Default Material Templates

[JD3D_CGI]

I would love some form of default material system similar to Mental Ray materials.

It would be great to be able to create matte/shadow materials, chrome, glass and a few basics quickly.

[vlado]

For matte/shadows, we are adding a button to the V-Ray toolbar to turn the selected objects into shadow catchers.

We also had a preset system for the VRayMtl in a branch in the code tree done by one of our interns, unfortunately it didn't go anywhere. It would be a good idea to finish that work, I guess.

Best regards,
Vlado

[JD3D_CGI]

It absolutely would be.

I used Vray years ago, then switched to MR when I went solo for cost reasons, and was only able to afford vray a year or so ago.... although I definitely made the right choice, I still feel there are misconceptions about Vray being "easier out of the box" than MR.
Obviously you have mostly addressed this with the presets system; however, materials remain an issue.

Even just populating the default material editor with some basic materials would help in the meantime.

Anyway, thanks for listening, I appreciate it.

[gadzooks]

Damn that would be nice!

[glorybound]

That's why I purchased https://www.sigershop.eu/item/v-ray-...esets-pro-max/ There is also a free one somewhere that has the basics that you are looking for.

[maxwood]

For matte/shadows, we are adding a button to the V-Ray toolbar to turn the selected objects into shadow catchers.

That saves me a lot of time, thank you!

[JD3D_CGI]

glorybound - there is no free version.

[glorybound]

Before I purchased it I know I was using some pulldown menu material preset, which I thought was from the same developer.

[Alan Iglesias]

I would love some form of default material system similar to Mental Ray materials.

It would be great to be able to create matte/shadow materials, chrome, glass and a few basics quickly.

When my clients ask for such a thing, I point out that they can easily save materials in Max's Material Library system. Simply save one out called Basic Materials, and every time you make a material you think may be used on a regular (or not so regular) basis, save it into the Library. It will be right there whenever you want it in the future!

I think 'd rather have Vlado's team spending their precious time doing stuff we cannot do!

And honestly, making your own materials is a good thing on so many levels...

Just my .02$...

-Alan

[JD3D_CGI]

It would probably take them about ten minutes, and would save so much time.

Every time I replace or reinstall max or use different machines I don't want to piss about with libraries.

It's not ass effecient as you are making out; and I'm not asking for a full library - just some basic things to get cracking.

[Nicinus]

Back to that old discussion on how much an artist should be able to understand of what is going on under the hood. Personally I have no desire whatsoever to understand all the intricacies of physical material creation although I agree that it is fun, but regardless of your position on this it is ultimately a question of where you want to spend your time, setting up the picture or optimizing the settings.

There will be a day when materials become so advanced, like vrscans, that you'll buy them instead of creating them. A decade ago I thought we would reach that point in five years or so.

[JD3D_CGI]

I don't think this is about understanding anything; it's about having a few presets loaded in for quickly roughing out shots and lighting conditions.

If I'm honest, I pretty my copy and paste decent materials and objects once I'm going - but I want to be able to start throwing basic shapes around and lighting conditions.

I want a chrome material so I can throw it on to a teapot to test my HDRIs etc.

This has nothing to do with the final project; almost every single other aspect of computing has default templates built in - the debate has been had already. Vray needs them as well.