
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         # Ensure all nodes have a cbId and a related ID to the original shapes
         # if a deformer has been created on the shape
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
@@ -114,6 +118,7 @@ class ValidateSkeletonRigOutSetNodeIds(ValidateRigOutSetNodeIds):
     families = ["rig.fbx"]
     hosts = ['maya']
     label = 'Skeleton Rig Out Set Node Ids'
+    optional = False
 
     @classmethod
     def get_node(cls, instance):
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_shape_render_stats.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_shape_render_stats.py
index f58c0aaf81d..a494a6cf45c 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_shape_render_stats.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_shape_render_stats.py
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     RepairAction,
     ValidateMeshOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateShapeRenderStats(pyblish.api.Validator):
+class ValidateShapeRenderStats(pyblish.api.Validator,
+                               OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Ensure all render stats are set to the default values."""
 
     order = ValidateMeshOrder
@@ -18,6 +20,7 @@ class ValidateShapeRenderStats(pyblish.api.Validator):
     label = 'Shape Default Render Stats'
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction,
                RepairAction]
+    optional = True
 
     defaults = {'castsShadows': 1,
                 'receiveShadows': 1,
@@ -46,7 +49,8 @@ def get_invalid(cls, instance):
         return invalid
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
 
         if invalid:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_shape_zero.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_shape_zero.py
index c7af6a60dbe..7850407e487 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_shape_zero.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_shape_zero.py
@@ -7,11 +7,13 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     ValidateContentsOrder,
     RepairAction,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateShapeZero(pyblish.api.Validator):
+class ValidateShapeZero(pyblish.api.Validator,
+                        OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Shape components may not have any "tweak" values
 
     To solve this issue, try freezing the shapes.
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@ class ValidateShapeZero(pyblish.api.Validator):
         openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction,
         RepairAction
     ]
+    optional = True
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_invalid(instance):
@@ -65,6 +68,8 @@ def repair(cls, instance):
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the nodes in the instance "objectSet"""
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
 
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_skeletalmesh_hierarchy.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_skeletalmesh_hierarchy.py
index 9084374c769..eaf74cb810a 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_skeletalmesh_hierarchy.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_skeletalmesh_hierarchy.py
@@ -4,20 +4,25 @@
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     ValidateContentsOrder,
     PublishXmlValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 from maya import cmds
 
 
-class ValidateSkeletalMeshHierarchy(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateSkeletalMeshHierarchy(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validates that nodes has common root."""
 
     order = ValidateContentsOrder
     hosts = ["maya"]
     families = ["skeletalMesh"]
     label = "Skeletal Mesh Top Node"
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         geo = instance.data.get("geometry")
         joints = instance.data.get("joints")
 
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_skinCluster_deformer_set.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_skinCluster_deformer_set.py
index b45d2b120af..1b70a9f38ab 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_skinCluster_deformer_set.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_skinCluster_deformer_set.py
@@ -3,10 +3,14 @@
 import pyblish.api
 
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
-from openpype.pipeline.publish import ValidateContentsOrder
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
+    ValidateContentsOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateSkinclusterDeformerSet(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateSkinclusterDeformerSet(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                     OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate skinClusters on meshes have valid member relationships.
 
     In rare cases it can happen that a mesh has a skinCluster in its history
@@ -20,9 +24,12 @@ class ValidateSkinclusterDeformerSet(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     families = ['fbx']
     label = "Skincluster Deformer Relationships"
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the transform nodes in the instance"""
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
 
         if invalid:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_step_size.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_step_size.py
index 493a6ee65c6..16c2b6b321c 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_step_size.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_step_size.py
@@ -3,11 +3,13 @@
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     PublishValidationError,
-    ValidateContentsOrder
+    ValidateContentsOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateStepSize(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateStepSize(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                       OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validates the step size for the instance is in a valid range.
 
     For example the `step` size should never be lower or equal to zero.
@@ -20,7 +22,7 @@ class ValidateStepSize(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
                 'pointcache',
                 'animation']
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
-
+    optional = False
     MIN = 0.01
     MAX = 1.0
 
@@ -40,7 +42,8 @@ def get_invalid(cls, instance):
         return []
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError(
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_transform_zero.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_transform_zero.py
index 906ff17ec9a..6bdc2d2a598 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_transform_zero.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_transform_zero.py
@@ -5,11 +5,13 @@
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateTransformZero(pyblish.api.Validator):
+class ValidateTransformZero(pyblish.api.Validator,
+                            OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Transforms can't have any values
 
     To solve this issue, try freezing the transforms. So long
@@ -29,6 +31,7 @@ class ValidateTransformZero(pyblish.api.Validator):
                  0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0,
                  0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0]
     _tolerance = 1e-30
+    optional = True
 
     @classmethod
     def get_invalid(cls, instance):
@@ -62,7 +65,8 @@ def get_invalid(cls, instance):
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the nodes in the instance "objectSet"""
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
 
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_unique_names.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_unique_names.py
index 05776ee0f37..4f69ebbfe6e 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_unique_names.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_unique_names.py
@@ -2,10 +2,14 @@
 
 import pyblish.api
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
-from openpype.pipeline.publish import ValidateContentsOrder
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
+    ValidateContentsOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateUniqueNames(pyblish.api.Validator):
+class ValidateUniqueNames(pyblish.api.Validator,
+                          OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """transform names should be unique
 
     ie: using cmds.ls(someNodeName) should always return shortname
@@ -17,6 +21,7 @@ class ValidateUniqueNames(pyblish.api.Validator):
     families = ["model"]
     label = "Unique transform name"
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = True
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_invalid(instance):
@@ -32,7 +37,8 @@ def get_invalid(instance):
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Process all the nodes in the instance "objectSet"""
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise ValueError("Nodes found with none unique names. "
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_unreal_mesh_triangulated.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_unreal_mesh_triangulated.py
index e78962bf97c..70435bfb3dc 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_unreal_mesh_triangulated.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_unreal_mesh_triangulated.py
@@ -3,11 +3,15 @@
 from maya import cmds
 import pyblish.api
 
