[Josephus Holt]

I would like to add a glaze (translucent coatings tinted with the base color) finish to my wood finish (using the Walnut_Oiled MXM from the MXM Gallery). Can someone help me get me off on the right foot for that? I'm quite a noob when it comes to materials, but would REALLY like to learn.

[tom]

Could you post a reference image and the material you start with?

[Josephus Holt]

The image of the door shows the finish quite well. The MXM I started with is found here http://resources.maxwellrender.com/sear ... v2=0&tipo= (don't know if the mxm link is what you're asking for). The image of the window (I have some texture mapping issues to fix) is how it's currently showing...I actually used a different bump map to get more of a handhewn look:

[tom]

It's not really material making it look like that but the object and environment. Materials are not like colors picked from the palette. They look meaningful only under certain conditions which you used to see them. For example, that door has plenty of detail to be modeled which gives its unique look. And moreover, it's reflecting a complicated interior on it. On the other hand, your window frame is made of a flat surface and sharp corners which is very far from reality and the scene has no surrounding details to cast shadows and fun on it. In the end, the main problem is not the material here. You should first add modeled detail to the object and make the environment/lighting more interesting. Otherwise, it like putting a perfect cut from the door in your reference image and using on a wall in an empty scene. That'd surely give the same boring look.

[Josephus Holt]

thx Tom, I understand that.

[tom]