[killakanz]

24 materials in your scene? dude!!
Try using multi-subobject matierials, save up some space :P

[Flyby]

Guess I assumed you knew more then you actual do ....

As Pestilence already indicated, the Material Editor (ME) is only a "window" on your unlimited amount of textures present in your scene. You can have thousands of materials, but you can only view 24 of them at once.

To free up a (ME) slot, you hit the X (reset map/mtl to default) at the button bar under it.
You'll be asked to delete only the material in the ME or in the scene also.
Choose (ME) only, as we want to keep the material in the scene, no?

(MB) = first button "get material", choose option selection, so the material of your selected object will appear in your MB. You can then drag/drop a material from your Material Browser (MB) into a (ME) slot.

You need to read the help and tutorial files more carefully

[Pestilence]

Im wondering to PCteen what it is your workin on that you need more than 24 textures for, wild guess from what i know you have woked on recently if the Aircraft Carrier? Hows that coming along.

[killakanz]

Originally Posted by Flyby

Guess I assumed you knew more then you actual do ....

I'm sorry master, I was pretty certain you could have more than 24 materials, but so far I've never had the need for more than 24 materials in one scene :P

[Flyby]

Killa, re-read what I wrote...

you can only VIEW a max. of 24 materials at once, but you can have thousands of materials in your scene...

There is a script made by Bobo that allows an easy toggle between material sets (up to 48 i believe), but I never bothered installing it, as 24 viewable slots is more then enough to work with. If I run out of slots, I just pick out a material I'm sure I'm done with and empty it...

[killakanz]

re-read what I wrote
I was pretty certain of that, you confirmed it for me :P

[EvilViking]

Thanks for the help, everyone! I'm quite the n00b when it comes the 3D work, 98% of my experiance is in gmax, and that only started last November. I just got Max 6 last month, and I have none of the tutorials or even the help files, so up until now I've been working on my own, just learning at my own pace. I realized though that if I really want to get serious about working in 3D (which I do) I need to learn from others, so I'm currently saving up money to purchase Discreet's tutorial set.

Pestilence, hey! If you could upload the basic tuts to your site, that'd be great!! I need my name & password again though, I've reinstalled Windows 3 times this month...

What I'm working on isn't a model, it's a city. Yup. I'm working on about 6-8 city blocks using Generals buildings and textures, along with An Act of War's custom buildings. Let me tell you, you haven't seen Generals until you've rendered a city in Max 6... WOW! I hope the next CnC looks like that... but not likely. Anyway, it's for some promotional backgrounds, along with some cinimatic animation for AAOW's intro movie, and it will also make a cool set for unit renders. I might make it availible to other mods once I'm done.

I'll post pics soon!

[Pestilence]

Wow, sounds great, and interesting, and a great way to practice new skills, Ill upload the references tonight and send you and email with a new FTP access.
later

[EvilViking]

Thanks! While you're on, I need help again.. err.. I lost my XYZ containts again, and I can't find the option... again, lol. :dead:

[Pestilence]

you mean the Gizmo? well i get this problem from time to time in Gmax, and its locted in titile menu, Customize-Preferences-Viewport tab- near the bottom somewhere.
but I never get this problem in 3ds max, so im not sure if the settings for it are in the same location, cant remember off the top of my head.