Well here we are again, this time I will teach you how to make a simple space scene with stars and a distant sun.

Requirements: 3DS MAX 4+

To begin start Max and reset everything, now create an omni light with the following parameters:

Click on "Scene" and change everything in there to this:

Now click on "Glow" in the lens effects parameters and change the settings to these

Now click on options and change them all to this

Now click on "Manual Secondary" and change it to this

Now options should match the glow element options, only the check box next to "Lights" should be checked. Next click on the Ray element and change the settings to these

Again, the options tab should only have "Lights" checked.

Next, add a color balance effect,

And change the settings to these

Now add a brightness and contrast effect after color balance

Change the settings to these

Now render it, looks simple enough. Now we add the stars, this is a very simple way to make a starry background. Open the material editor and click on any unused material and click on the get material button.

Find the "Stucco" map in the new material category. Change the settings to these

Don¡¯t worry about the coordinate settings, those stay the same since this will be our background. By now, your new material should show a black box in the material preview window

Open the environment dialog box by going to "Rendering" the environment.

Click on your star material and drag it to the environment tab, change ambient RGB values to these: RGB=89.

Now render it, it looks a little better, but its still very simple, you might want to add a planet or a spaceship in the, maybe a video post flare or something. Play with the settings until you find what you want. ood luck and happy rendering. RS

This tutorial was written by our ex-Admin Rollingstone who is no longer with us!

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