Recreating A 3dsmax/Vray Metal Material In Blender

As many of you know, I have been a 3d studio user since the mid 90s, and was planning on staying that way until a few years back when Autodesk decided to make their software rental only. While I'm still using my final perpetual license of max, I'm exploring other options, one of which is Blender. After learning the basics, I wanted to try and replicate some of my 3dsmax work, and so decided to start by recreating my favorite metal material. I have used variations of this metal on hundreds of projects, including the Story Of Inc, Testudo, and plenty of others. So this video will show off my results recreating this metal created in 3dsmax using vray inside Blender's Cycles render engine.
For more info and other lessons, please visit www.neilblevins.com/art_lesson...

[@warrragwag]

I come from Max too and stopped at 2015. But only started Blender at ver2.8. Great to see you in here and thanks for the tutorials!

[@ArtOfSoulburn]

No problem, looking forward to making more as I run into stuff I feel may be helpful.

[@garryclarke9852]

Hi Neil, I've done exactly the same as you, just bought myself a nice new PC and and installed my copy of Max 2022. Like you I intend to continue using max but will probably transition over to Blender at some point.
I've been following your work via the web etc since you started, it's been an inspiration.

[@ArtOfSoulburn]

Thanks Garry! (I recognize your name from years past). Ya, it's a shame about autodesk, but Blender has enough features that I feel I could successfully move if I had to. It doesn't have everything of course, but it's close :)

[@dasnico13]

I started to learn blender for a week now. I have been in max for 15 years. The slow development gave me the motivation to move on because im not getting any younger. Im so enjoying blender. I will never look back. You to will enjoy it, I hope I will see you more and more in Blender.

[@ArtOfSoulburn]

Thanks! I suspect I'll be hybrid for quite some time, but from what I've observed, if my copy of max dies, I think a successful migration to blender will be possible, and that makes me happy :)

[@dasnico13]

@@ArtOfSoulburn Good luck my friend!

[@Jez2008UK]

I'm the same - about 4 months ago I spent a few months learning Blender (TH-cam videos etc) and it has been one of the BIGGEST pieces of 3D enjoyment I've had in a LONG time. I got into 3DS Max back in 1995 and honestly, Blender has given me so much pleasure, it's relit my creativity, something which honestly I never felt with 3DS Max (meaning I would use 3DS Max as a tool, mechanically, not creatively). Blender, for me, *invites* you to be creative and some of the workflow is so delightful it's a pleasure to play. Simple stuff which I just simply would bother with in 3DS Max (like depth of field) is sooooo bloody easy and *dynamic* in Blender. Shame on Autodesk, unlike Neil, I have 3DS Max 2020 as perpetual, and paid for 3DS Max via their Indie program, but I really feel this year is my last year of paying for 3DS Max and I'll either uninstall it, or just leave it dormant (keeping 3DS Max 2020) and just use Blender from hereon. Also, as a sidenote, I have V-Ray and lots are asking for V-Ray for Blender. My take on it is NOT to give more money to V-Ray, Cycles is REALLY fun. Yes, right now it lacks things, but the REFRESHING feeling of learning something new, not be stuck with an old almost 'boring' V-Ray, to me, makes the learning curve all the more exciting. BTW, I'm 61 years old and have admired Neil since the 90's when I was following him regarding the Brazil renderer!

[@ArtOfSoulburn]

@@Jez2008UK Thanks Jez for the story (and I certainly remember your name from years ago). Ya, for some people learning new software is a chore, and there is something to be said for getting really good at one thing as opposed to jumping to new software on a yearly basis. But learning new things can indeed be quite creatively invigorating. As for vray for blender, they have announced a proper port, but I suspect it'll be a few years off, so that will give me more time to really understand if Cycles is up to providing what I need, and if the answer ends up being no, hopefully vray will come in and save the day. Of course, if the answer is yes, then great :)

[@thomasmulford9420]

@@Jez2008UK feel the same way, daily max user since 2007, started messing with blender recently. The viewport is modern, what I've always wanted in max. Crying shame.

[@acadgatsu]

Hi Neil, I used your soulburn scripts in 3DS Max for years before switching to blender ~4 yrs ago. I hope you also explore all the modeling add-ons available (hards ops, box cutter, mesh machine, punchit, fluent, etc). When I used 3DS max I was constantly looking for max scripts so the add-ons in blender were very similar to me. I noticed you weren't using the node wrangler add-on shortcut to quickly (temporarily) display the bitmap you want to see (ctrl+shift+click on the bitmap with node wrangler on).

[@ArtOfSoulburn]

Thanks dude. Ya, I found the node wrangler after I recorded the video, so using it now, thanks for the note. And yes, I've mostly focused on the materials part for now, but will delve more into modeling soon, blender does seem to have a lot of nice modeling addons :)

[@EthelbertCoyote]

Also a 3ds Max user I debated adding Blender but frankly saw more future in Unreal so at least for now learning that first as a hedge bet against Max taking a downturn. I have found Unreals materials much easier to use and reuse at least so far.

[@ArtOfSoulburn]

Hey Ethan. Actually, I'm using unreal as well in some instances :) For renders I still don't feel it beats the ease of use and quality of an offline renderer like vray or Blender's Cycles, but for interactive stuff unreal is great. Will be posting a game demo experiment in a few weeks showing my unreal work.

[@chocopie099]

Cool, but I would rather enjoy more 3dsmax tutorials instead than, once more, another Blender tut channel... hey but I get you about the license, what a shame.

[@ArtOfSoulburn]

I'd rather make more 3dsmax tutorials as well, but afraid autodesk's choice has made that impossible. I wish them the best of luck.

[@Jez2008UK]

@@ArtOfSoulburn You're a better man than me Neil, I definitely don't wish them the best of luck (what I do wish them will probably have you delete my comment!).

[@ArtOfSoulburn]

@@Jez2008UK Haha. Well, I still have many friends who still work at autodesk who are unable to do what they'd like to due because of company mandates, so my wishing best of luck is more for them and less for the CEO :)

[@chocopie099]

​@@ArtOfSoulburn what choice?
subscription model that lately everyone seems to be adopting?
It is anoying for sure not having the option to buy and use as much as I want.
Still 300$~ for an indie license is a megaprice for 3dsMax.
Still, that doesn't fix the issue with only subscription plan.... yeah
Marvelous designer, same, Zbrush same...
Substance painter same...

[@ArtOfSoulburn]

@@chocopie099 Yes, the choice is they could have chosen to not go rental only. But the short term money was too good, so they made the choice to do it, but long term I think that choice is going to hurt them with more people moving to other software like blender.