-from openpype.pipeline.publish import ValidateMeshOrder
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
+    ValidateMeshOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 
 
-class ValidateUnrealMeshTriangulated(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateUnrealMeshTriangulated(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                     OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate if mesh is made of triangles for Unreal Engine"""
 
     order = ValidateMeshOrder
@@ -30,6 +34,8 @@ def get_invalid(cls, instance):
         return invalid
 
     def process(self, instance):
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         assert len(invalid) == 0, (
             "Found meshes without triangles")
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_visible_only.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_visible_only.py
index e72782e552e..4a17e567931 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_visible_only.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_visible_only.py
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateAlembicVisibleOnly(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateAlembicVisibleOnly(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                 OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validates at least a single node is visible in frame range.
 
     This validation only validates if the `visibleOnly` flag is enabled
@@ -20,9 +22,11 @@ class ValidateAlembicVisibleOnly(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     hosts = ["maya"]
     families = ["pointcache", "animation"]
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         if not instance.data.get("visibleOnly", False):
             self.log.debug("Visible only is disabled. Validation skipped..")
             return
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vray_distributed_rendering.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vray_distributed_rendering.py
index 14571203ea6..a11ebb5b8ee 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vray_distributed_rendering.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vray_distributed_rendering.py
@@ -3,10 +3,15 @@
 
 from openpype.hosts.maya.api import lib
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
-    PublishValidationError, RepairAction, ValidateContentsOrder)
+    PublishValidationError,
+    RepairAction,
+    ValidateContentsOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateVRayDistributedRendering(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateVRayDistributedRendering(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                       OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate V-Ray Distributed Rendering is ignored in batch mode.
 
     Whenever Distributed Rendering is enabled for V-Ray in the render settings
@@ -20,13 +25,15 @@ class ValidateVRayDistributedRendering(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     label = "VRay Distributed Rendering"
     families = ["renderlayer"]
     actions = [RepairAction]
+    optional = False
 
     # V-Ray attribute names
     enabled_attr = "vraySettings.sys_distributed_rendering_on"
     ignored_attr = "vraySettings.sys_distributed_rendering_ignore_batch"
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         if instance.data.get("renderer") != "vray":
             # If not V-Ray ignore..
             return
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vray_referenced_aovs.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vray_referenced_aovs.py
index 39c721e7175..7cb4fc53195 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vray_referenced_aovs.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vray_referenced_aovs.py
@@ -4,10 +4,14 @@
 import types
 from maya import cmds
 
-from openpype.pipeline.publish import RepairContextAction
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
+    RepairContextAction,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateVrayReferencedAOVs(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateVrayReferencedAOVs(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                 OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate whether the V-Ray Render Elements (AOVs) include references.
 
     This will check if there are AOVs pulled from references. If
@@ -21,9 +25,12 @@ class ValidateVrayReferencedAOVs(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     hosts = ['maya']
     families = ['renderlayer']
     actions = [RepairContextAction]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
         """Plugin main entry point."""
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         if instance.data.get("renderer") != "vray":
             # If not V-Ray ignore..
             return
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vray_translator_settings.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vray_translator_settings.py
index 4474f08ba44..1095eda5f49 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vray_translator_settings.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vray_translator_settings.py
@@ -5,22 +5,27 @@
     context_plugin_should_run,
     RepairContextAction,
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 from maya import cmds
 
 
-class ValidateVRayTranslatorEnabled(pyblish.api.ContextPlugin):
+class ValidateVRayTranslatorEnabled(pyblish.api.ContextPlugin,
+                                    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate VRay Translator settings for extracting vrscenes."""
 
     order = ValidateContentsOrder
     label = "VRay Translator Settings"
     families = ["vrayscene_layer"]
     actions = [RepairContextAction]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, context):
         """Plugin entry point."""
+        if not self.is_active(context.data):
+            return
         # Workaround bug pyblish-base#250
         if not context_plugin_should_run(self, context):
             return
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vrayproxy.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vrayproxy.py
index a106b970b47..ecf2a571725 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vrayproxy.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vrayproxy.py
@@ -1,18 +1,22 @@
 import pyblish.api
 
 from openpype.pipeline import KnownPublishError
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 
 
-class ValidateVrayProxy(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateVrayProxy(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                        OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
 
     order = pyblish.api.ValidatorOrder
     label = "VRay Proxy Settings"
     hosts = ["maya"]
     families = ["vrayproxy"]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
         data = instance.data
-
+        if not self.is_active(data):
+            return
         if not data["setMembers"]:
             raise KnownPublishError(
                 "'%s' is empty! This is a bug" % instance.name
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vrayproxy_members.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vrayproxy_members.py
index 7b726de3a80..6c1edd72094 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vrayproxy_members.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_vrayproxy_members.py
@@ -4,12 +4,13 @@
 
