2021 - Material editor slow and 'obsolete' Standard material

[jibijib]

Why is the Material editor in 2021 so slow to populate with existing materials in 2021?

You open it, and clunk clunk clunk, the materials appear in each slot, hangs Max for about three seconds, and then populates the rest? This happens on everyone's PC in the office using 2021.

Also - we all still use the standard material - why is it hidden behind 'show incompatible materials' and is now deemed bad to use? I have no used Physical Materials in Max for years, as I use standard materials to mode, as I assume everyone else does, now having to go through all the settings to unhide them.

[jibijib]

Pretty sure this forum is like shouting down into a well, do the devs come on here anymore?

[BenBisares]

I would probably have to see your setup but I assume the long material load times are due to the conversions done due to the renderer being used. If you're using Standard materials I assume you want to use the "Scanline" renderer? If so then I would go to the "Custom Defaults Switcher" and choose "Max"Legacy". Since no conversion is done, opening the Material Editor is more or less instantaneous. 

[jibijib]

FFS, a warning to anyone trying to change UI as Ben didn't menthion, swapping the UI like the method above completely reverts everything in Max (toolbar, etc) to default.

Nope. that doesn't work - I'm using two different PCs, and everyone else in the office has lag loading the material editor, with or without legacy or physical materials.

[CAMedeck]

One thing that will really speed up Slate Material Editor is disabling the icon view in the Material/Map Browser.  Right click on the top of the rollouts (Maps, Materials, Autodesk Material Library), choose 'Display Group (and Subgroups) As, and select 'Text'.  Not having to render out all of those useless, tiny icons will give you back 3-4 seconds of your life every time you open Slate.  I also recommend keeping them all rolled up until you need to find something.  

In my screenshot you can also see a custom libraries I created called 'Common MATERIALS' and 'Common MAPS' where I put my most-used materials and maps.

[keith_brown]

Omg that's awesome! Thank you! Indeed useless previews!