The Templates rollout gives you a list of material types to choose from. A template is simply a set of preset parameters for the Physical Qualities rollout, which approximates the kind of material you want to create, and gives you a starting point. Once you choose a template, you can adjust its settings and add maps to enhance realism and improve the material's appearance.
The templates do not affect the Diffuse Color on the Physical Qualities rollout, only the numeric settings.
Chooses the kind of material you are designing. Each template provides preset values for the various material parameters.
These are the material templates provided with 3ds Max. The purpose of most templates is clear, so the table doesn't comment on all of them.
| Template | Comments |
|---|---|
| Ceramic Tile - Glazed | |
| Fabric | |
| Glass - Clear | |
| Glass - Translucent | |
| Ideal Diffuse | A neutral white material |
| Masonry | A good base for a diffuse map |
| Metal | Shiny and reflective |
| Metal - Brushed | Less shiny |
| Metal - Flat | Even less shiny |
| Metal - Polished | Highly shiny |
| Mirror | Completely shiny |
| Paint Flat | Another neutral white material |
| Paint Gloss | Also white, but shiny |
| Paint Semi-Gloss | Also white, only slightly shiny |
| Paper | |
| Paper - Translucent | |
| Plastic | |
| Stone | A good base for a diffuse map |
| Stone Polished | Has a bit of shininess; also a good base for a diffuse map |
| User Defined | Neutral; a good base for a diffuse map |
| User-Defined Metal | Somewhat shiny; also a good base for a diffuse map |
| Water | Completely clear and shiny |
| Wood Unfinished | Neutral; a good base for a map |
| Wood Varnished |
Material Editor 