How to Cheat in 3ds Max 2009: Get Spectacular Results Fast
Including a host of time-saving techniques as well as little-known tools that will make you look like an expert in no time flat, this book will show you how to get results with 3ds max fast.
TABLE OF CONTENTS How to Cheat in 3ds Max 2009: Get Spectacular Results Fast
Chapter 6: Glass
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What makes glass look like glass? Reflections, transparency, shininess, and refraction all play a part.
Glass can seem to be awfully complicated. Plain old transparency with a bit of shine doesn t do the trick. You search in vain for the Glass button, but somehow the developers of 3ds Max left it out of the user interface.
The key is to use reference images to find the look you want, then consider which maps and parameters will create a material that simulates that look.
Exterior Daytime Windows
Glass windows on a sunny day make a pretty architectural rendering. Using photos for reference, you can create a realistic rendition of windows seen from the outside, as with this rendering from Neoscape, Inc.
Figure 1: From photos, you can see that exterior windows in daylight aren t really transparent. Depending on the lighting, you might be able to see partway into the building, or you only see a reflection of the environment.
Figure 2: You can use a photo as a basis for a texture and map it onto the windows. This will give you a realistic look, but only if the light is coming from the same angle as in the photo. For a still image, this is a viable option. With an animated camera, the lack of a changing reflection will become obvious as soon as the camera moves.
Figure 3: To reflect the sky and also show shadows from the scene s light source, apply a Matte/Shadow material to the window...
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