Map Channels - anyone use them???

[TapioKa]

I don't have r5, but I do use map channels in r4. They are really useful to mix multiple texture maps from different angles. What kind of problem are you experiencing?

[gaggle]

I don't understand.. map channels? Ie. Diffuse, Self Illum., Bump, etc? Not a lot of situations where those aren't needed anyways, I would imagine mostly everyone has to sink their teeth into it one way or another.

Unstable? MAX? Heaven forbid!;). I haven't noticed MAX4 or 5 being particularly unstable when dealing with materials and the material editor and such though, hm :shrug:

[polygone]

Thanks for responding guys. My problem is when I try to use Map Channels for Normal Maps. I am trying to modify the UV coordinates of the Normal Map independently of the Material Diffuse Map. At some point when working with the Viewport Manager, Max will suddenly close without even attempting to save the file.

Any ideas?

[Chris]

Video card problem? You could try working in software ZB for a while & see if that clears your problem up, if not, I'd pay a visit to Dr Discreet

mind you, if you do work in software mode, I dont suppose the Viewport manager thingie would work at all... Maybe you could try updating you card drivers?

[Sgt.ArchAngel]

i am using map chans for a church im making and dont seem to have any problems with it in max5

[gaggle]

AHA!, the viewport manager!, a kind of important detail there. At least..I think that's important.. it's the rollout that modifies the hardware-accellerated DirectX per-pixel shader of an object in the viewport right?

Assuming that's the viewport manager, then yes, using it will, more or less, crash your MAX. Or, rather, that's my experience. And you can't switch to software, or even OpenGL, it's only available in Direct3D mode.

It's a pretty spiffy cool feature, and one that works nicely often, but once you start messing too much with things, stability seems to take a quick left turn to heads somewhere else for a quick smoke and a drink.

If you're not developing things for real-time stuff or the likes you don't need that feature at any rate.

[tAstyBITs]

forgive my ingornace but I can't find any information on a 'viewport manager'. Where is it found?:annoyed:

[gaggle]

I guess it's pretty undocumented yeah.. the helpfile returns nothing useful when searching on "Viewport Manager".

Hit up "metal bump" though, and read up on the goodness of the Metal Bump Shader Rollout. If nothing else its a pretty nifty feature, make sure to turn this on if you ever have to showcase MAX to someone. You can sit there and use the prettiest viewports in the buisness :)

[polygone]

That is the very tool I speak of -The Viewport Manager.

I am quickly learning that it does have it's issues with stability. Funny you mnetioned it because I am developing for real-time :) I believe the VP Manager is Discreet's first stab at a real-time viewer so it will just take time for them to develop it.

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