Documentation
Iray for 3ds Max provides a number of approaches for creating and using materials. Material Libraries are provided as a simple of way of quickly adding fully-realised complex materials.
Another approach provides example material components in our Iray+ Material, which provides a more generalised starting point based on non-specific practical types of material (such as Rubber, Gel, ThinFilm etc). These High-Level Components can be quickly worked into your own complex material based on our Material Structure layer concept.
These High-Level Components are based on Low-Level Components. These are the basis of all materials in Iray, describing the fundamental scientific properties behind every material and the effect of light on them. One low-level component can be used to create a set of high-level components. Each high-level component is, effectively, an instance of a low-level component with a different set of defaults.
When you construct a material, you will use high-level components as a starting point. The low-level components are referenced in this documentation as a method of showing the shared parameters and flexibility that these have.
At its simplest, an Iray+ Material must contain a Geometry and a Base layer. Optionally, you can add Decals, Coating and Surface layers on top of these in any order to add complexity.
Geometry refers to the underlying structure of every material. At this level, some fundamental characteristics of your material can be defined:
The Base is the second layer in an Iray+ Material, like Geometry, every material contains a base. This is the core component for creating realistic materials as you define the basic form of the material (wood, metal, plastic etc.).
The material examples available in the Base layer presets dropdown in the 3ds Max Material Editor provide starting points for virtually any material.
High-Level Component | Low-Level Component Used | Link to Component |
---|---|---|
CarbonFiber | AnisotropicDielectric | Details ▶ |
CeramicTiles | Dielectric | Details ▶ |
CeramicWhiteware | TwoLobeDielectric | Details ▶ |
Clay | TwoLobeDielectric | Details ▶ |
Cloth | Diffuse | Details ▶ |
CloudyGem | SubsurfaceScattering | Details ▶ |
ConcretePolished | Dielectric | Details ▶ |
ConcreteRough | Dielectric | Details ▶ |
Diamond | PhysicalTransparent | Details ▶ |
Gel | PearlescentSSS | Details ▶ |
Glass | PhysicalTransparent | Details ▶ |
GlassDispersion | PhysicalTransparent | Details ▶ |
GlassFrosted | PhysicalTranslucent | Details ▶ |
GlassThin | ThinwallTransparent | Details ▶ |
Glossy | Dielectric | Details ▶ |
Lampshade | DiffuseTransmission | Details ▶ |
Leather | TwoLobeDielectric | Details ▶ |
Masonry | Dielectric | Details ▶ |
Matte | Diffuse | Details ▶ |
Metal | Conductor | Details ▶ |
MetalBrushed | AnisotropicConductor | Details ▶ |
MetalPolished | AnisotropicConductor | Details ▶ |
MetalSatin | AnisotropicConductor | Details ▶ |
Mirror | SpecularReflection | Details ▶ |
Paper | Diffuse | Details ▶ |
PaperTranslucent | DiffuseTransmission | Details ▶ |
Plaster | Diffuse | Details ▶ |
PlasticOpaque | TwoLobeDielectric | Details ▶ |
PlasticTranslucent(FastSSS) | DiffuseSSS | Details ▶ |
PlasticTranslucent(SSS) | SubsurfaceScattering | Details ▶ |
PlasticTransparent | PhysicalTranslucent | Details ▶ |
Rubber | Dielectric | Details ▶ |
Satin | WovenAnisotropic | Details ▶ |
Skin | MultiLayeredSSS | Details ▶ |
Stone | Diffuse | Details ▶ |
StonePolished | Dielectric | Details ▶ |
Velvet | Backscattering | Details ▶ |
Water | PhysicalTransparent | Details ▶ |
Wax | SubsurfaceScattering | Details ▶ |
Wood | Dielectric | Details ▶ |
Woodgrain | FibreAnisotropic | Details ▶ |
WoodVarnished | Dielectric | Details ▶ |
Decals are stickers or images which can be applied at any level within the material hierarchy.
High-Level Component |
Low-Level Component Used |
|
---|---|---|
BrushedMetalFoil | AnisotropicConductor | Details ▶ |
BrushedPlastic | AnisotropicDielectric | Details ▶ |
Matte | Diffuse | Details ▶ |
MetalFoil | Conductor | Details ▶ |
Mirror | SpecularReflection | Details ▶ |
Satin | Gloss | Details ▶ |
Surface layers can represent effects such as Dirt, Scratches, Rust and other imperfections found in the real world.
High-Level Component |
Low-Level Component Used |
|
---|---|---|
DeepScratches | Diffuse | Details ▶ |
Dirt1 | DiffuseTransmission | Details ▶ |
Dirt2 | DiffuseTransmission | Details ▶ |
Dirt3 | DiffuseTransmission | Details ▶ |
DustStreaks | DiffuseTransmission | Details ▶ |
DustUniform | DiffuseTransmission | Details ▶ |
DustVariable | DiffuseTransmission | Details ▶ |
HeatStainedSteel | InterferencePattern | Details ▶ |
LinearScratches1 | Gloss | Details ▶ |
LinearScratches2 | Diffuse | Details ▶ |
LinearScratches3 | Gloss | Details ▶ |
LinearScratches4 | Gloss | Details ▶ |
RadialScratches | Gloss | Details ▶ |
RustPatches | Diffuse | Details ▶ |
RustUniform | Diffuse | Details ▶ |
Verdigris | Diffuse | Details ▶ |
An Iray+ Material can have any number of Coating layers, representing finishes such as Varnish, Paints, Glazes and many other effects.
High-Level Component |
Low-Level Component Used |
|
---|---|---|
Anodised | Conductor | Details ▶ |
CeramicGlaze | Dielectric | Details ▶ |
Clearcoat | Dielectric | Details ▶ |
Flakes | GlossFlakes | Details ▶ |
FlipFlopPaint | Flipflop | Details ▶ |
Galvanised | GlossFlakes | Details ▶ |
GlossFinish | GlossLayer | Details ▶ |
GlossVarnish | Dielectric | Details ▶ |
HammerPaint | AnisotropicDielectric | Details ▶ |
MatteFinish | Diffuse | Details ▶ |
MatteVarnish | Dielectric | Details ▶ |
MetalPlating | Conductor | Details ▶ |
PaintEggShell | AnisotropicDielectric | Details ▶ |
PaintGloss | AnisotropicDielectric | Details ▶ |
PaintMatte | AnisotropicDielectric | Details ▶ |
PaintPearl | AnisotropicDielectric | Details ▶ |
PlasticCoating | AnisotropicDielectric | Details ▶ |
PowderCoating | AnisotropicDielectric | Details ▶ |
ThinFilm | InterferencePattern | Details ▶ |
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