Creating Backgrounds for 3D Scenes

Introduction
Backgrounds are a critical part of just about every type of 3D scene. Although they are a relatively simple element to add to a scene, backgrounds can just as easily be a source of frustration and problems for 3ds Max users. There are two main types of backgrounds – those created with geometry and those created by use of the Environment Map channel. Both have advantages and disadvantages over the other and both can be broken into several subcategories. The following discussion explains each of these categories and subcategories and looks at methods to implement each type of background.

Environment Channel Backgrounds
This is the simplest type of background to implement, yet often the most difficult to make look good. It is nothing more than using a color or a map in a fixed orientation. By default, 3ds Max uses a black color swatch in the Environment and Effects dialog box to provide a black background. This type of background is a poor choice regardless of the color, but black is particularly bad even for test renders because of how it can hide the boundaries of an object.

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