3DS Max Tutorial – Basics of the Slate Material Editor

Architectural Visualisation Tutorial - 3DS Max - Basics of the Slate Material Editor

Learn the basics of the Slate Material Editor in 3DS Max and start creating materials more efficiently. In this tutorial, I show how to build and edit V-Ray materials using a node-based workflow, perfect for architectural visualization (archviz) and CGI projects.

This tutorial covers the fundamental tools of the Slate Material Editor, helping you transition from the Compact Material Editor. The Slate editor makes it easier to see all your materials in one place, so you can edit shaders, adjust textures, and manage photorealistic materials without navigating multiple layers.

Whether you’re creating archviz shaders, complex V-Ray materials, or just learning 3DS Max material workflows, this tutorial provides a solid foundation for material creation in architectural visualization.

Key concepts covered:

• Node-based materials in 3DS Max

• Differences between Slate and Compact Material Editor

• Setting up V-Ray materials for photorealistic renders

• Organizing materials for efficient archviz workflows

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll understand why the Slate Material Editor is a powerful tool for material creation in 3DS Max, making your architectural visualization projects more organized and professional.

Here's a link to the YouTube video:

https://youtu.be/aGSPvL4fVkk