2011

Table Of Contents
MATERIALS
Opens the Materials Browser.
MATERIALSCLOSE
Closes the Materials Browser.
System Variables
MATBROWSERSTATE
Controls the state of the Materials Browser.
MATEDITORSTATE
Indicates whether the Materials Editor is open or closed.
Use Maps for Added Realism
Mapping is a way of increasing the visual complexity of a material.
Overview of Maps
The images you assign to materials are called maps. You use maps to improve
the appearance and realism of materials. Materials that contain one or more
images are called mapped materials.
Maps can simulate textures, reflections, refractions, and other effects. When
used with materials, maps add details without adding complexity to the
geometry of an object.
Use Map Channels for Added Texture Realism
Textures add the realism of details to a material.
Overview of Map Channels
Map channels assign a texture to a material's color. The colors of the map
replace the material's diffuse color when a map channel is selected. For
transparency, the texture is a multiplier.
After selecting a map channel you can use any image map, or one of the
procedural maps, such as wood and marble. For example, if you want a wall
2084 | Chapter 45 Materials and Textures