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-
-class ValidateVrayProxyMembers(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateVrayProxyMembers(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                               OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate whether the V-Ray Proxy instance has shape members"""
 
     order = pyblish.api.ValidatorOrder
@@ -17,9 +18,11 @@ class ValidateVrayProxyMembers(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     hosts = ['maya']
     families = ['vrayproxy']
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
 
         if invalid:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_renderscript_callbacks.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_renderscript_callbacks.py
index a8085418e7f..40818ef7d2d 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_renderscript_callbacks.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_renderscript_callbacks.py
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 from maya import cmds
 
 import pyblish.api
-from openpype.pipeline.publish import ValidateContentsOrder
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
+    ValidateContentsOrder,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateYetiRenderScriptCallbacks(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateYetiRenderScriptCallbacks(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                        OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Check if the render script callbacks will be used during the rendering
 
     In order to ensure the render tasks are executed properly we need to check
@@ -24,6 +28,7 @@ class ValidateYetiRenderScriptCallbacks(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     label = "Yeti Render Script Callbacks"
     hosts = ["maya"]
     families = ["renderlayer"]
+    optional = False
 
     # Settings per renderer
     callbacks = {
@@ -37,7 +42,8 @@ class ValidateYetiRenderScriptCallbacks(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     }
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise ValueError("Invalid render callbacks found for '%s'!"
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_rig_cache_state.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_rig_cache_state.py
index 2b7249ad943..ece6f7f5912 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_rig_cache_state.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_rig_cache_state.py
@@ -3,12 +3,13 @@
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     RepairAction,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-
-class ValidateYetiRigCacheState(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateYetiRigCacheState(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                                OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate the I/O attributes of the node
 
     Every pgYetiMaya cache node per instance should have:
@@ -23,8 +24,11 @@ class ValidateYetiRigCacheState(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     families = ["yetiRig"]
     actions = [RepairAction,
                openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError("Nodes have incorrect I/O settings")
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_rig_input_in_instance.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_rig_input_in_instance.py
index 50a27589ad8..4a25485365c 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_rig_input_in_instance.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_rig_input_in_instance.py
@@ -5,11 +5,13 @@
 import openpype.hosts.maya.api.action
 from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
     ValidateContentsOrder,
-    PublishValidationError
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
 )
 
 
-class ValidateYetiRigInputShapesInInstance(pyblish.api.Validator):
+class ValidateYetiRigInputShapesInInstance(pyblish.api.Validator,
+                                           OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate if all input nodes are part of the instance's hierarchy"""
 
     order = ValidateContentsOrder
@@ -17,9 +19,11 @@ class ValidateYetiRigInputShapesInInstance(pyblish.api.Validator):
     families = ["yetiRig"]
     label = "Yeti Rig Input Shapes In Instance"
     actions = [openpype.hosts.maya.api.action.SelectInvalidAction]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError("Yeti Rig has invalid input meshes")
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_rig_settings.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_rig_settings.py
index 455bf5291a7..fec45f5b0e6 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_rig_settings.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/validate_yeti_rig_settings.py
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 import pyblish.api
 
-from openpype.pipeline.publish import PublishValidationError
+from openpype.pipeline.publish import (
+    PublishValidationError,
+    OptionalPyblishPluginMixin
+)
 
 
-class ValidateYetiRigSettings(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
+class ValidateYetiRigSettings(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin,
+                              OptionalPyblishPluginMixin):
     """Validate Yeti Rig Settings have collected input connections.
 
     The input connections are collected for the nodes in the `input_SET`.
@@ -15,9 +19,11 @@ class ValidateYetiRigSettings(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
     order = pyblish.api.ValidatorOrder
     label = "Yeti Rig Settings"
     families = ["yetiRig"]
+    optional = False
 
     def process(self, instance):
-
+        if not self.is_active(instance.data):
+            return
         invalid = self.get_invalid(instance)
         if invalid:
             raise PublishValidationError(
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/substancepainter/api/lib.py b/openpype/hosts/substancepainter/api/lib.py
index 1cb480b552c..d9084c57d64 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/substancepainter/api/lib.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/substancepainter/api/lib.py
@@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ def _setup_prompt():
         mesh_select.setVisible(False)
 
         # Ensure UI is visually up-to-date
-        app.processEvents(QtCore.QEventLoop.ExcludeUserInputEvents)
+        app.processEvents(QtCore.QEventLoop.ExcludeUserInputEvents, 8000)
 
         # Trigger the 'select file' dialog to set the path and have the
         # new file dialog to use the path.
@@ -623,8 +623,6 @@ def _setup_prompt():
                 "Failed to set mesh path with the prompt dialog:"
                 f"{mesh_filepath}\n\n"
                 "Creating new project directly with the mesh path instead.")
-        else:
-            dialog.done(dialog.Accepted)
 
     new_action = _get_new_project_action()
     if not new_action:
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/substancepainter/plugins/load/load_mesh.py b/openpype/hosts/substancepainter/plugins/load/load_mesh.py
index 08c1d5c3918..014dbd214f0 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/substancepainter/plugins/load/load_mesh.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/substancepainter/plugins/load/load_mesh.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import copy
+from qtpy import QtWidgets, QtCore
 from openpype.pipeline import (
     load,
     get_representation_path,
@@ -11,7 +13,131 @@
 from openpype.hosts.substancepainter.api.lib import prompt_new_file_with_mesh
 
