SIGERTEXMAPS ComplexFresnel

Free plugin for Autodesk® 3ds Max®

SIGERTEXMAPS ComplexFresnel

This Texture map plugin can be used to render materials with complex index of refraction (IOR).

Version: 1.1.3
3ds Max: 2017 and above | 64 bit
Renderer: V-Ray v.2.x and above,
Corona Renderer v.1.x and above | 64 bit
License: Free for personal and commercial use.

The regular material (for example V-Ray, Corona Renderer) can compute the Fresnel effect for dielectric materials like plastic based on the IOR of the material (n) – however metals have a more complicated Fresnel reflective curve that depends also on another parameter called extinction (k) coefficient:
η = n + ik.
n and k determine the two characteristics of the Fresnel curve for a material: the reflectivity at normal incidence and how quickly it fades to white at grazing angles.
The Texture map plugin can be used as a reflection color map in a material with the Fresnel option of the material turned off (this plugin does its own Fresnel calculations).

3ds Max	Version	Download
3ds Max 2025	1.1.3	Download
3ds Max 2024	1.1.2	Download
3ds Max 2023	1.1.1	Download
3ds Max 2022	1.1.0	Download
3ds Max 2017 - 2021	1.0.9	Download
3ds Max 2013 - 2016	1.0.7	Download

Parameters

n – the n (IOR) values for the Red/Green/Blue wavelengths (0.650, 0.510 and 0.475 µm).
k – the k (Extinction coefficient) values for the Red/Green/Blue wavelengths.

Presets – some presets for quick start (to enter other parameters (n, k) values it is necessary to select preset Custom).

If you need a bit different color (f. e. for various alloys), use a Color Adjustment parameters and adjust the Gamma, Hue, Saturation values. This way you still have the correct Fresnel curve and are just making color changes.
Gamma – specifies the gamma correction value.
Hue Shift – lets you change colors using a standard Hue spectrum. Range = -180…180.
Saturation – the intensity or purity of the colors. Lowering the Saturation value removes color, causing the color to tend toward grayscale, while raising it intensifies the color. Range = -100…100.

How to get values

The site refractiveindex.info has the measured n and k values for many metals like Copper, Gold, Iron etc.

Credits

Created by Siger (Regimantas Valiukas | Siger Studio), 2015-2024
Based on OSL shader by Vlado (Vladimir Koylazov | Chaos Group).
Presets data from refractiveindex.info

Installation

Copy file “ComplexFresnel_xxxx.dlt” to 3ds Max\plugins directory (If you have installed older version – delete the old file!).
– File ComplexFresnel_2013.dlt compatible: 3ds Max 2013/2014
– File ComplexFresnel_2015.dlt compatible: 3ds Max 2015/2016
– File ComplexFresnel_2017.dlt compatible: 3ds Max 2017
– File ComplexFresnel_2018.dlt compatible: 3ds Max 2018
– File ComplexFresnel_2019.dlt compatible: 3ds Max 2019
– File ComplexFresnel_2020.dlt compatible: 3ds Max 2020, 3ds Max 2021
– File ComplexFresnel_2022.dlt compatible: 3ds Max 2022
– File ComplexFresnel_2023.dlt compatible: 3ds Max 2023
– File ComplexFresnel_2024.dlt compatible: 3ds Max 2024
– File ComplexFresnel_2025.dlt compatible: 3ds Max 2025

Changelog

01.04.2024 – v1.1.3
* Added support for 3ds Max 2025.
31.03.2023 – v1.1.2
* Added support for 3ds Max 2024.
02.04.2022 – v1.1.1
* Added support for 3ds Max 2023.
31.03.2021 – v1.1.0
* Added support for 3ds Max 2022.
31.03.2019 – v1.0.9
* Added support for 3ds Max 2020.
25.03.2018 – v1.0.8
* Added support for 3ds Max 2019.
13.04.2017 – v1.0.7
* Added support for 3ds Max 2018.
01.10.2016 – v1.0.6
* Performance optimization (up to 50%).
25.04.2016 – v1.0.5
* Added support for 3ds Max 2017.
02.09.2015 – v1.0.4
* Fixed references issues.
25.05.2015 – v1.0.3
* Added standard Output dialog.
18.05.2015 – v1.0.2
* Minor bug fixes.
12.05.2015 – v1.0.1
* Fixed Thread Safety issues.
01.05.2015 – v1.0.0
* Stable version.
26.04.2015 – v0.9.0b
* Beta version.