I have a problem.

Let’s say, I have a sphere. My sphere reflects what sorrounds her.
But i don’t want her to do that. In fact, I want her to reflect an image of my liking. Like a diffuse map with 80% opacity. But I don’t want to lose her material properties. Any hint?

Mental Ray - 3ds Max 2010.
Nothing more, nothing less.

What type on material? For standard, put the map in the reflaction slot.
For mr A&D, use the material’s own Environment slot.

I’m sorry. I don’t know whay. I’m rendering with mental ray in 3ds max 2010, and when i try to put the glass panels the enviroment map they lose all transparency and, what’s more, i stop seeing my background image (?).

Any more help? :S

Mental Ray - 3ds Max 2010.
Nothing more, nothing less.

It sounds like you have reflection set to 100% (or pure white). Try 10% reflection for glass material, and see if that helps.
If not, can you post an image to help us see the problem? (Do Not use “preview” with attachments—bug on the forum).

-Jeff

Max/Composite 2012 (subscription)
Win7-64pro, Intel i7-hex on SuperMicro mobo, 12 GB RAM
nVidia Quadro 5000, render farmette on BB2012

What type of material are you using?

I am using Solid Glass of Arch & Design Materials.

Mental Ray - 3ds Max 2010.
Nothing more, nothing less.

Solid glass, that’s OK. But it may be a bit more complicated. You want the glass to reflect your chosen environment map, but refract the backgroung behind it, right? Just using the material’s env slot, like I mentioned will override the scene env map in both the reflections and refractions, so that’s not the effect you want. Using the mr Environment/Background Switcher will do the same, because that too will treat reflections and refractions as env rays.
What you want is the Raytype Switcher, it gives you more choices about what map/colour is used for different ray types. This shader may be hidden, so you may have to edit an .mi file to access it.
Depending on what your background and environment are, there may be a simpler way. Is the background geom objects, or a camera mapped background? Is the environment map unique to that object?

My background is actually a little more complicated. What you can see beside the glass is actualy other glass, and behind this, a enviroment background (a Jpg).

I’ve searched the 3ds Max´s help and it doesn’t mentinon Raytype Switcher at all. Can you guide me through so i can use it?

Mental Ray - 3ds Max 2010.
Nothing more, nothing less.

To unleash the hidden mr shaders you have to edit an ,mi file by placing a # in front of the line saying hidden, to disable the line. See attachment.
If the background is an image, you may get a way with a simpler setup with the Env/Bg raytype switcher and Matte/Shadow/Reflection material with mi Camera Map. See the setup I describe in this thread, using the mr production shaders specifically for transparent refractive objects.

	Attachment