Cutout Map

Assigning a bitmap or procedural map to the Cutout component makes the material partially transparent. Lighter (higher-value) areas of the map render as opaque; darker areas render as transparent; and values in between are semitransparent.

• Material Editor > Architectural Material > Special Effects rollout > Cutout map button
• Material Editor > Raytrace Material > Maps rollout > Transparency button
• Material Editor > Arch & Design Material > Special Purpose Maps rollout > Cutout map button
• Material Editor > Autodesk Generic > Cut-outs rollout > Turn on Enable. > Image button
• Material Editor > Autodesk Metal > Cut-outs rollout > Change Type to Custom. > Image button
• Material Editor > Other materials that have a Cutout component

Setting the cutout map's Amount to 100 applies all of the map. Transparent areas are fully transparent. Setting the Amount to 0 is the equivalent of turning the map off. Intermediate Amount values are blended with the original Transparency value. Transparent areas of the map become more opaque.

The gray levels of a cutout map determine the amount of transparency.

Procedures

To use a cutout map:

1. Click the Cutout map button.

   3ds Max opens the Material/Map Browser.

2. Choose from the list of map types, and then click OK.

   (If you choose Bitmap as the map type, 3ds Max opens a file dialog that lets you choose the image file.)

3. Use the map controls to set up the map.

Alternatively, you can use the Slate Material Editor to wire a map node to the Cutout component.