Starting my own material library

[Cyanhide]

I as wondering, what is the best way to create my own material library?   I heard some people saying to make a scene for each material and import them, but sounds like such a hassle.
Or some kind of script that helps with that?

Much appreciated!

[maru]

For what purpose do you need this material library? Do you mean that 'new material library'/'load material library' options are not enough?

[Cyanhide]

No I mean I want to save my own materials and be able to load them in my standard material library.
Like I bought the viscorbel material tutorials and they had a material file I could append to 3dsmax.

Now I want to make one for myself with my own materials, not sure how to explain it otherwise :D

[Juraj]

Get Sigershaders CMPP, it's absolutely amazing for this feature. 3dsMax material libraries are painful to manage, you will import them, 3dsMax will start loading filepaths, Corona rendering small previews in browser, all with horrible lag.

Here is older screenshot of how I use it: It's easy and fast. And looks good. And the Corona versions comes with bunch of materials as wells.

[Cyanhide]

Yeah, its been on my radar for a while, although it's still a bit pricy. I might just take the bitter pill and buy it, the UI does look very clean and i'm losing way to much time figuring out my materials over and over. Wood has such delicate settings.
Thx!

[Juraj]

Here is my import process :- )  {maybe it could be streamlined even futher?}

1)Open library
2)Click on material in Material editor
3)Click '+' in CMPP, voila, material added ! I can instantly use it on different 3dsMax file opened, without any restart, since the files are located on disk.
4)Make larger instance of material editor preview (quality 12), screenshot it, save in PS and on the disk.
5)Click image import. Now I have nice thumbnail as well, and it took no time at all.

+ points:

It saves the materials as regular libraries, you can still send them to someone who doesn't use plugin. He will simply import it in Material browser, which is slow, laggy, ugly and with super small thumbnails that need to be rendered realtime (more lag).
I can save them with information in text (usually UVW size, project used, notes to team mates how to use it best).
Looks very good. My OCD side is really happy if something is nice and tidy and looks modern. The other free plugins look like shit. They might work just as good but...that's big no for me.

There are some discounts now on it on website.

[Cyanhide]

shrugs, that does sound just the way I want it, now its listed at 140 euros, maybe team corona can fix something lol. Right now the only thing keeping me from buying is it only accepts pay pal lol.

[Siger]

shrugs, that does sound just the way I want it, now its listed at 140 euros, maybe team corona can fix something lol. Right now the only thing keeping me from buying is it only accepts pay pal lol.

:) Up to CMPPmax version 2.0.0 price is 125 euros + Corona Renderer discount 15% (if you are licensed Corona user you receive discount code). I'm thinking about another payment gateway (STRIPE or something... for credit card payment). PayPal also accept credit cards. Now fixing server security and installing a SSL certificate... I have two servers so with them problems are enough :D

[Cyanhide]

Hmm I should have a discount then lol, I had so many discounts I lost track!

Its settled then, i'l buy it today ha!

[steyin]

Yeah, with the current 15% discount, and Corona users additional 15% off it comes out to $100, going to grab it myself after my next paycheck.

[Cyanhide]

So I bought it, so far i'm loving the clean interface!
At first glance some of the materials could have been a bit more refined. But overall very happy with the purchase.

[naikku]

I bought Siger CMPP and don't regret buying it!

[Benny]

Here is my import process :- )  {maybe it could be streamlined even futher?}

1)Open library
2)Click on material in Material editor
3)Click '+' in CMPP, voila, material added ! I can instantly use it on different 3dsMax file opened, without any restart, since the files are located on disk.
4)Make larger instance of material editor preview (quality 12), screenshot it, save in PS and on the disk.
5)Click image import. Now I have nice thumbnail as well, and it took no time at all.

This actually sounds great, but will it also save more complicated node setups from the slate editor? Will it copy textures to its own library?

I've started looking at Connecter, which seems very promising but I can't figure out how to add a material from my scene/material editor to it like you describe with VMMP? I assume it doesn't do that then, but it would be nice to depend on as few add-ons as possible for managing assets, as it is a lot of invested work if one of these relatively small developers decide it is isn't fun anymore.

I've also had a look at Project Manager, but since it completely lacks documentation besides a few silent videos, it is kind of hard to know exactly what it can do. Anyone with experience?