 import substance_painter.project
-import qargparse
+
+
+def _convert(substance_attr):
+    """Return Substance Painter Python API Project attribute from string.
+
+    This converts a string like "ProjectWorkflow.Default" to for example
+    the Substance Painter Python API equivalent object, like:
+        `substance_painter.project.ProjectWorkflow.Default`
+
+    Args:
+        substance_attr (str): The `substance_painter.project` attribute,
+            for example "ProjectWorkflow.Default"
+
+    Returns:
+        Any: Substance Python API object of the project attribute.
+
+    Raises:
+        ValueError: If attribute does not exist on the
+            `substance_painter.project` python api.
+    """
+    root = substance_painter.project
+    for attr in substance_attr.split("."):
+        root = getattr(root, attr, None)
+        if root is None:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "Substance Painter project attribute"
+                f" does not exist: {substance_attr}")
+
+    return root
+
+
+def get_template_by_name(name: str, templates: list[dict]) -> dict:
+    return next(
+        template for template in templates
+        if template["name"] == name
+    )
+
+
+class SubstanceProjectConfigurationWindow(QtWidgets.QDialog):
+    """The pop-up dialog allows users to choose material
+    duplicate options for importing Max objects when updating
+    or switching assets.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, project_templates):
+        super(SubstanceProjectConfigurationWindow, self).__init__()
+        self.setWindowFlags(self.windowFlags() | QtCore.Qt.FramelessWindowHint)
+
+        self.configuration = None
+        self.template_names = [template["name"] for template
+                               in project_templates]
+        self.project_templates = project_templates
+
+        self.widgets = {
+            "label": QtWidgets.QLabel(
+                "Select your template for project configuration"),
+            "template_options": QtWidgets.QComboBox(),
+            "import_cameras": QtWidgets.QCheckBox("Import Cameras"),
+            "preserve_strokes": QtWidgets.QCheckBox("Preserve Strokes"),
+            "clickbox": QtWidgets.QWidget(),
+            "combobox": QtWidgets.QWidget(),
+            "buttons": QtWidgets.QDialogButtonBox(
+                QtWidgets.QDialogButtonBox.Ok
+                | QtWidgets.QDialogButtonBox.Cancel)
+        }
+
+        self.widgets["template_options"].addItems(self.template_names)
+
+        template_name = self.widgets["template_options"].currentText()
+        self._update_to_match_template(template_name)
+        # Build clickboxes
+        layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout(self.widgets["clickbox"])
+        layout.addWidget(self.widgets["import_cameras"])
+        layout.addWidget(self.widgets["preserve_strokes"])
+        # Build combobox
+        layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout(self.widgets["combobox"])
+        layout.addWidget(self.widgets["template_options"])
+        # Build buttons
+        layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout(self.widgets["buttons"])
+        # Build layout.
+        layout = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout(self)
+        layout.addWidget(self.widgets["label"])
+        layout.addWidget(self.widgets["combobox"])
+        layout.addWidget(self.widgets["clickbox"])
+        layout.addWidget(self.widgets["buttons"])
+
+        self.widgets["template_options"].currentTextChanged.connect(
+            self._update_to_match_template)
+        self.widgets["buttons"].accepted.connect(self.on_accept)
+        self.widgets["buttons"].rejected.connect(self.on_reject)
+
+    def on_accept(self):
+        self.configuration = self.get_project_configuration()
+        self.close()
+
+    def on_reject(self):
+        self.close()
+
+    def _update_to_match_template(self, template_name):
+        template = get_template_by_name(template_name, self.project_templates)
+        self.widgets["import_cameras"].setChecked(template["import_cameras"])
+        self.widgets["preserve_strokes"].setChecked(
+            template["preserve_strokes"])
+
+    def get_project_configuration(self):
+        templates = self.project_templates
+        template_name = self.widgets["template_options"].currentText()
+        template = get_template_by_name(template_name, templates)
+        template = copy.deepcopy(template)  # do not edit the original
+        template["import_cameras"] = self.widgets["import_cameras"].isChecked()
+        template["preserve_strokes"] = (
+            self.widgets["preserve_strokes"].isChecked()
+        )
+        for key in ["normal_map_format",
+                    "project_workflow",
+                    "tangent_space_mode"]:
+            template[key] = _convert(template[key])
+        return template
+
+    @classmethod
+    def prompt(cls, templates):
+        dialog = cls(templates)
+        dialog.exec_()
+        configuration = dialog.configuration
+        dialog.deleteLater()
+        return configuration
 
 
 class SubstanceLoadProjectMesh(load.LoaderPlugin):
@@ -25,48 +151,42 @@ class SubstanceLoadProjectMesh(load.LoaderPlugin):
     icon = "code-fork"
     color = "orange"
 
-    options = [
-        qargparse.Boolean(
-            "preserve_strokes",
-            default=True,
-            help="Preserve strokes positions on mesh.\n"
-                 "(only relevant when loading into existing project)"
-        ),
-        qargparse.Boolean(
-            "import_cameras",
-            default=True,
-            help="Import cameras from the mesh file."
-        )
-    ]
+    # Defined via settings
+    project_templates = []
 
-    def load(self, context, name, namespace, data):
+    def load(self, context, name, namespace, options=None):
 
