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1270 Chapter 16: Material Editor, Materials, and Maps
object listed in the Track View hierarchy is used as
thesampleobject.
If the object is of a type that doesn’t have a
GenerateMappingCoordscheckbox,applya
UVW Map modifier (page 1–905) to it.
After you have saved the single-object scene as a
.
max file,usetheCustomSampleObjectgroupin
the
Material Editor Options dialog (page 2–1280)
to specify the file. When you specify the file, a new
button is displayed at the right of the Sample Type
flyout. T his button, which shows an object with
aquestionmark,displaysthesampleobjectfile
you chose.
If the sample object scene contains only the object,
sample slots display it with default lighting. If
the scene also contains a camera and lights, you
can use the camera to specify the view, and the
lights to light the object as you choose. Turn on
Load Camer a and/or Lights in the Custom Sample
Object g roup.
Pr ocedur es
To set up a custom sample object:
1.
Createascenewithasingleobject,suchasa
pyramid.
The object should fit into an imaginary cube
that is 100 units on each side. Also, the object
must b e at the root level of the scene: it can’t b e
linked to other objects.
If more than one object is in the scene, the
Material Editor uses the first object listed in the
Track View hierarchy.
2. If the object do es not have built-in mapping
coordinates (via a Generate Mapping Coords
check box), then assig n a U VW Map modifier
to it to provide mapping coordinates.
If the object has a Generate Mapping Coords
checkbox,it’sonbydefault,andtheMaterial
Editor uses those coordinates. If you want to
use coordinates other than those bui lt into the
object, assign a
UVW Map mo difier (page
1–905)
and set up your own coordinates.
3. Save the .max file.
4. In the Material Editor Options dialog, click
theFileNamebuttonintheCustomSample
Object g roup box, and choose the
.max file that
contains y our object.
5. Activate the sample slot in w hich you want to
see the custom object, then choose the button
at the far right of the Sample Type flyout.
Your custom object is displayed in the sample
slot.
Ifthesizeofyourobjectisnotquiterightforthe
sample slot, adjust its size and save the scene
again. To update the sample slot so it uses the
newly saved
.max file, open the Material E ditor
Options dialog, and then click OK.
To use a camera and lights with the custom sample
obj ect:
1.
Create a camera in the scene that contains your
sample object, and then adjust the camera to
show the object as you want it seen in sample
slots.
Tip: Viewports have a different aspect ratio than
sample slots, so u sing
Zoom Extents (page
3–783)
on the sample object usually results
in the object appearing
smaller in a sample
slot. Do Zoom Extents on the object, and then
before you save the file, zoom in a little farther
so the object more than fills the viewport. The
sample slot projection is based on the width of
the sample object’s geometry, not on the image
in the viewport.
If more than one camera is in the scene, the
Material Editor uses the first camera listed in
the Track View hierarchy.
2. If you want to use your own lighting rather
than the default sample-slot lighting, set up as
many lights as you need. If you want to use the