The Challenge of Hidden Outlines in Sketch Renders
When you aim to create renders that mimic technical sketches with all visible and hidden lines, you face a common limitation in 3ds Max. The problem you describe is very specific: conventional methods like the Ink'n Paint material or wireframe mode only show the outlines visible from the camera's perspective, leaving out the lines that would be hidden in a normal view but are essential in a technical drawing or architectural schematic. The Mental Ray preset you mention is a good starting point, but as you've discovered, its focus on only visible lines does not meet the need to show the complete structure of the model.
Limitations of Traditional Methods
Understanding why these tools do not show hidden lines is key to finding the correct solution. Each method has a different philosophy behind its implementation that determines its capabilities and limitations.
- Ink'n Paint is designed for cartoon style, not technical
- Wireframe mode shows the complete mesh but without visual hierarchy
- Mental Ray contours are based on visible surface normals
- Hidden line render requires additional geometric processing
Practical Solutions for Complete Lines
To achieve the technical sketch effect with all lines, you need to combine different techniques or use specialized plugins. Here are the most effective approaches ordered by complexity.
A sketch render without hidden lines is like a map without secondary streets: it shows the main route but not the complete structure
- Render in two passes visible and hidden for compositing
- Specialized plugins like EPix Render or Illustrate
- Custom scripts for edge extraction
- Export to CAD for technical view generation
Hybrid Method for Optimal Results
The most reliable solution is usually a multi-stage approach that combines the power of different tools. This method requires more steps but guarantees total control over the final result.
Mastering the creation of technical sketch renders opens unique possibilities for architectural presentations and industrial design 🖋️. Although it requires overcoming technical challenges, the final result -a clear drawing showing both the visible and the hidden- is worth the extra effort.