3ds Max 2012 Bible - Kelly L. Murdock [207]
Translucent shader
The Translucent shader allows light to easily pass through an object. It is intended to be used on thin, flat plane objects, such as a bedsheet used for displaying shadow puppets. Most of the settings for this shader are the same as the others, except that it includes a Translucent color. This color is the color that the light becomes as it passes through an object with this material applied. This shader also includes a Filter color and an option for disabling the specular highlights on the backside of the object.
Tutorial: Making curtains translucent
The Translucent shader can be used to create an interesting effect. Not only does light shine through an object with this shader applied, but shadows also are visible.
To make window curtains translucent, follow these steps:
1. Open the Translucent curtains.max file from the Chap 16 directory on the CD.
This file contains a simple scene of a tree positioned outside a window.
2. Open the Material Editor by choosing Rendering⇒Material Editor⇒Slate Material Editor, by clicking the Material Editor button on the main toolbar, or by pressing the M key.
3. In the Material/Map Browser panel of the Material Editor, double-click on the Standard material, then select the material block node, and in the Name field, name the material Curtains. Select the Translucent Shader from the Shader Basic Parameters rollout. Click the Diffuse color swatch, and select a light blue color. Click the Close button to exit the Color Selector.
4. Click the Translucent Color swatch, change its color to a light gray, and set the Opacity to 75.
5. Drag the Curtains material's output node socket onto the curtain object in the Left viewport or select the curtains in the viewport and use the Assign Material to Selection button in the toolbar.
Figure 16.10 shows the resulting image. Notice that the tree's shadow is cast on the curtains.
FIGURE 16.10
These translucent window curtains show shadows.
Accessing Other Parameters
In addition to the basic shader parameters, several other rollouts of options can add to the look of a material.
Extended Parameters rollout
The Material Editor includes several settings, in addition to the basic parameters, that are common for most shaders. The Extended Parameters rollout, shown in Figure 16.11, includes Advanced Transparency, Reflection Dimming, and Wire controls. All shaders include these parameters.
You can use the Advanced Transparency controls to set the Falloff to be In, Out, or a specified Amount. The In option increases the transparency as you get farther inside the object, and the Out option does the opposite. The Amount value sets the transparency for the inner or outer edge. Figure 16.12 shows two materials that use the Transparency Falloff options on a gray background and on a patterned background. The two materials on the left use the In option, and the two on the right use the Out option. Both are set at Amount values of 100.
FIGURE 16.11
The Extended Parameters rollout includes Advanced Transparency, Reflection Dimming, and Wire settings.
Tip
If you look closely at a glass sphere, you'll notice that the glass is thicker when you look through the edge of the sphere than through the sphere's center. This can be created using the In option in the Advanced Transparency section. •
FIGURE 16.12
Materials with the In and Out Falloff options applied
The three transparency types are Filter, Subtractive, and Additive. The Filter type multiplies the Filter color with any color surface that appears behind the transparent object. With this option, you can select a Filter color to use. The Subtractive and Additive types subtract from or add to the color behind the transparent object.
The Index of Refraction is a measure of the amount of distortion caused by light passing through a transparent object. Different physical materials have different Index of Refraction