         # Get user inputs
-        import_cameras = data.get("import_cameras", True)
-        preserve_strokes = data.get("preserve_strokes", True)
+        result = SubstanceProjectConfigurationWindow.prompt(
+            self.project_templates)
+        if not result:
+            # cancelling loader action
+            return
         sp_settings = substance_painter.project.Settings(
-            import_cameras=import_cameras
+            import_cameras=result["import_cameras"],
+            normal_map_format=result["normal_map_format"],
+            project_workflow=result["project_workflow"],
+            tangent_space_mode=result["tangent_space_mode"],
+            default_texture_resolution=result["default_texture_resolution"]
         )
         if not substance_painter.project.is_open():
             # Allow to 'initialize' a new project
             path = self.filepath_from_context(context)
-            # TODO: improve the prompt dialog function to not
-            # only works for simple polygon scene
-            result = prompt_new_file_with_mesh(mesh_filepath=path)
-            if not result:
-                self.log.info("User cancelled new project prompt."
-                              "Creating new project directly from"
-                              " Substance Painter API Instead.")
-                settings = substance_painter.project.create(
-                    mesh_file_path=path, settings=sp_settings
-                )
-
+            sp_settings = substance_painter.project.Settings(
+                import_cameras=result["import_cameras"],
+                normal_map_format=result["normal_map_format"],
+                project_workflow=result["project_workflow"],
+                tangent_space_mode=result["tangent_space_mode"],
+                default_texture_resolution=result["default_texture_resolution"]
+            )
+            settings = substance_painter.project.create(
+                mesh_file_path=path, settings=sp_settings
+            )
         else:
             # Reload the mesh
             settings = substance_painter.project.MeshReloadingSettings(
-                import_cameras=import_cameras,
-                preserve_strokes=preserve_strokes
-            )
+                import_cameras=result["import_cameras"],
+                preserve_strokes=result["preserve_strokes"])
 
             def on_mesh_reload(status: substance_painter.project.ReloadMeshStatus):  # noqa
                 if status == substance_painter.project.ReloadMeshStatus.SUCCESS:  # noqa
@@ -92,7 +212,7 @@ def on_mesh_reload(status: substance_painter.project.ReloadMeshStatus):  # noqa
         # from the user's original choice. We don't store 'preserve_strokes'
         # as we always preserve strokes on updates.
         container["options"] = {
-            "import_cameras": import_cameras,
+            "import_cameras": result["import_cameras"],
         }
 
         set_container_metadata(project_mesh_object_name, container)
diff --git a/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_maya_remote_publish_deadline.py b/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_maya_remote_publish_deadline.py
index a9fb10de8b3..01398576ada 100644
--- a/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_maya_remote_publish_deadline.py
+++ b/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_maya_remote_publish_deadline.py
@@ -108,7 +108,6 @@ def get_job_info(self):
                             if key in os.environ}, **legacy_io.Session)
 
         # TODO replace legacy_io with context.data
-        environment["AVALON_DB"] = os.environ.get("AVALON_DB")
         environment["AVALON_PROJECT"] = project_name
         environment["AVALON_ASSET"] = instance.context.data["asset"]
         environment["AVALON_TASK"] = instance.context.data["task"]
@@ -122,6 +121,7 @@ def get_job_info(self):
             environment["AYON_REMOTE_PUBLISH"] = "1"
         else:
             environment["OPENPYPE_REMOTE_PUBLISH"] = "1"
+            environment["AVALON_DB"] = os.environ.get("AVALON_DB")
         for key, value in environment.items():
             job_info.EnvironmentKeyValue[key] = value
 
diff --git a/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_publish_cache_job.py b/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_publish_cache_job.py
index 434a823cfe6..6f826e85671 100644
--- a/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_publish_cache_job.py
+++ b/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_publish_cache_job.py
@@ -131,7 +131,6 @@ def _submit_deadline_post_job(self, instance, job):
             create_metadata_path(instance, anatomy)
 
         environment = {
-            "AVALON_DB": os.environ["AVALON_DB"],
             "AVALON_PROJECT": instance.context.data["projectName"],
             "AVALON_ASSET": instance.context.data["asset"],
             "AVALON_TASK": instance.context.data["task"],
@@ -147,6 +146,7 @@ def _submit_deadline_post_job(self, instance, job):
             environment["AYON_BUNDLE_NAME"] = os.environ["AYON_BUNDLE_NAME"]
             deadline_plugin = "Ayon"
         else:
+            environment["AVALON_DB"] = os.environ["AVALON_DB"]
             environment["OPENPYPE_PUBLISH_JOB"] = "1"
             environment["OPENPYPE_RENDER_JOB"] = "0"
             environment["OPENPYPE_REMOTE_PUBLISH"] = "0"
diff --git a/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_publish_job.py b/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_publish_job.py
index ae951cacec9..1fe678616aa 100644
--- a/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_publish_job.py
+++ b/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_publish_job.py
@@ -187,7 +187,6 @@ def _submit_deadline_post_job(self, instance, job, instances):
             create_metadata_path(instance, anatomy)
 
         environment = {
-            "AVALON_DB": os.environ["AVALON_DB"],
             "AVALON_PROJECT": instance.context.data["projectName"],
             "AVALON_ASSET": instance.context.data["asset"],
             "AVALON_TASK": instance.context.data["task"],
@@ -203,6 +202,7 @@ def _submit_deadline_post_job(self, instance, job, instances):
             environment["AYON_BUNDLE_NAME"] = os.environ["AYON_BUNDLE_NAME"]
             deadline_plugin = "Ayon"
         else:
+            environment["AVALON_DB"] = os.environ["AVALON_DB"]
             environment["OPENPYPE_PUBLISH_JOB"] = "1"
             environment["OPENPYPE_RENDER_JOB"] = "0"
             environment["OPENPYPE_REMOTE_PUBLISH"] = "0"
diff --git a/openpype/pipeline/farm/pyblish_functions.py b/openpype/pipeline/farm/pyblish_functions.py
index 975fdd31cc0..8872ae64cec 100644
--- a/openpype/pipeline/farm/pyblish_functions.py
+++ b/openpype/pipeline/farm/pyblish_functions.py
@@ -620,15 +620,32 @@ def _create_instances_for_aov(instance, skeleton, aov_filter, additional_data,
         aov_patterns = aov_filter
 
         preview = match_aov_pattern(app, aov_patterns, render_file_name)
-        # toggle preview on if multipart is on
-        if instance.data.get("multipartExr"):
-            log.debug("Adding preview tag because its multipartExr")
-            preview = True
 
         new_instance = deepcopy(skeleton)
         new_instance["subset"] = subset_name
         new_instance["subsetGroup"] = group_name
 
