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Filter Color Map

The filter color, also known as the translucency color, is the color transmitted through transparent or semi-transparent materials such as glass.

Click the Material Editor icon on the Main toolbar or press M. Click and hold the icon to show the flyout.

  • Material Editor > Standard Material > Maps rollout > Filter Color button
  • Material Editor > Raytrace Material > Maps rollout > Translucency button
  • Material Editor > Arch & Design Material > General Maps rollout > Main Maps group > Translucency Color button
  • Material Editor > Other materials that have a Filter Color component

Using a Filter Color map

You can use a bitmap file or procedural map to control the filter color component. This map applies a transparent-color effect based on the intensity of the map's pixels.

Tip: You can combine a mapped filter color with volumetric lighting to create effects such as colored light through a stained-glass window. Ray-traced shadows cast by transparent objects are tinted by the filter color.

Procedures

To use a Filter Color map:

  1. Click the map button for Filter Color.

    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 Filter Color (or Translucency) component.

Parent topic: Using Maps and the Environment as Material Components

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