When I used this one, the maps directories had to get changed and the c:program filesautodesk3ds max 2008mapshdrsdh220sn image is missing.

A little more information on where you applied the material, in the MatLab or in your own scene? I ask, because the image you say is missing is the HDR image for the MatLab (It is included with the MatLab) but shouldn't be required in a scene outside of the MatLab. The other part of your comment about re-pathing the directories is required whenever you get materials from someone else that doesn't have the exact same directory structure as you.

Hope that helps, I did not really have enough information to give you any real answer, but repathing is something you have to deal with the first time you use a material from someone else, just make sure to save it back to the material file so that you don't have to deal with it again.

I created just a sphere and applied the material. I am using max 2009.

Makes sense with the repathing I suppose, nature of the beast.

Hi there,
I also got an error on loading, saying: error loading ParamBlock2, and then invalid file-only partially loaded. Could someone please help, I have been trying to make this material unsuccesfully for so long and was so happy to discover this site, but so far I cant get it working.

Once again, I downloaded the file and fired up Max 2008, made the render engine mental ray and created a sphere. I then opened this mat file and applied it to the sphere and rendered it out. This material works fine. Individuals having problems must either not have mental ray set as the render engine, don't have the textures mapped correctly or are using an earlier version of max than what the material is provided in. I tried it out in Max 2008, so from that version on it should work.

must be me (as usual), but I still don't know what I'm doing wrong. I use mental ray as render engine, use max 9.0, vista..(max default mr materials render just fine) I put the file in the max/materiallibraries file and the bitmap in the maps file, but when i want to load the file in the material editor it gives this error message.

Wrong version of Max, as I have mentioned twice, it works in Max 2008 and above and the actual file description says Max 2009, you cannot use it in Max 9.

Thanks for your help. I guess it's not possible to convert it to a max 9 version ?

I started this thread back in July and I don't believe I used Max 2009. Perhaps I mistook 2009 which is actually Max 11.0 for Max 9.0.

I've since tried it in Max 2009 and it works fine.

muchisimas gracias

Thanks - good to see how these things are done

Thanks for sharing,all this will be very useful for me.
Muchas Gracias!

Thanks for sharing,all this will be very useful for me.
korghalik

Im using Max 2010. But I cant get it to work. I hit open on the Material panel and I select the "JP_Brushed-aluminum.mat", but nothing loads or opens up.

1. You could check to make sure that file is not corrupt from downloading it using Internet Explorer (there seems to be a problem with downloading zip files using IE on the site).

2. You could check one of the FAQ's listed on the front page of the site:
http://mrmaterials.com/faq/31-mrmaterials/104-mrm-faq.html
http://mrmaterials.com/faq/31-mrmaterials/90-how-to-install-materials-in-max.html

3. You could check the "Getting started" video:
http://mrmaterials.com/jeffs-blog/88-getting-started-video-tutorial.html

4.You could read the material lab overview on this site:
http://mrmaterials.com/mr-materials-overview/material-labs.html

5. You could check the 3ds Max help file for info on using .mat files.

Alright so I got it opened but when I render a frame after I have applied it to my text, it says, "Missing External Files: C:Program Files/Autodesk/3Ds Max 2008/Maps/HDRs/DH220SN.hdr"
Is that file supposed to be included in the download?

That HDRI was included in the MatLabs we distribute here, but you can ignore it and it will still render or just download the Hard Surface Matlab and install the HDRI into your maps directory or however you are organizing things.

I got the HDRI image but it seems that didn't quite solve my problem. Heres an image of my material problem:

Its completely black and when I apply it on an object (text), I get nothing but black.

The material uses a local environment map (DH220SN.hdr). Russell has explained that we have provided with the matlab scene hence I didn't see the need in distributing it again with this particular material. Therefore you'll either need to download the matlab scene so you can install the missing environment map, or assign your own environment map, or delete the current environment map and let it reflect your scenes environment map.

If you choose that last option, you'll need to increase the glossy samples quite a bit unless your scene also uses a blurred environment map.

Thanks a lot Jeff!

really great material, also good to see how things are done.
I've downloaded some of your great tutorials @ Gnomon Workshop as well they're really helpful!

I'm sure I downloaded the correct files, but when I enter this .mat file the name suddenly changes to JP_brushed-coated-bronze (blend).

How is this possible and what did I go wrong?