Share with your friends!

[ 3ds max tutorial ] – If the Material Editor appears limited and you do not know how to create other materials, read this post … it takes just 5 minutes, but everything be more clear! (-:

If you open the material editor (shortcut = M) you’ll see just 6 slots to create materials. Of course you can create more than 6!

At first, click the right button on the slot, then select a different option like “5×3” and “6X4“: try to select them. The available slots will be 15 or 24, depending on your choice.

But.. Is 24 the maximum number of materials you can have? Certainly not.

I admit that the system is not very intuitive! In fact the material editor is a limited space to create, refine and assign materials, and there’s no limit to do that! Let’s take a simple test.

Building a box / create a “stupid” material / Assign material.

Now, click the “X” (reset map to default setting): A window will appear with 2 choices!

1) if we choose the 1st option:

• you reset all the material parameters
• the object in the scene continues to be connected to this material
  (Just note that the box in the viewport suddenly turn gray)

2) If we choose the 2nd option:

• object and material will be “disconnected”
• the material in the slot will resetted and associated with nothing
• the object in the scene will preserve the material that was before the cancellation

NOW THE QUESTION IS

How could I edit a material removed from the material editor, but it is still associated with an object in the scene?

Just go to the material editor and bring it back in the Material Editor as follows:
Get Material -> Scene -> Double-click the material you want back

CONCLUSION

The material editor is a sort of  “palette” where temporary support materials to create and associate them easily.

If you want to to create a new material and the slots are all occupated, click “X” and choose the option 2… don’t be afraid!! You don’t loose anything! Your material will be safe among the material scene (-:

/ Also Learn Corona Renderer