In case you haven't noticed, there's some fairly extensive .mat collections for the ProMaterials

available in 3ds Max 2009. I've noticed some of the .PNG texture maps used in these collections act "weird" in 3ds Max 2009 in terms of gamma. I'll show the issue & explain further below.
If you've enabled 3dsmax's gamma options (like using gamma 2.2 for system, input & output) then you'll probably see something like this when using some of the ProMaterials:

(click image to enlarge)


Note: This only affects the .PNG maps. Some of the ProMaterial libraries use .jpg's and they load as you'd expect.

I corrected the display issue by applying a double gamma curve (4.4) to the .PNG maps by using the gamma/gain utility shader.



I've gone through the hardwood .mat collection and modified the ProMaterials that use .PNG maps to adjust for my own use. I figured I'd post the .mat file for anyone else that has encountered this. Just a word of caution: Since I primarily do not use the 'real world scale' option I have reconfigured these to eliminate that.

I've also configured these materials to display in the viewport when applied, however in the viewport they will probably still appear washed out...but at least the maps are visible. I also reduced the blur value to make the textures nice and crisp looking.

(click image to enlarge)


So now when I use a ProMaterial from the hardwood collection that is configured with one of the .PNG files, I get the result I'm expecting:

(click image to enlarge)


(click image to enlarge)


(click image to enlarge)


You can download my reconfigured ProMaterial Hardwood collection here:
http://jeffpatton.net/blog-images/Promats_Hardwoods.rar

Note: Bitmaps aren't included as you should already have those with your 2009 installation.

A note from the http://www.mrmaterials.com/ front. A huge thank you goes out to those that have contributed so far! Although I have to say that I've been a bit surprised to see the lack of participation from the mental ray community.

We have grown to over 3000 members in a short amount of time, which is awesome (thanks for the support). However, uploading/sharing of materials has been very limited so far. Different story with downloads of course, but that's to be expected.

So I have to ask, what's the hold up? If there's something about the site that you don't like, or something that just doesn't work for you, let us know so we can make any needed adjustments. There's a forum here: http://www.3dallusions.com/forums/mental-ray/ where you can post comments, questions, etc..

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Bao2 wrote on August 19, 2008

Title: ... I don't have the same renders like you. I can see my renders using the original scene are greenish than yours. What is happening?. Bao2 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Al B wrote on August 19, 2008

Title: ... When i render these on the hard surfaces test scene, my highlights are very speckly(sp?)IS this purely due to low glossy samples(8-default) and if so, what setting did you use on the shots above? also is there an easier way to turn these up 'at final render' time for all, than going in one by one?? report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

T.Kick wrote on August 20, 2008

Title: ... Maybe cause you awe us with your knowledge and expertise ? I know I would not, so fast, make a material be worth, in my opinion, uploading, compared to the ones already available. But yes: all you experts ! Get out of your whatever and share !!! and bring us more pleasant surprises .... Giant thumbs up for this site ! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Jeff Patton wrote on August 21, 2008

Title: ... @ Al B.: To remove the grain associated with low sampled glossy reflections, you simply have to increase the samples. On ProMaterials this is done in the Performance Tuning Parameters. I suppose you could write a script to globally adjust all the reflection sample settings in the materials in your scenes if you're so inclined. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

BWill wrote on August 26, 2008

Title: ... Thanks for the updated .mats and the knowledge of this gamma shader. It's nice to be able to control the color depth per texture with this. Regarding the uploading of mats, I too lack the skills to come up with something new to add. Once I do though i'll get in on here A.S.A.P.! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Matthew wrote on August 27, 2008