[Juraj]

Hey,.. I don't know. I try to get deeper with Connecter next week once I finish projects.

My plan for now is to keep using both Siger's stuff (CMPP now), and Connecter.

Funky fact: Because ProjectManager does what I wanted, but looks miserable, I asked my brother to code single plugin that would merge the capability of PM, with look of Siger, but more customizable ( I need docking ! :- ) ).
And then... Connecter came, which made this obsolete.

I doubt these plugs will go out of way any soon, but of course, would be unfortunate would that ever happen. Until 3dsMax integrates it as feature (like fantastic UnrealEngine4 ContentBrowser).

[Benny]

Thanks Juraj,

Definitely like the look of Connecter (and VMPP as well) and it would be great if it would allow addition of materials so only one was needed, but I also like that Project Manager can render thumbnails from non-Max scene objects, like 3ds and obj. I've had some weird behavior from Connecter but could be because I'm running the project manager demo simultaneously, not sure.

I like the drag and drop of thumbnails in Connecter, doesn't seem to be available in VMPP, adding a cumbersome step of saving and importing a screen shot.

Another thing with VMPP since you seem to use it frequently, is there a way to import existing material libraries into the user library without having to load the material into Max first?

Amazing that more people aren't asking for something like this. I've collected a ton of stuff over the years and come to the point where I don't seem to find anything anymore.  :)

[lacilaci]

So, guys did anyone figure how to work with connecter and materials??.. Don't know if im stupid or what but can't figure it out :D

[Juraj]

I like the drag and drop of thumbnails in Connecter, doesn't seem to be available in VMPP, adding a cumbersome step of saving and importing a screen shot.

Yes, but to compare apples and apples, you're dropping thumbnails you already have, vs importing thumbnails manually. So to make them equal, VMPP/CMPP should incorporate drag/drop. But you would still need to somehow create those thumbnails.
That could still be made somehow automatic.

PM does render thumbnails, but the quality is quite useless.

I like the drag and drop of thumbnails in Connecter, doesn't seem to be available in VMPP, adding a cumbersome step of saving and importing a screen shot.

Another thing with VMPP since you seem to use it frequently, is there a way to import existing material libraries into the user library without having to load the material into Max first?

Yes of course, just check the file structure in folders. It's regular 3dsMax .Mat libraries there.

[Benny]

So, guys did anyone figure how to work with connecter and materials??.. Don't know if im stupid or what but can't figure it out :D

I can't figure it out either, but in their help section they refer to a 3ds Max specific version, which I can't seem to locate so maybe that functionality isn't there in the regular version. It says it the 3ds Max version creates a 'Materials' folder and I don't have that.

On the other hand I also get a feeling that this was something that applied to earlier versions but that they now are integrated to one.

This kind of vague documentation is something they all seem to have in common, VMPP, Project Manager and Connecter, making it a bit worrisome to invest the time needed in building a library.

[Benny]

PM does render thumbnails, but the quality is quite useless.

That is true for materials, but I find it tremendously helpful for objects. If I have a folder with objects such as lamp.obj it is a timesaver to get a quick look.

[Benny]

Not given up yet, but the material part in Connecter is odd. I have one library called 'connecter' that has a different symbol for the folder, which I think may have something to do with materials but I just can't make sense of it. Anyone interested in sharing their experience?

I've looked elsewhere to find some forum or a discussion about Connecter, but it seems to be a well kept secret.

[Benny]

Yes of course, just check the file structure in folders. It's regular 3dsMax .Mat libraries there.

Hmm, the problem is that the categories are libraries themselves, so if I want to add something that I've already created, like a metal, I would somehow have to merge the two libraries. The only way I know how to is via Max.

[Benny]

After watching a video on youtube it appears that VMPP does not show all the thumbnails of a category when in the User Library, only the one that is currently clicked. Can anyone (Juraj?) confirm this?

[Juraj]

After watching a video on youtube it appears that VMPP does not show all the thumbnails of a category when in the User Library, only the one that is currently clicked. Can anyone (Juraj?) confirm this?

Yes that is true. Somehow the User library is different in structural GUI than the common. That could be improved now that you mention it :- )