3ds Max 2017: Advanced Materials

3ds Max features advanced material tools and techniques for physically-based rendering. Learn to design realistic shading networks in this course.

Introduction

• Welcome
• Using the exercise files

1. Material Editor Tips and Tricks

• Using preview windows
• Setting Material Editor options
• Creating multiple view tabs
• Storing materials in sample slots
• Lay Out and Select commands
• Understanding XRefs and materials
• Display Map Output Selector nodes

2. Hard Surface Materials

• Rendering the Physical Material
• Balancing reflections with Roughness
• Adjusting Metalness and Reflection Color
• Using Index of Refraction (IOR) to control reflectance
• Setting a custom reflectance function
• Stretching highlights with Anisotropy
• Mapping the bump channel
• Adding a clear coat

3. Ray Tracing Techniques

• Controlling physical transparency
• Tinting with Transparency Depth
• Backlighting with thin-walled translucency
• Sub-surface scattering for physical translucency
• Light emission from a surface

4. Building Shading Networks

• Future-proofing material presets
• Layering and masking with a composite map
• Color adjustment with a color correction map
• Preparing for texture baking
• Materials for texture baking
• Baking maps with Render to Texture
• Rasterizing textures with Render Map
• RGB curves adjustment with an output map

5. Advanced Mapping

• Mapping a gradient ramp
• Procedural mapping with Substance
• Simulating relief detail with Normal Bump
• Deforming surfaces with Displacement
• Combining maps with RGB Multiply

Conclusion

• Next steps