
The revolution in material management arrives in 3ds Max
Simon Bourgeois has released a script that promises to radically change the way we work with materials in 3ds Max. This intelligent tool allows selecting materials directly in the model viewport and sending them automatically to the material editor, whether Slate or Classic. A shortcut that eliminates intermediate steps and significantly speeds up the texturing and material assignment process.
How it transforms the traditional workflow
The script solves one of the most common problems when working with Multi/Sub-Object materials: the need to navigate through complex hierarchies to find the specific material applied to a polygon. Instead of loading the entire Multi/Sub-Object material, the tool identifies and loads only the sub-material corresponding to the selected polygon. An efficiency that is especially noticeable in scenes with multiple objects and complex materials.
Features that make the difference
- Continuous selection while the button remains active
- Automatic detection of material in selected polygons
- Full compatibility with both material editors
- Quick exit via right-click or deselection
Optimization for each material editor
The script intelligently adapts to the editor you are using. In the Slate Material Editor, it automatically organizes the materials for clear visualization, while in the Classic Material Editor it loads the materials into the active slot. A flexibility that respects your work preference without imposing a specific workflow. The ability to change slots on the fly allows loading multiple materials consecutively.
Immediate practical advantages
- Eliminates manual navigation through subobject modes
- Significantly reduces the necessary clicks
- Maintains visual context in the 3D viewport
- Facilitates material ID identification
A demonstration of how a few well-thought-out lines of code can completely transform a user experience in professional software.
For technical artists and 3D generalists, this script represents that type of tool that once you try it, you can't understand how you worked without it. The accumulated time savings in complex projects alone justifies the installation and learning time 🚀.
And best of all, now you can blame the modeler artist when you don't find that elusive material... because with this script, if you don't find it, it's really not assigned where it should be 😅.