Overview

The VRayMap allows you to add V-Ray reflections and refractions to standard 3ds Max materials as well as other 3rd party materials.

Using the VRayMap is similar to using the standard 3ds Max Raytrace map in 3ds Max scanline rendering. However, do not use the standard 3ds Max Raytrace map when rendering with V-Ray, please use the VRayMap instead.

When the VRayMap texture is mapped to a non V-Ray material's reflection or refraction map slot, it allows V-Ray to raytrace that material's reflections and/or refractions specifically, resulting in more accurate reflections/refractions from that non V-Ray material.

Keep in mind that, in general, using non-V-Ray compatible materials is not recommended as this can slow down the rendering or produce artifacts or less accurate results. In the example shown here a red diffuse color is used on a standard 3d Max material to show the reflections rendered through the VRayMap texture.

UI Path

||Material Editor window|| > Material/Map Browser > Maps > V-Ray > VRayMap

Parameters

Type – Determines whether the map acts as a reflection map or a refraction map. Note that the VRayMap does not automatically detect this type, and it must be set manually.

Reflect – The VRayMap will act like a reflection map. Then the Reflection parameters section can be used for controlling the settings of the map (Changing settings in Refraction parameters section will have no effect on the map).
Refract – The VRayMap will act like a refraction map. Then the Refraction parameters section can be used for controlling the settings of the map (Changing settings in Refraction parameters section will have no effect on the map).

Reflection Parameters

Filter color – The multiplier for the reflections. Do not use the spinner in the material to set the strength of reflections. Use this filter color instead (photon map will not be correct otherwise).

Reflect on back side – When enabled, forces V-Ray to trace reflections always. Using this option in conjunction with a refraction map increases rendering times.

Glossy – Turns glossy (blurry) reflections on or off.

Glossiness – The glossiness of the material. A value of zero means extremely blurry reflections. Higher values makes reflections sharper.
Subdivs – Controls the number of rays sent out to evaluate the glossy reflection. More rays mean smoother reflection, but more rendering time. Note that this parameter is available for changing only when Use local subdivs is enabled in the Global DMC Settings.

Max depth – Specifies the maximum ray depth for the map. The map will return the Exit color for rays of greater depth.

Cutoff thresh – Reflections which contribute little to the final value of an image sample will not be traced. The cut-off threshold sets the minimum contribution for a reflection to be traced.

Exit color – The color to be returned when the maximum ray depth has been reached but the reflection has not been computed completely.

Refraction Parameters

Filter color – The multiplier for the refraction (see Filter color in Reflection parameters section).

Glossy – Turns glossy (blurry) refractions on.

Glossiness – (see Glossiness in Reflection parameters section).
Subdivs – (see Subdivs in Reflection parameters section).

Fog color – V-Ray allows you to fill refractive objects with fog. This is the color of the fog.

Fog multiplier – The multiplier for the Fog color. Smaller values produce more transparent fog.

Max depth – Specifies the maximum ray depth for the refractions. (see Max depth in Reflection parameters section).

Cutoff thresh – (see Cutoff thresh in Reflection parameters section).

Exit color – (see Exit color in Reflection parameters section).

Notes

• The index of refraction is controlled by the materials, not by the VRayMap. For Standard materials, the index of refraction is set in the Extended parameters rollout.