How do i create a transparent texture in 3dsmax

DJ Sack · 15-05-2005, 09:22 PM

For example i want to make a leaf texture and put it on a plane. But i want the outside of the leaf to be transparent. How do i do this as ive made a png but it just makes the transparent areas black.

andoy · 15-05-2005, 11:23 PM

Alpha channels, I think max can only render them when they are TIFF files, try using your png file converted to tiff and see if that makes a difference.

Teddy_KGB · 17-05-2005, 01:32 AM

In the material editor, first put the map into the diffuse slot and then copy (not instance/reference) it to the opacity slot.

Open the opacity slot and go to bitmap parameters rollout. Find mono channel output and select alpha.

That should do it, although as andoy says you may need to convert the texture file to a .tiff (i see no reason why a .png wouldn't work - but i've only ever used .tiffs)

Also another tip, if you are left with a white halo around the image it means that your alpha channel is too big (this happened to me a lot). Just reduce the size of the alpha channel by one or two pixels to fix it.

This can be done in photoshop by highlighting the alpha channel, choosing Modify\Contract from the Select menu, inverting the selection and pressing delete.

Hope that helps.
Andy

Ozgand · 27-03-2013, 07:11 PM

I have the same problem but the alpha check box is greyed out. I'm using the slate material editor.

Finix · 24-04-2013, 07:18 AM

Hi,

You can try a black & white map (can be a .jpg) in the opacity slot where the leaf portion will be in white and the rest of the canvas is black.

Regards,
Finix

apMuskel · 24-04-2013, 08:46 AM

png should not be a problem in max if you deside to use that.
To get rid of white egdes around the alpha map there is a sultion inside max.

Uncheck "premultiplied alpha" inside the diffuse map and the alpha map

solarmanJc · 04-05-2013, 07:20 PM

Make sure that your leaf is on a Black background and place it on a Ball in your Material editor and then make a plane and apply your leaf to the plane then work with you Opacity until you get it right were you want it adjust your Self-Illumination to increase the brightness on your leaf

Have fun....

TekNeek · 04-05-2013, 08:46 PM

Original post is from 2005..

I think he's got it covered by now.

15-05-2005, 09:22 PM	#1
DJ Sack Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 79 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	How do i create a transparent texture in 3dsmax For example i want to make a leaf texture and put it on a plane. But i want the outside of the leaf to be transparent. How do i do this as ive made a png but it just makes the transparent areas black.

15-05-2005, 11:23 PM	#2
andoy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Dubai, UAE Posts: 1,080 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Alpha channels, I think max can only render them when they are TIFF files, try using your png file converted to tiff and see if that makes a difference. __________________ "We make a living with what we get, but, we make a life with what we give.." Winston Churchill. CG Portfolio: http://andoy.cgsociety.org

17-05-2005, 01:32 AM	#3
Teddy_KGB Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Portsmouth/UK Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	In the material editor, first put the map into the diffuse slot and then copy (not instance/reference) it to the opacity slot. Open the opacity slot and go to bitmap parameters rollout. Find mono channel output and select alpha. That should do it, although as andoy says you may need to convert the texture file to a .tiff (i see no reason why a .png wouldn't work - but i've only ever used .tiffs) Also another tip, if you are left with a white halo around the image it means that your alpha channel is too big (this happened to me a lot). Just reduce the size of the alpha channel by one or two pixels to fix it. This can be done in photoshop by highlighting the alpha channel, choosing Modify\Contract from the Select menu, inverting the selection and pressing delete. Hope that helps. Andy __________________ He knows there's fewer more distressing sights than that of an Englishman in a baseball cap...

24-04-2013, 07:18 AM	#5
Finix www.stereopixol.com Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Opacity Map Hi, You can try a black & white map (can be a .jpg) in the opacity slot where the leaf portion will be in white and the rest of the canvas is black. Regards, Finix

04-05-2013, 08:46 PM	#8
TekNeek Wait, whut? Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,176 Thanks: 54 Thanked 89 Times in 83 Posts	Original post is from 2005.. I think he's got it covered by now. __________________ -- Schedules are made to be behind something -- -- Deadlines approach logarythmically --

27-03-2013, 07:11 PM	#4
Ozgand Registered User Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have the same problem but the alpha check box is greyed out. I'm using the slate material editor.

24-04-2013, 08:46 AM	#6
apMuskel Mr. Torus Knot Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Sweden Posts: 258 Thanks: 21 Thanked 28 Times in 28 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 5	png should not be a problem in max if you deside to use that. To get rid of white egdes around the alpha map there is a sultion inside max. Uncheck "premultiplied alpha" inside the diffuse map and the alpha map

04-05-2013, 07:20 PM	#7
solarmanJc Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 28 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Make sure that your leaf is on a Black background and place it on a Ball in your Material editor and then make a plane and apply your leaf to the plane then work with you Opacity until you get it right were you want it adjust your Self-Illumination to increase the brightness on your leaf Have fun....

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