+        # toggle preview on if multipart is on
+        # Because we cant query the multipartExr data member of each AOV we'll
+        # need to have hardcoded rule of excluding any renders with
+        # "cryptomatte" in the file name from being a multipart EXR. This issue
+        # happens with Redshift that forces Cryptomatte renders to be separate
+        # files even when the rest of the AOVs are merged into a single EXR.
+        # There might be an edge case where the main instance has cryptomatte
+        # in the name even though it's a multipart EXR.
+        if instance.data.get("renderer") == "redshift":
+            if (
+                instance.data.get("multipartExr") and
+                "cryptomatte" not in render_file_name.lower()
+            ):
+                log.debug("Adding preview tag because it's multipartExr")
+                preview = True
+            else:
+                new_instance["multipartExr"] = False
+        elif instance.data.get("multipartExr"):
+            log.debug("Adding preview tag because its multipartExr")
+            preview = True
+
         # explicitly disable review by user
         preview = preview and not do_not_add_review
         if preview:
diff --git a/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/hiero.json b/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/hiero.json
index efd80a8876d..c2f7736a7ce 100644
--- a/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/hiero.json
+++ b/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/hiero.json
@@ -10,15 +10,15 @@
             "rules": {}
         },
         "workfile": {
-            "ocioConfigName": "nuke-default",
-            "workingSpace": "linear",
-            "sixteenBitLut": "sRGB",
-            "eightBitLut": "sRGB",
-            "floatLut": "linear",
-            "logLut": "Cineon",
-            "viewerLut": "sRGB",
-            "thumbnailLut": "sRGB",
-            "monitorOutLut": "sRGB"
+            "ocioConfigName": "aces_1.2",
+            "workingSpace": "role_scene_linear",
+            "viewerLut": "ACES/sRGB",
+            "thumbnailLut": "ACES/sRGB",
+            "monitorOutLut": "ACES/sRGB",
+            "eightBitLut": "role_matte_paint",
+            "sixteenBitLut": "role_texture_paint",
+            "logLut": "role_compositing_log",
+            "floatLut": "role_scene_linear"
         },
         "regexInputs": {
             "inputs": [
diff --git a/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/nuke.json b/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/nuke.json
index 15c2d262e0a..9b46fe8767f 100644
--- a/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/nuke.json
+++ b/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/nuke.json
@@ -19,16 +19,21 @@
             "rules": {}
         },
         "viewer": {
-            "viewerProcess": "sRGB (default)"
+            "viewerProcess": "ACES/sRGB"
         },
         "baking": {
-            "viewerProcess": "rec709 (default)"
+            "viewerProcess": "ACES/Rec.709"
         },
         "workfile": {
             "colorManagement": "OCIO",
-            "OCIO_config": "nuke-default",
-            "workingSpaceLUT": "scene_linear",
-            "monitorLut": "sRGB (default)"
+            "OCIO_config": "aces_1.2",
+            "workingSpaceLUT": "role_scene_linear",
+            "monitorLut": "ACES/sRGB",
+            "monitorOutLUT": "ACES/sRGB",
+            "int8Lut": "role_matte_paint",
+            "int16Lut": "role_texture_paint",
+            "logLut": "role_compositing_log",
+            "floatLut": "role_scene_linear"
         },
         "nodes": {
             "requiredNodes": [
diff --git a/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/substancepainter.json b/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/substancepainter.json
index 2f9344d435c..f601814fdcf 100644
--- a/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/substancepainter.json
+++ b/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/substancepainter.json
@@ -10,5 +10,38 @@
             "rules": {}
         }
     },
-    "shelves": {}
+    "shelves": {},
+    "load": {
+        "SubstanceLoadProjectMesh": {
+            "project_templates": [
+                {
+                    "name": "2K(Default)",
+                    "default_texture_resolution": 2048,
+                    "import_cameras": true,
+                    "normal_map_format": "NormalMapFormat.DirectX",
+                    "project_workflow": "ProjectWorkflow.Default",
+                    "tangent_space_mode": "TangentSpace.PerFragment",
+                    "preserve_strokes": true
+                },
+                {
+                    "name": "2K(UV tile)",
+                    "default_texture_resolution": 2048,
+                    "import_cameras": true,
+                    "normal_map_format": "NormalMapFormat.DirectX",
+                    "project_workflow": "ProjectWorkflow.UVTile",
+                    "tangent_space_mode": "TangentSpace.PerFragment",
+                    "preserve_strokes": true
+                },
+                {
+                    "name": "4K(Custom)",
+                    "default_texture_resolution": 4096,
+                    "import_cameras": true,
+                    "normal_map_format": "NormalMapFormat.OpenGL",
+                    "project_workflow": "ProjectWorkflow.UVTile",
+                    "tangent_space_mode": "TangentSpace.PerFragment",
+                    "preserve_strokes": true
+                }
+            ]
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schema_project_hiero.json b/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schema_project_hiero.json
index 73bd475815a..2511e229ef1 100644
--- a/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schema_project_hiero.json
+++ b/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schema_project_hiero.json
@@ -57,38 +57,38 @@
                                 },
                                 {
                                     "type": "text",
-                                    "key": "sixteenBitLut",
-                                    "label": "16 Bit Files"
+                                    "key": "viewerLut",
+                                    "label": "Viewer"
                                 },
                                 {
                                     "type": "text",
-                                    "key": "eightBitLut",
-                                    "label": "8 Bit Files"
+                                    "key": "thumbnailLut",
+                                    "label": "Thumbnails"
