diff --git a/plugins/rendermax/renderer_light.cpp b/plugins/rendermax/renderer_light.cpp
index fea6999d1..962f49d28 100644
--- a/plugins/rendermax/renderer_light.cpp
+++ b/plugins/rendermax/renderer_light.cpp
@@ -144,9 +144,7 @@ bool lightingEngineViewscreen::lightUpCell(lightCell& power,int dx,int dy,int tx
         
         if (dsq>0 && !wallhack)
         {
-            power.r=power.r*(pow(v.r,dt));
-            power.g=power.g*(pow(v.g,dt));
-            power.b=power.b*(pow(v.b,dt));
+            power*=v.power(dt);
         }
         if(ls.radius>0 && dsq>0)
         {
@@ -294,10 +292,15 @@ matLightDef* lightingEngineViewscreen::getMaterial(int matType,int matIndex)
     else 
         return NULL;
 }
-void lightingEngineViewscreen::applyMaterial(int tileId,const matLightDef& mat,float size)
+void lightingEngineViewscreen::applyMaterial(int tileId,const matLightDef& mat,float size, float thickness)
 {
     if(mat.isTransparent)
-        ocupancy[tileId]*=mat.transparency;
+    {
+        if(thickness > 0.999 && thickness < 1.001)
+            ocupancy[tileId]*=mat.transparency;
+        else
+            ocupancy[tileId]*=(mat.transparency.power(thickness));
+    }
     else
         ocupancy[tileId]=lightCell(0,0,0);
     if(mat.isEmiting)
@@ -345,19 +348,19 @@ lightCell lightingEngineViewscreen::propogateSun(MapExtras::Block* b, int x,int
     else if(basic_shape==df::tiletype_shape_basic::Floor || basic_shape==df::tiletype_shape_basic::Ramp || shape==df::tiletype_shape::STAIR_UP)
     {
         if(!lastLevel)
-            ret*=lightDef->transparency; //TODO modify because floors have less material
+            ret*=lightDef->transparency.power(1.0f/7.0f); 
     }
     else if(shape==df::tiletype_shape::STAIR_DOWN || shape==df::tiletype_shape::STAIR_UPDOWN)
     {
         ret*=matStairCase;
     }
-    if(d.bits.liquid_type == df::enums::tile_liquid::Water && d.bits.flow_size)
+    if(d.bits.liquid_type == df::enums::tile_liquid::Water && d.bits.flow_size > 0)
     {
-        ret *=matWater.transparency;// (lightCell(1,1,1) - (lightCell(1,1,1) - matWater)*((float)d.bits.flow_size/7.0f));
+        ret *=matWater.transparency.power((float)d.bits.flow_size/7.0f);
     }
-    else if(d.bits.liquid_type == df::enums::tile_liquid::Magma && d.bits.flow_size > 3)
+    else if(d.bits.liquid_type == df::enums::tile_liquid::Magma && d.bits.flow_size > 0)
     {
-        ret *=matLava.transparency;
+        ret *=matLava.transparency.power((float)d.bits.flow_size/7.0f);
     }
     return ret;
 }
@@ -432,7 +435,7 @@ void lightingEngineViewscreen::doSun(const lightSource& sky,MapExtras::MapCache&
 void lightingEngineViewscreen::doOcupancyAndLights()
 {
     // TODO better curve (+red dawn ?)
-    float daycol = abs((*df::global::cur_year_tick % 1200) - 600.0) / 400.0;
+    float daycol = 1;//abs((*df::global::cur_year_tick % 1200) - 600.0) / 400.0;
     lightCell sky_col(daycol, daycol, daycol);
     lightSource sky(sky_col, 15);
 
@@ -502,9 +505,9 @@ void lightingEngineViewscreen::doOcupancyAndLights()
                 else
                     applyMaterial(tile,*lightDef);
             }
-            else if(!d.bits.liquid_type && d.bits.flow_size>3 )
+            else if(!d.bits.liquid_type && d.bits.flow_size>0 )
             {
-                applyMaterial(tile,matWater);
+                applyMaterial(tile,matWater, 1, (float)d.bits.flow_size/7.0f);
             }
             if(d.bits.liquid_type && d.bits.flow_size>0) 
             {
diff --git a/plugins/rendermax/renderer_light.hpp b/plugins/rendermax/renderer_light.hpp
index 4d10951fc..285caa5a2 100644
--- a/plugins/rendermax/renderer_light.hpp
+++ b/plugins/rendermax/renderer_light.hpp
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ private:
 
