Display Color Rollout

 

Display panel > Display Color rollout

The Display Color rollout specifies whether 3ds Max displays objects using their object colors or their diffuse material colors, when the objects have their display properties set to By Object. If the display properties of an object is set to By Layer, the layer color will be used for the display. You can choose one method for wireframe display and a different one for shaded display. In each shading mode you can specify whether the material or the object color is used.

As a default, all new objects have their display properties set to By Layer. The default can be changed in Customize > Preferences > Preferences dialog > General panel > Layer Defaults group. If you turn off Default To By Layer For New Nodes, all new objects created in 3ds Max will display in the viewports based on the settings in the Display Color rollout. You can switch individual objects between By Object and By Layer by setting the Display Properties in the Object Properties dialog, accessible by right-clicking any selected object.

If the object color box displays black and white rectangles, this indicates that the object has its display properties set to By Layer.

Interface

Wireframe

Controls the color of objects when the viewport is in wireframe display mode.

Object Color

Displays the wireframes in object color.

Material Color

Displays the wireframes using the material color.

Shaded

Controls the color of the object when the viewport is in any shaded display mode.

Object Color

Displays the shaded objects using the object color.

Material Color

Displays the shaded objects using the material color.

 

source : 3dsMax Help.chm