Allows you to adjust the Gamma values for input and output images and for the monitor display.
The Gamma preferences panel contains the following options:
Enable Gamma Correction: Applies any gamma adjustments you make. Clear this box to disable gamma correction.
Load Enable State with MAX Files: Loads the state of the Enable Gamma Correction check box with each .max file.
When Load Enable State is selected, and you load a .max file whose Enable Gamma Correction state is different than the current state, you can make the gamma correction correspond with the setting in the current file or leave it as it is.
If you have a maxstart.max file and this option is selected, new sessions of 3D Studio MAX use the Enable Gamma Correction state in the maxstart.max file. If this option is clear, the maxstart.max file has no effect on the state of Enable Gamma Correction.
Display gamma is used for the Material Editor spheres, the color selector, color swatches, and the virtual frame buffer (Scanline Renderer). Note the default value before you start making adjustments, in case you need to restore it.
Gamma: Adjusts the gamma display for 3D Studio MAX. The spinner increases/decreases the value (lightness or darkness) of the center square. Adjust the value until the center square is as close as possible in value to the surrounding checkered square.
If you’re creating imagery that will be sent to anyone else, use Display Gamma to get some assurance that the image will look correct at the destination site.
You can also display these gamma settings from the Gamma button in the file browser dialog (for example, when you are rendering a scene to an image file).
Input Gamma: The system input gamma that 3D Studio MAX uses to process bitmaps if that bitmap type doesn’t override it with its own gamma value. In the case of Targa files, the file’s inherent gamma will override the system input gamma. Input Gamma is used to invert the gamma of bitmaps coming into 3D Studio MAX (for example, texture maps) so that when they are processed by the renderer and re-output, they aren’t gamma processed twice.
If you have gamma enabled and are loading texture maps, set your input gamma to the same value as your display gamma, or your maps will be too bright.
Output Gamma: The system output gamma that 3D Studio MAX uses to process bitmaps if that bitmap type doesn’t override it with its own gamma value.