Understanding Ambient Color and Light

Introduction to Materials and Mapping

Mapping and Mapping Coordinates

 

Autodesk 3ds Max Tutorials > Materials and Mapping Tutorials > Introduction to Materials and Mapping > 

Creating Transparency

The Opacity parameter controls the transparency of a material. The default setting is 100 percent opaque. An Opacity value of 0 creates total transparency.

Set transparency:

1. Choose File > Reset.

   Do not save your changes.

2. Press M to open the Material Editor.
3. Click the Background button to the right of the sample spheres. A multicolored checker pattern appears in the active sample slot behind the sample sphere.

   

4. Double-click the sample material to open it in a separate window. Resize the window if you like.
5. In the Blinn Basic Parameters rollout change the Diffuse color to green. The Ambient color changes as well.

   

6. Set the Opacity value of the material to 50.

   The sample sphere becomes semi-transparent.

   

   Opacity controls transparency.

7. Set the Specular Level to 100 and the Glossiness to 80. Two small highlights appear on opposite sides of the sample sphere.

   

8. On the Shader Basic Parameters rollout, turn on 2-Sided. Two more highlights appear on the sample sphere. These represent highlights inside the sphere.

   

9. Open the Extended Parameters rollout.
10. Change the Falloff setting from In to Out.
11. In the Advanced Transparency group, set the Falloff Amt to 100.

    The sphere becomes more transparent towards the edges.

    

12. Change the Falloff setting from Out to In.

    

    The opacity falls off towards the center of the sphere, revealing a nearly transparent center.

13. Change the Filter color to bright yellow.

    The sample sphere takes on a ghostly look.

    

14. Change the Type to Subtractive, then Additive.

    The areas of opacity turn dark like smoke, then light like clouds.