Material Slots

[venkadasalu]

Hi all

is there any option to increase the number of material slots beyond 6X4 ??

[hlaw]

it doesn't look like it, for Max 6 anyway.
Quote from the helps files:

QUOTE
Important: While the Material Editor can edit no more than 24 materials at a time, a scene can contain an unlimited number of materials. When you are through editing one material, and have applied it to objects in the scene, you can use that sample slot to get a different material from the scene (or create a new one) and then edit it.

there may for later versions though...
Kit

[venkadasalu]

hi

thanx for your reply. Can you elaborate on how to do it with an example maybe..it would be much more helpful.

how will you edit the older one if a newer material is put into that slot??

[hlaw]

no no, not unlimited material slots, but you can can apply a material from a slot to as many objects you like in the scene... so if you need more than 24 UNIQUE materials, 3ds max (or at least version six) cannot do that, to my knowledge. Sorry about that.
Kit

[user_deleted]

QUOTE(venkadasalu @ 04/12/06, 04:57 AM) [snapback]234073[/snapback]
hi

thanx for your reply. Can you elaborate on how to do it with an example maybe..it would be much more helpful.

how will you edit the older one if a newer material is put into that slot??

You simply reload that metrail into a slot, use get material and then clock on the radio button next to scene.

[daqba11]

Think of the material editor slots like a painter

[bobjamin]

you can also make a multi material like you would use in architectural designing then asign all you objects diffrent material numbers with the material modifier. this way you have infinite too and you can see them all on the screen.

[olivier-mavre]

Hello,

I think the best way to do this is to create a material library...

Use that "get material" button on your material editor + browse from material library, and save as to create a new one...
When this is done, you can use the "put to library" button to... do exactly that!
Then, your materials are stored, you can use the slots to create other materials by reseting the existing ones ...
(You must, however, re-save your material library before reseting existing materials or exiting max, or your changes would be lost!)

Olivier.