i am running into an issue when i mirror an object, either the faces become fliped or the material is apearing to be flipped-

if the bump is going down on the original object, then the bump is going up on the mirrored object.

how can i fix this? this job needs to be done in 2 hours, please help.

3ds Max Design 2010/11/12, 64bit, Boxx technologies, dual quad core 2.8, nvidia quadro 4000, 20GB Ram, use mental ray for rendering, windows XP pro 64bit

Try the Mirror Modifier rather than the Mirror tool.

Max 4.2 through 2013.
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.

nope, that doesnt fix it. behaves the same way as the mirror tool.

any other suggestions

3ds Max Design 2010/11/12, 64bit, Boxx technologies, dual quad core 2.8, nvidia quadro 4000, 20GB Ram, use mental ray for rendering, windows XP pro 64bit

i tried the symetry modifier but it behaves the same way. symetry really isnt what is needed as what i am building are columns for a building at the corner of the balconies. not all the balconies are the same width and the columns are not square, they are shaped like an L. so i built one and mirrored it and moved it to the other side. but now the materials are messed up. the bump and gradient depicting the siding material have been reversed. nothing i have tried has fixed this issue. the only other option i can see is to model a seperate left and right column which kind of blows in efficiency if there are any changes to be made.

any other ideas?

3ds Max Design 2010/11/12, 64bit, Boxx technologies, dual quad core 2.8, nvidia quadro 4000, 20GB Ram, use mental ray for rendering, windows XP pro 64bit

Try attaching the bad one to the good one, then detaching what is now an element back to a separate object. I think that will “sync” the materials without affecting Mat IDs and so on.

Max 4.2 through 2013.
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.

For the mapping problem, if you use the Mirror tool and choose Reference, you can apply a UVWxform modifier to the reference copy, and check “Flip” to correct the mapping.

--3ds Max Design 2009 64bit, Direct3D 9, Win Vista Premium 64, 3ghz quadcore Xeon, Quadro FX1700--

i will have to try that later, i just remodeled a left and right column. time is running out.

thanks for all the sugestions.

3ds Max Design 2010/11/12, 64bit, Boxx technologies, dual quad core 2.8, nvidia quadro 4000, 20GB Ram, use mental ray for rendering, windows XP pro 64bit

Come back once this job is done and there is less of a time issue. Perhaps post a cut-down scene with these objects (and any images/maps used) so we can see what you’re up against and maybe come up with a better solution.

Max 4.2 through 2013.
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.