3DS MAX (6) Shadows

Community Forums/Developer Stations/3DS MAX (6) Shadows

Zeotrope (Posted 2009) [#1]

Hi, Been a while since I posted here. Hope one of you gurus can help. I have say, a cube sitting on a flat plane. There is a light source that casts a shadow onto the plane....and that's the entire scene. I need to save the rendered image as a transparent PNG but here is the trick...and not sure it's possible. I want only the Cube, and the shadow to render. I do not want the plane. I then need to import the PNG into FLASH (CS4) ....and want to retain the actual 3d shadow cast by max. I do not want a flat 2D shadow? Possible?

Reactor (Posted 2009) [#2]

I'm not sure how to export images in Max (try the manual for that one) but for your shadow you'll need a shadow catcher material on the plane.

Zeotrope (Posted 2009) [#3]

Ahhhh will look into that. As for exporting, pretty easy. Once you render,...the options are in the output window. Thanks

ICECAP (Posted 2009) [#4]

Ok, its real simple. In the material editor, pick a blank mat and click the "Get Material" button. Then double click "Matte/Shadow" from the list. Then just apply that material to the plane. Done! Hope that helps.

Zeotrope (Posted 2009) [#5]

Yep. Icecap, just did that myself. Seems the above suggested method does not relate to max. Either way, I now have 3d Shadows in flash....Cast from my pre-rendered 3d objects! Sorted Thanks ppl.