                                 },
                                 {
                                     "type": "text",
-                                    "key": "floatLut",
-                                    "label": "Floating Point Files"
+                                    "key": "monitorOutLut",
+                                    "label": "Monitor"
                                 },
                                 {
                                     "type": "text",
-                                    "key": "logLut",
-                                    "label": "Log Files"
+                                    "key": "eightBitLut",
+                                    "label": "8 Bit Files"
                                 },
                                 {
                                     "type": "text",
-                                    "key": "viewerLut",
-                                    "label": "Viewer"
+                                    "key": "sixteenBitLut",
+                                    "label": "16 Bit Files"
                                 },
                                 {
                                     "type": "text",
-                                    "key": "thumbnailLut",
-                                    "label": "Thumbnails"
+                                    "key": "logLut",
+                                    "label": "Log Files"
                                 },
                                 {
                                     "type": "text",
-                                    "key": "monitorOutLut",
-                                    "label": "Monitor"
+                                    "key": "floatLut",
+                                    "label": "Floating Point Files"
                                 }
                             ]
                         }
diff --git a/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schema_project_substancepainter.json b/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schema_project_substancepainter.json
index 6be8cecad3c..d143aa0820c 100644
--- a/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schema_project_substancepainter.json
+++ b/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schema_project_substancepainter.json
@@ -25,6 +25,70 @@
             "object_type": {
                 "type": "text"
             }
+        },
+        {
+            "type": "dict",
+            "collapsible": true,
+            "key": "load",
+            "label": "Loaders",
+            "use_label_wrap": true,
+            "children": [
+                {
+                    "type": "dict",
+                    "collapsible": true,
+                    "key": "SubstanceLoadProjectMesh",
+                    "label": "Load Mesh",
+                    "children": [
+                        {
+                            "type": "list",
+                            "collapsible": true,
+                            "key": "project_templates",
+                            "label": "Project Templates",
+                            "object_type": {
+                                "type": "dict",
+                                "children": [
+                                    {
+                                        "type": "text",
+                                        "key": "name",
+                                        "label": "Name"
+                                    },
+                                    {
+                                        "type": "number",
+                                        "key": "default_texture_resolution",
+                                        "label": "Document Resolution"
+                                    },
+                                    {
+                                        "type": "boolean",
+                                        "key": "import_cameras",
+                                        "label": "Import Cameras"
+                                    },
+                                    {
+                                        "type": "text",
+                                        "key": "normal_map_format",
+                                        "label": "Normal Map Format"
+                                    },
+                                    {
+                                        "type": "text",
+                                        "key": "project_workflow",
+                                        "label": "UV Tile Settings"
+                                    },
+                                    {
+                                        "type": "text",
+                                        "key": "tangent_space_mode",
+                                        "label": "Normal Map Format"
+                                    },
+                                    {
+                                        "type": "boolean",
+                                        "key": "preserve_strokes",
+                                        "label": "Preserve Strokes"
+                                    }
+                                ]
+                            }
+                        }
+                    ]
+                }
+
+            ]
         }
     ]
 }
diff --git a/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schemas/schema_nuke_imageio.json b/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schemas/schema_nuke_imageio.json
index af826fcf467..b925a98c897 100644
--- a/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schemas/schema_nuke_imageio.json
+++ b/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schemas/schema_nuke_imageio.json
@@ -105,7 +105,32 @@
                         {
                             "type": "text",
                             "key": "monitorLut",
-                            "label": "monitor"
+                            "label": "Thumbnails"
+                        },
+                        {
+                            "type": "text",
+                            "key": "monitorOutLUT",
+                            "label": "Monitor Out"
+                        },
+                        {
+                            "type": "text",
+                            "key": "int8Lut",
+                            "label": "8-bit files"
+                        },
+                        {
+                            "type": "text",
+                            "key": "int16Lut",
+                            "label": "16-bit files"
+                        },
+                        {
+                            "type": "text",