     matLightDef* getMaterial(int matType,int matIndex);
     //apply material to cell
-    void applyMaterial(int tileId,const matLightDef& mat,float size=1);
+    void applyMaterial(int tileId,const matLightDef& mat,float size=1, float thickness = 1);
     //try to find and apply material, if failed return false, and if def!=null then apply def.
     bool applyMaterial(int tileId,int matType,int matIndex,float size=1,const matLightDef* def=NULL);
     size_t inline getIndex(int x,int y)
diff --git a/plugins/rendermax/renderer_opengl.hpp b/plugins/rendermax/renderer_opengl.hpp
index cdab20af3..6beba522f 100644
--- a/plugins/rendermax/renderer_opengl.hpp
+++ b/plugins/rendermax/renderer_opengl.hpp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "df/zoom_commands.h"
 #include "df/texture_handler.h"
 #include "df/graphic.h"
+#include <math.h>
 
 using df::renderer;
 using df::init;
@@ -230,6 +231,14 @@ struct lightCell
     {
         return r*other.r+g*other.g+b*other.b;
     }
+    lightCell power(const float exp) const
+    {
+        return lightCell(pow(r, exp), pow(g, exp), pow(b, exp));
+    }
+    lightCell power(const int exp) const
+    {
+        return lightCell(pow(r, exp), pow(g, exp), pow(b, exp));
+    }
 };
 struct renderer_test : public renderer_wrap {
 private:
diff --git a/plugins/rendermax/rendermax.lua b/plugins/rendermax/rendermax.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..762116c0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/rendermax/rendermax.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+--scroll down to the end for configuration
+ret={...}
+ret=ret[1]
+ret.materials={}
+ret.buildings={}
+ret.special={}
+for k,v in pairs(ret) do
+  _ENV[k]=v
+end
+-- add material by id (index,mat pair or token string or a type number), flags is a table of strings
+-- supported flags:
+--		flicker
+-- 		sizeModifiesPower
+--		sizeModifiesRange
+function addMaterial(id,transparency,emitance,radius,flags)
+	local matinfo
+	if type(id)=="string" then
+		matinfo=dfhack.matinfo.find(id)
+	elseif type(id)=="table" then
+		matinfo=dfhack.matinfo.decode(id[1],id[2])
+	else
+		matinfo=dfhack.matinfo.decode(id,0)
+	end
+	if matinfo==nil then
+		error("Material not found")
+	end
+	materials[matinfo.type]=materials[matinfo.type] or {}
+	materials[matinfo.type][matinfo.index]=makeMaterialDef(transparency,emitance,radius,flags)
+end
+function addBuilding(id,transparency,emitance,radius,flags)
+	--stuff
+end
+function makeMaterialDef(transparency,emitance,radius,flags)
+	local flg
+	if flags then
+		flg={}
+		for k,v in ipairs(flags) do
+			flg[v]=true
+		end
+	end
+	return {tr=transparency,em=emitance,rad=radius,flags=flg}
+end
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+----------------   Configuration Starts Here   -------------------------
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+--special things
+special.LAVA=makeMaterialDef({0.8,0.2,0.2},{0.8,0.2,0.2},5)
+special.WATER=makeMaterialDef({0.5,0.5,0.8})
+special.FROZEN_LIQUID=makeMaterialDef({0.2,0.7,0.9}) -- ice
+special.AMBIENT=makeMaterialDef({0.85,0.85,0.85}) --ambient fog
+special.CURSOR=makeMaterialDef({1,1,1},{0.96,0.84,0.03},11, {"flicker"})
+--TODO dragonfire
+--TODO daylight
+--materials
+
+
+--		glasses
+addMaterial("GLASS_GREEN",{0.1,0.9,0.5})
+addMaterial("GLASS_CLEAR",{0.5,0.95,0.9})
+addMaterial("GLASS_CRYSTAL",{0.75,0.95,0.95})
+--		Plants
+addMaterial("PLANT:TOWER_CAP",nil,{0.65,0.65,0.65},6)
+addMaterial("PLANT:MUSHROOM_CUP_DIMPLE",nil,{0.03,0.03,0.5},3)
+addMaterial("PLANT:CAVE MOSS",nil,{0.1,0.1,0.4},2)
+addMaterial("PLANT:MUSHROOM_HELMET_PLUMP",nil,{0.2,0.1,0.6},2)
+--		inorganics
+addMaterial("INORGANIC:ADAMANTINE",{0.1,0.3,0.3},{0.1,0.3,0.3},4)
+-- TODO gems
+--buildings