diff --git a/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShader.cxx b/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShader.cxx
index 05d6453876..2072018c08 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShader.cxx
+++ b/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShader.cxx
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ MayaShader(MObject engine) {
       << "Reading shading engine " << get_name() << "\n";
   }
 
+  _alpha_is_luminance = true;
+
   bool found_shader = false;
   MPlug shader_plug = engine_fn.findPlug("surfaceShader");
   if (!shader_plug.isNull()) {
diff --git a/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShader.h b/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShader.h
index 48b75e700e..c0923b5c05 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShader.h
+++ b/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShader.h
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ public:
   typedef pvector<MayaShaderColorDef *> ColorDef;
   ColorDef _color;
 
+  bool _alpha_is_luminance;
+
 private:
   bool read_surface_shader(MObject shader);
 };
diff --git a/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShaderColorDef.cxx b/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShaderColorDef.cxx
index 96e2aa872c..d02055683b 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShaderColorDef.cxx
+++ b/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShaderColorDef.cxx
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ MayaShaderColorDef() {
   _wrap_u = true;
   _wrap_v = true;
 
+  _alpha_is_luminance = false;
+
   _repeat_uv.set(1.0, 1.0);
   _offset.set(0.0, 0.0);
   _rotate_uv = 0.0;
@@ -95,6 +97,8 @@ MayaShaderColorDef(MayaShaderColorDef &copy) {
   _wrap_u = copy._wrap_u;
   _wrap_v = copy._wrap_v;
 
+  _alpha_is_luminance = copy._alpha_is_luminance;
+
   _repeat_uv = copy._repeat_uv;
   _offset = copy._offset;
   _rotate_uv = copy._rotate_uv;
@@ -256,6 +260,8 @@ read_surface_color(MayaShader *shader, MObject color, bool trans) {
     get_vec2f_attribute(color, "translateFrame", _translate_frame);
     get_angle_attribute(color, "rotateFrame", _rotate_frame);
 
+    get_bool_attribute(color, "alphaIsLuminance", _alpha_is_luminance);
+
     get_bool_attribute(color, "mirror", _mirror);
     get_bool_attribute(color, "stagger", _stagger);
     get_bool_attribute(color, "wrapU", _wrap_u);
@@ -309,6 +315,10 @@ read_surface_color(MayaShader *shader, MObject color, bool trans) {
     //shader->_multi_texture = true;
     //get_enum_attribute(color,"blendMode",shader->_blend_mode);
     //maya_cat.debug() << "blend mode :" << shader->_blend_mode << endl;
+
+    get_bool_attribute(color, "alphaIsLuminance", shader->_alpha_is_luminance);
+    //    get_bool_attribute(color, "isVisible", test_b);
+
     MFnDependencyNode layered_fn(color);
     MPlugArray color_pa;
     MStatus status = layered_fn.getConnections(color_pa);
@@ -351,10 +361,10 @@ read_surface_color(MayaShader *shader, MObject color, bool trans) {
       /*
       string blah;
       get_enum_attribute(pl.node(),"blendMode",blah);
-      maya_cat.debug() << "blend mode :" << blah << endl;
+      maya_cat.info() << "rsc layer: blend mode :" << blah << endl;
       float alpha;
       get_maya_attribute(pl.node(),"alpha",alpha);
-      maya_cat.debug() << "alpha :" << alpha << endl;
+      maya_cat.info() << "rsc layer: alpha :" << alpha << endl;
       */
     }
   } else {
diff --git a/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShaderColorDef.h b/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShaderColorDef.h
index 9479b73c6e..c0729823a7 100755
--- a/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShaderColorDef.h
+++ b/pandatool/src/maya/mayaShaderColorDef.h
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ public:
   bool _stagger;
   bool _wrap_u;
   bool _wrap_v;
+
+  bool _alpha_is_luminance;
   
   LVector2f _repeat_uv;
   LVector2f _offset;
diff --git a/pandatool/src/mayaegg/mayaToEggConverter.cxx b/pandatool/src/mayaegg/mayaToEggConverter.cxx
index 8839d7a376..bb9481826a 100644
--- a/pandatool/src/mayaegg/mayaToEggConverter.cxx
+++ b/pandatool/src/mayaegg/mayaToEggConverter.cxx
@@ -2281,13 +2281,19 @@ set_shader_attributes(EggPrimitive &primitive, const MayaShader &shader, const M
           //tex.set_format(EggTexture::F_rgb);
         }
         
-        /*
         // if multi-textured, first texture in maya is on top, so
-        // default it to decal
-        if ((shader._color.size() > 1) && (i!=shader._color.size()-1))
-          tex.set_env_type(EggTexture::ET_decal);
-        */
-        
+        if (shader._color.size() > 1) {
+          if (i!=shader._color.size()-1) {
+            // read the _alpha_is_luminance to figure out env_type
+            if (!shader._alpha_is_luminance)
+              tex.set_env_type(EggTexture::ET_decal);
+          }
+          if (color_def->_alpha_is_luminance) {
+            // multitexture modulate mode may specify, desired alpha on/off
+            if (color_def->_alpha_is_luminance)
+              tex.set_alpha_mode(EggRenderMode::AM_off);  // Force alpha to be 'off'
+          }
+        }
       } else {  // trans_def._has_texture
         // We have a texture on transparency only.  Apply it as the
         // primary filename, and set the format accordingly.