+                            "key": "logLut",
+                            "label": "log files"
+                        },
+                        {
+                            "type": "text",
+                            "key": "floatLut",
+                            "label": "float files"
                         }
                     ]
                 }
diff --git a/openpype/version.py b/openpype/version.py
index 1511fe14f1a..535b9f7036e 100644
--- a/openpype/version.py
+++ b/openpype/version.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 """Package declaring Pype version."""
-__version__ = "3.18.9-nightly.3"
+__version__ = "3.18.9-nightly.9"
diff --git a/server_addon/substancepainter/server/settings/load_plugins.py b/server_addon/substancepainter/server/settings/load_plugins.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e6b2fd86c3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server_addon/substancepainter/server/settings/load_plugins.py
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+from ayon_server.settings import BaseSettingsModel, SettingsField
+
+
+def normal_map_format_enum():
+    return [
+        {"label": "DirectX", "value": "NormalMapFormat.DirectX"},
+        {"label": "OpenGL", "value": "NormalMapFormat.OpenGL"},
+    ]
+
+
+def tangent_space_enum():
+    return [
+        {"label": "Per Fragment", "value": "TangentSpace.PerFragment"},
+        {"label": "Per Vertex", "value": "TangentSpace.PerVertex"},
+    ]
+
+
+def uv_workflow_enum():
+    return [
+        {"label": "Default", "value": "ProjectWorkflow.Default"},
+        {"label": "UV Tile", "value": "ProjectWorkflow.UVTile"},
+        {"label": "Texture Set Per UV Tile",
+         "value": "ProjectWorkflow.TextureSetPerUVTile"}
+    ]
+
+
+def document_resolution_enum():
+    return [
+        {"label": "128", "value": 128},
+        {"label": "256", "value": 256},
+        {"label": "512", "value": 512},
+        {"label": "1024", "value": 1024},
+        {"label": "2048", "value": 2048},
+        {"label": "4096", "value": 4096}
+    ]
+
+
+class ProjectTemplatesModel(BaseSettingsModel):
+    _layout = "expanded"
+    name: str = SettingsField("default", title="Template Name")
+    default_texture_resolution: int = SettingsField(
+        1024, enum_resolver=document_resolution_enum,
+        title="Document Resolution",
+        description=("Set texture resolution when "
+                     "creating new project.")
+    )
+    import_cameras: bool = SettingsField(
+        True, title="Import Cameras",
+        description="Import cameras from the mesh file.")
+    normal_map_format: str = SettingsField(
+        "DirectX", enum_resolver=normal_map_format_enum,
+        title="Normal Map Format",
+        description=("Set normal map format when "
+                     "creating new project.")
+    )
+    project_workflow: str = SettingsField(
+        "Default", enum_resolver=uv_workflow_enum,
+        title="UV Tile Settings",
+        description=("Set UV workflow when "
+                     "creating new project.")
+    )
+    tangent_space_mode: str = SettingsField(
+        "PerFragment", enum_resolver=tangent_space_enum,
+        title="Tangent Space",
+        description=("An option to compute tangent space "
+                     "when creating new project.")
+    )
+    preserve_strokes: bool = SettingsField(
+        True, title="Preserve Strokes",
+        description=("Preserve strokes positions on mesh.\n"
+                     "(only relevant when loading into "
+                     "existing project)")
+    )
+
+
+class ProjectTemplateSettingModel(BaseSettingsModel):
+    project_templates: list[ProjectTemplatesModel] = SettingsField(
+        default_factory=ProjectTemplatesModel,
+        title="Project Templates"
+    )
+
+
+class LoadersModel(BaseSettingsModel):
+    SubstanceLoadProjectMesh: ProjectTemplateSettingModel = SettingsField(
+        default_factory=ProjectTemplateSettingModel,
+        title="Load Mesh"
+    )
+
+
+DEFAULT_LOADER_SETTINGS = {
+    "SubstanceLoadProjectMesh": {
+        "project_templates": [
+            {
+                "name": "2K(Default)",
+                "default_texture_resolution": 2048,
+                "import_cameras": True,
+                "normal_map_format": "NormalMapFormat.DirectX",
+                "project_workflow": "ProjectWorkflow.Default",
+                "tangent_space_mode": "TangentSpace.PerFragment",
+                "preserve_strokes": True
+            },
+            {
+                "name": "2K(UV tile)",
+                "default_texture_resolution": 2048,
+                "import_cameras": True,
+                "normal_map_format": "NormalMapFormat.DirectX",
+                "project_workflow": "ProjectWorkflow.UVTile",
+                "tangent_space_mode": "TangentSpace.PerFragment",
+                "preserve_strokes": True
+            },
+            {
+                "name": "4K(Custom)",
+                "default_texture_resolution": 4096,
+                "import_cameras": True,
+                "normal_map_format": "NormalMapFormat.OpenGL",
+                "project_workflow": "ProjectWorkflow.UVTile",
+                "tangent_space_mode": "TangentSpace.PerFragment",
+                "preserve_strokes": True
+            }
+        ]
+    }
+}
diff --git a/server_addon/substancepainter/server/settings/main.py b/server_addon/substancepainter/server/settings/main.py
index f80fa9fe1ec..93523fd6507 100644
--- a/server_addon/substancepainter/server/settings/main.py
+++ b/server_addon/substancepainter/server/settings/main.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from ayon_server.settings import BaseSettingsModel, SettingsField
 from .imageio import ImageIOSettings, DEFAULT_IMAGEIO_SETTINGS
+from .load_plugins import LoadersModel, DEFAULT_LOADER_SETTINGS
 
 
 class ShelvesSettingsModel(BaseSettingsModel):
@@ -17,9 +18,12 @@ class SubstancePainterSettings(BaseSettingsModel):
         default_factory=list,
         title="Shelves"
     )
+    load: LoadersModel = SettingsField(
+        default_factory=DEFAULT_LOADER_SETTINGS, title="Loaders")
 
 
 DEFAULT_SPAINTER_SETTINGS = {
     "imageio": DEFAULT_IMAGEIO_SETTINGS,
-    "shelves": []
+    "shelves": [],
+    "load": DEFAULT_LOADER_SETTINGS,
 }
diff --git a/server_addon/substancepainter/server/version.py b/server_addon/substancepainter/server/version.py
index 3dc1f76bc69..485f44ac21b 100644
--- a/server_addon/substancepainter/server/version.py
+++ b/server_addon/substancepainter/server/version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "0.1.0"
+__version__ = "0.1.1"