3ds Max 7 + Mental Ray

[Technographer]

Hello, I've been modeling for about half a year now, but I've only gotten into bitmap texturing and advanced lighting/caustics until recently.

So I pulled out Mental Ray for the first time about a week ago, and would really like to know how to use it to its full potential (I'm really interested in lighting effects).

The part I am most lost at are the "shaders". They seem to be a option in every Mental Ray setting, but I can't figure out how to use them.

I've looked online for some good tutorials for 3ds Max + Mental Ray, but nothing aside from "realistic glass caustics" has come up - I can't find anything on these 'shaders'.

Any help/links would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance. :)

[Geonome]

Hi

Just started on MR myself and have found
this thread to be absolutely awesome.
http://cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=104578

Also check out Jeff Pattons fantastic MR
scenes on his website www.jeffpatton.net.

Jeff has made tons of Max scenes available for anyone to deconstruct.

regards
geonome

[Technographer]

Hey, thanks! =)

I was hoping mental Ray wouldn't be too confusing, but even with these files I'm still somewhat lost in the whole span of things. I really wish there were some good tutorials with nice screenshots specifically for mR + Max, it would make things much easier for visual people like me.

I appreciate your time, and thanks again!

[back]

:D VR also has good effect, it runs quickly and maybe you can try...

[Technographer]

All right; in the last couple days I've gotten far (compared to where I was) with mental ray. I finally understand how photons work, and how to control them without having insane render times. My shadows are finally working well, too. :D

Hopefully I'll have some work up for critique soon!