Slate Material Editor
 
 
 

The Slate Material Editor is a material editor interface that uses nodes and wiring to graphically display the structure of materials while you design and edit them. It is an alternative to the Compact Material Editor.

In general, the Slate interface is more versatile when you are designing materials, while the Compact interface is more convenient when you just need to apply materials that have already been designed.

The Slate interface is a graphical interface with several elements. Most prominent are the Material/Map Browser, where you can browse for materials, maps, and base material and map types; the currently active View, where you can combine materials and maps; and the Parameter Editor, where you can change material and map settings.

1. Menu bar

2. Toolbar

3. Material/Map Browser

4. Status

5. Active View

6. View navigation

7. Parameter Editor

8. Navigator

The main visual elements of this interface are where you do most of your work.

Floating or Docking Slate Material Editor Windows

You can float Slate Material Editor windows, except for the View.

To float a window such as the Material/Map Browser, Navigator, or Parameter Editor:

To dock a floating window in its default location:

By default, each Preview window opens as a floating window. When you dock a Preview window, it docks at the upper left of the Slate Material Editor dialog.

Custom Configuration Files

When you customize the Slate Material Editor interface, changes persist between sessions of 3ds Max.

Material/Map Browser interface files have a MPL file name extension; for example, our_mental_ray_layout.mpl. You can save and restore Material/Map Browser layouts by using Material/Map Browser Options menu Additional Options Load Layout or Save Layout As. This submenu also has a Reset Material/Map Browser option that restores the default layout and appearance of the Browser.

Slate Material Editor layout is saved in the file docking.cfg.

These files are saved in the application data folder; for example, \users\<username>\appdata\local\autodesk\3dsmax\2012 - 64bit\enu\sme\.

NoteThe rendering in a Preview window does not remain valid between sessions of 3ds Max, or when you open a new scene.

Procedure

To view the Slate Material Editor:

  • Material and Map Nodes in the Active View

    When you edit materials and maps, these appear in the active View as “nodes” that you can wire together.

  • Controller Nodes

    In addition to materials and maps, the Material/Map Browser panel has entries for controllers, allowing you to animate materials.

  • The Parameter Editor: Changing Material and Map Settings

    Materials and maps have various parameters you can adjust. To see the parameters for a material or a map, double-click the node. The parameters appear in the Parameter Editor.

  • Views in the Slate Material Editor

    The active View is the main portion of the Slate Material Editor interface. It is where you create material, map, and shader trees by wiring together material, map or shader, and controller nodes. For instructions, see Material and Map Nodes in the Active View.

  • Slate Material Editor Menu Bar

    The Slate Material Editor menu bar contains menus with various choices for creating and managing the materials in your scene.

  • Slate Material Editor Toolbar

    The Slate Material Editor toolbar gives quick access to a number of commands. Some of the commands are also available from the Slate Material Editor menus. The toolbar also has a drop-down list that lets you choose among named Views.