8

Material Editor, Materials, and
Mapping
Mater ials describe how an object reflects or
transmitslight. Withinamaterial,mapscan
simulate textures, applied designs, reflections,
refractions, and other effects. (Maps can also be
used as environments and projections from lights.)
The Material Editor is the dialog you use to create,
alter, and apply the materials in your scene.
Image by Michael McCarthy
See also
Designing Materials (page 2–1239)
Types of Mater ia ls (page 2–1301)
Material Editor (page 2–1253)
Types of Maps (page 2–1426)
Designing Materials
Materials make objects more convincing.
Thesetopicsgiveyouanoverviewofusingthe
Material Editor to design
materials (page 3–1065) .
The
Material Editor (page 2–1271) gives you a
huge number of options in material design. It
also has a large number of controls. If you aren’t
already familiar with using it, read this topic for a
general idea of working with materials, and what
the most important options are.
Material Editor, Materials, and Maps