Question

Map textures for 3D Studio Max -- Where can I find additional materials to import to 3ds Max, and how do I import them?

Asked by: kimberlys777

I've watched some tutorials and seen some really cool materials used in some 3ds max graphics, but they're not included in my materials menu.  How do I find more materials and textures and how do I import them?

Thanks

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Asked On
2009-06-02 at 23:40:32ID24459015
Topic

3D-Studio 3D Graphics Software

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Answers

 

by: bham3dmanPosted on 2009-06-04 at 01:00:05ID: 24544451

Greetings,

3D Studio Max ships with a few material libraries that can be found by clicking on the Get Material icon on the Material Editor toolbar.  This is also Material Editor shortcut G or you can click on the Material menu and then choose Get Material.  

Next, in the Browse From section of the Material/Map Browser, click on the Mtl Library radio button.  In the File group, click Open. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3D Studio Max (version)\materiallibraries and choose a library to open (note that they end in a .mat extension).

Once you've opened a material library, you'll see the list of materials in the Material/Map Browser.  Click one of the icons on the top toolbar to view thumbnails of the materials.  If you see one you like, drag it into the Material Editor, or if not, click Open again and choose another library.

You should considering checking out a guy by the name of Jeff Patton who publishes a lot of info on creating great materials (among other things) with Max and mental ray.  In the downloads section of his website he has made available some material libraries.
Blog: http://jeffpatton.cgsociety.org/blog/
Website: http://www.jeffpatton.net

As for creating your own materials using textures you find on the web (like http://www.cgtextures.com ), I suggest starting with an Arch & Design material - In the Material Editor, click on a material sample, then click Get Material, choose Browse From - New, and then double-click Arch & Design.  

Once you've loaded an Arch & Design material, click the dropdown box labled (Select a template) and choose a template that most closely matches the type of material you wish to create.  Then, in the Diffuse group of the material, click the button to the right of the color swatch.  In the pop-up Material/Map browser, double click Bitmap, then locate your bitmap.  Your selected texture map will now be visible as the diffuse surface component of the material.

By the way, if you don't have Arch & Design listed as a material option, you'll need to switch your renderer from Scanline to mental ray.  The simplest way to achieve this is to click on the Customize menu, choose the Custom UI and Defaults Switcher item, then choose one of the mental ray options in the top left box.  Arch & Design should then be your default material type.

I hope this is helpful.  Good luck!

 

by: kimberlys777Posted on 2009-07-07 at 12:40:23ID: 31588158

bham3dman - thanks so much for the helpful information!

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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