Title: ... Have a look at the png map files using http://entropymine.com/jason/tweakpng/ it looks like the gamma is set at .4545 (the opposite of 2.2). I follow this site's B method of gamma correction. It appears that changing the gamma setting in the file to 2.2 fixes problem. Another way to fix it is to open the promaterial's bitmap map and on the bitmap selector diolog you can set a gamma override there saving you from adding the utility shader. On a sidenote, if you to render to a png file for use in powerpoint you have to override the gamma in the render output file diolog box and set it to half of what your 3dsmax gamma setting is, so if your gamma is 2.2 you have to select override and set it to 1.1. Microsoft seams to think this isn't their fault-http://support.microsoft.com/kb/238559/en-us report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

patrick anderson wrote on August 30, 2008

Title: ... Jeff, I for one, have a mat library that's predominantly made up of your mats and a few others and I truly appreciate your efforts. When and if I can come up with a decent material I'll gladly upload it. All I can say is that you really are, apart from Zap, the only mental ray guru I know of. Hope all is well with you mate! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Jonathan wrote on September 02, 2008

Title: ... Jeff, you need to know that i am very grateful for your work. I am in Architectural Visualization, and was tough to choose Vray or MR, and you help me a lot to choose Mental Ray. Now i can go without any fear. Thanks and keep up the good work. I will become a upload in no time!. Thanks! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Joseph Harford wrote on September 29, 2008

Title: ... Hi Jeff, Thanks for this post, It fixed the issues you desribed. I have a quick question if you will.. with the pro mats, i'm getting a lot of sparkles and hot spots that look like caustics ( they are not ). Is this merely a case of dramatically increasing the samples? - I have it on 64 at the moment ( for hardwood semi-gloss ). final gather high and medium anti-aliasing, and it's very sparkly. Thanks in advance, your always a big help Joe report abuse vote down vote up website Votes: +0

Jeff Patton wrote on September 30, 2008

Title: ... Hi Joe, It could be sampling related, I'm sure more samples would eventually resolve the sparkle issue. Naturally that will increase your render time as well. I'd look into what the reflection is...meaning, if you have a very small window that is very bright, or a very bright visible photometric light source, that could be creating the problems. You should also consider your light samples, the image sampling rate, and the FG filter setting. Any of those could be contributing and/or assist in resolving the issue. Jeff report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

joshua smith wrote on November 14, 2008

Title: student hi jeff, i am just learning how to use MR for the first time, hopefully the correct way. since im teaching myself i figured it would be easier to use the great shaders you have available (they bring life to my clay renders, hah) in order to focus on lighting and rendering aspects (i feel those are most important) but i assure you once i understand the basics of lighting/rendering i will create my own miltia of materials that all can enjoy! report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

DEPECHEboy! wrote on November 29, 2008

Title: about promaterials and gamma hi Jeff.. congratulations for your effort to explain and clarify the use of mental ray... about this post.. i download your .mat archive...and in my editor material i dont see the image of the png... it looks black,, if i go to the material map browser the png looks good... im using 1.8 gamma value the same values for input and output bitmaps.. where you change the value for 4.4????? i take a capture of my screen... thanks.. report abuse vote down vote up website Votes: +0

DEPECHEboy! wrote on November 29, 2008

Title: i see the gamma hi jeff..ok i see that you use a utility gamma.mi and in this option you select the .png and change the values to 4.4.. i do this..but i have the same results..look dark.. im using a system daylight in the scene.. report abuse vote down vote up website Votes: +0

Jeff Patton wrote on November 30, 2008

Title: ... It could be any number of things. The first thing I'd check to make sure you've assigned the bitmap (or .png in this case) properly to the Input node of the Gamma & gain shader. All of this is already configured in the .mat file I posted here, so you shouldn't need to change anything if you're using my .mat file. Matthew: Yes, one could use the gamma override on the bitmap loader instead of using the gamma/gain shader. However, the reason I'm using it is to eliminate the errors associated with using DBR and the gamma override. FWIW, I describe this issue in the gamma document that is zipped with the matlab. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

mentalboy wrote on February 10, 2009

Title: about gamma in promaterials Hi Jeff..thanks one more time.. one question.. or comments.. i try with the value of 1 in bmp input label and then with 1.8. In the two test i duplicate the values of gamma in gamma gain shader and it looks equals.. Its right,,or maybe i have a mistake in my test? Thanks report abuse vote down vote up website Votes: +0

