---
title: "Grid Texture"
canonical: "https://documentation.chaos.com/space/PHX4MAX/125278859/Grid%20Texture"
format: markdown
---
This page provides information on the Phoenix Grid Texture (PhoenixFDGridTex).

## **Overview**

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The Phoenix **Grid Texture** loads and exposes a **Grid Channel** of a selected Phoenix [Simulator](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/125278364) as a procedural texture, which can then be used to shade the simulation wherever colors are needed. It can be created from the **Material Editor **in** 3ds Max**. 

For example, this texture can be plugged into the texture slots of a material as color or opacity, and used to shade the surfaces of liquids or meshes in general, that were exported with an **RGB Grid Channel**. If you want to mix together liquids, for example, with multiple RGB colors emitted from different [Liquid Sources](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124496461), the Grid Texture can be used to read and transfer the RGB colors to the Liquid mesh's material for shading.

> Macro (ui-text-box)
> 
> The technique of mixing colored liquids and rendering their colors is demonstrated in the [Paints Quick Setup preset](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124660109).

The Grid Texture can also be plugged into the [Fire/Smoke Simulator's](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/124760253) **volumetric options**, in order to modulate the opacity of Fire and Smoke, or to color the Fire and Smoke, using any of the simulator’s Grid Channels as a basis (Smoke, Speed, RGB, etc.).

You could also use it as a blending mask, as described in the [Milk & Chocolate tutorial](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/125054753). For example, the Grid Texture can be used to read the RGB color of a simulator, which can then be used as a blending factor between two different materials.

> Macro (ui-text-box)
> 
> Another use of the Grid Texture is for rendering via an external volumetric shader, such as the **V-Ray Environment Fog**. See the [External Volumetric Shader](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/125311346/Tips+and+Tricks#ExternalVolumetricShader) section on the [Tips and Tricks](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PHX4MAX/pages/125311346) page for more information.

## **Parameters**

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