9

Using Maps to Enhance a Material 1403
Usi ng M aps to Enha nce a M ater ia l
Maps provide images, patterns, color adjustments,
and other effects you can apply to the visual/optical
components of a material. Without maps, material
design in 3ds Max is limited. Maps give the
Material Editor its full flexibility, and can give you
dramatic results.
Spheres with various maps applied to them (as well as a
reflection map applied to the surface beneath them)
The simplest use of a map is to assign a pattern to
amaterial’sDiffusecolor.Diffuse mapping (page
2–1498) is also known as "texture mapping."
It applies an image or pattern to geometry the
material is applied to.
Example of designing a mapped material:
1. Ch oose a sample slot.
2. Increase the highlight.
3. Ap ply a checker map to the material’s diffuse component.
4. Apply a bum p map to give the material ridges.
5. The checker map displays in viewports, but the bump map
does not.
6. Rendering the material shows the full effect of mapping.
Wa rn in g : When you change the shading type (page
2–1398) of a standard material, you lose the settings
(including map assignments) for any parameters that the
new shader does not support. If you want to experiment
with different shaders for a material with the same
general p arameters, copy the material to a different
sample slot (page 2–1420) before you change its shading
type. That way, you can still use the original material if
the new shader doesn’t give you the effect you want.