Jeff Patton wrote on February 10, 2009

Title: ... I'm afraid I don't understand the question. It may be easier for me to answer if you post the question & some screen captures of the problem you're encountering in the forum here: http://www.3dallusions.com/forums/mental-ray/ report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Ty Woods wrote on February 12, 2009

Title: ... Hey Jeff, question here, I've been trying for weeks to sign up for this site, and with no luck. My emails never receive any activation link, and the contact page has yielded no response. So I was wondering if you could tell me how to sign up. Is it closed right now? Is it broken? report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Jeff Patton wrote on February 12, 2009

Title: ... I just sent you an email with your activated login information. Let me know if you don't receive that email soon. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

depecheboy wrote on February 23, 2009

Title: png and jpg hi Jeff when you work with arch&desing and promaterial wood in the same scene, and apply in both cases a gamma gain shader with differents values ( i work with 1.8 in my display) and then make the render, which value you put in the GAMMA OVERRIDE label when you save your render?? I put there 1.8 and its fine, but i dont understand why the promaterials dont change in appareances if it works with 3.6 in the gamma gain shader. Its the best way to save a render with differents values in gamma and gain shader, or maybe capture of the display and paste in PS is an alternative? And other question, in the promaterial why you use the bitmap in CUSTOM MAP button? I apply the bitmap inside the gamma&gain shader and it works fine.. Well, thanks for your effort,,and time.. See you DEPECHEboy! report abuse vote down vote up website Votes: -1

Jeff Patton wrote on February 23, 2009

Title: ... "which value you put in the GAMMA OVERRIDE label when you save your render??" - I don't. My renders are saved using the bitmap output gamma settings I have configured in 3dsMax. "Its the best way to save a render with differents values in gamma and gain shader, or maybe capture of the display and paste in PS is an alternative?" - That sounds over complicated & confusing to me. I simply configure the 3ds Max gamma settings and I'm done. From there if I need to adjust gamma on a material I do it locally via the gamma/gain utility shader. "And other question, in the promaterial why you use the bitmap in CUSTOM MAP button?" - Why didn't I use the gamma/gain shader for the bump map? Because I've found that it doesn't work well with bump maps. To see this, load one of the ProMaterials from the .mat I posted in this blog entry (try the first one)...Switch the Surface Imperfections option from Custom to Automatic and it will use the gamma/gain setup from the diffuse map. Once you do this watch the material editor as it updates the material and you'll see the highlights & bump shift on the material. Then put it back in Custom mode to use the custom map and you'll see the difference. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

depecheboy wrote on February 23, 2009

Title: ... "My renders are saved using the bitmap output gamma settings I have configured in 3dsMax" Ok, i understand it, but my question is about the 3 options that appears when you click save image in the render frame window (use images's own gamma, use system default gamma, override) report abuse vote down vote up website Votes: +0

Jeff Patton wrote on February 23, 2009

Title: ... When you import/load an image you have three options but when you save a render you should only have two options available for gamma. Use System default gamma (3ds Max gamma settings), which is what I use. Or you have the override option which lets you save your render with a completely different gamma value than what you have configured in your 3ds Max preferances. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

depecheboy wrote on February 23, 2009

Title: ... ummm... i work in the bitmap output gamma settings with the value of 1 and in my display 1.8. and the apply the utility gamma gain shader ... but if i save with system default gamma it turns dark, i need to choose override and put 1.8. Well, i will try changing the values in bitmap output gamma settings to 1.8 and then try with system default gamma thanks report abuse vote down vote up website Votes: +0

stenionet wrote on November 14, 2009

Title: ... Jeff Patton. Everything works perfect for me. Now I do not have more problems with PNG files. In the filtering parameters when I put the filtering to NONE, the image goes very dark. But when I do the same in a material without the gamma&gain the PNG appear corrected. The problem with this is that I cannot use the blur I like too much this site. Has lot of information and goodies. Sorry for my English. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0