by JokerMartini·Workflow
Images © JokerMartini. Used for product review; image policy.
Matcaps earns its place in the ScriptSpot library as a non-destructive way to bring ZBrush- and Mudbox-style viewport shading to 3ds Max, with 35 matcaps included and room to add your own.
Matcaps is a 3ds Max tool for reproducing the viewport shading found in popular modeling applications such as ZBrush and Mudbox. It gives your models a matcap appearance in the 3ds Max viewport, matching the look those applications are known for.
The shading is applied as a temporary shader override in the viewport. Your original shaders and models stay untouched, which keeps the process non-destructive while you work.
Out of the box, Matcaps includes 35 matcaps. You can also add your own, or ones you download, by dropping them into the Matcaps textures folder. The tool supports 3ds Max 2017 or newer, and this release is version 1.0. A demo video is available for anyone who wants a closer look before installing.
Matcaps is best for 3ds Max artists who want matcap-style viewport shading like ZBrush and Mudbox without altering their existing scene shaders or models.
Matcaps is completely free to download and use.
Matcaps supports 3ds Max 2017 or newer, so 3ds Max 2017 is the minimum version it runs on, and later builds in that range are covered as well. This release is listed as version 1.0. If you are on a 3ds Max build older than 2017, the tool will not support it, so it is worth checking your version before installing. For the most current compatibility details, the developer's page is the place to confirm exactly which builds are supported.
Matcaps lets you add your own matcaps, as well as ones you download, by placing them in the Matcaps textures folder. Drop the files into that folder and they become available alongside the 35 matcaps that ship with the tool. This means your library is not limited to the built-in set; you can extend it with custom or downloaded files whenever you need. The Pixologic download center linked on the developer's page is one source for matcap files.
Matcaps does not change your existing materials. It applies a temporary shader override in the viewport, and your original shaders and models are left untouched. The matcap look sits in the viewport display, so your scene's real materials stay as they were. That makes it a non-destructive way to preview ZBrush- or Mudbox-style shading while you model. Because the override is temporary, the shading you see is separate from the shaders saved in your scene.
Matcaps is listed as free here in the catalog. Beyond that, for current licensing terms and any conditions attached to using or distributing the tool, the developer's page is the best place to confirm the details. Version 1.0 is the release covered here, and it supports 3ds Max 2017 or newer. If licensing matters for your project, check the developer's page directly rather than relying on the catalog listing alone before you commit to using it.
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