Though 3D surfaces in Maya LT respond to light similarly to those in the real world, there are important differences in the way that surfaces and lights interact in computer graphics software. Material nodes are a type of render node (see Render nodes) that, when applied to an object, let you define how the object’s surface appears when rendered.
See also Surface shading.
In Maya LT, surface material nodes help you define how surfaces react to light.
You can set a material’s attributes, such as color, specularity, reflectivity, transparency, and surface detail of scene elements to create a wide variety of realistic images.
When you first create an object, Maya LT assigns a Phong material (a surface material) by default.
Surface materials represent the types of surfaces onto which you can map textures. Attributes such as shininess, matte, reflectivity, glossiness, and so on, vary among the different types of materials in Maya LT. For example, if the texture requires a shiny surface, such as chrome, use a Phong material.
For a detailed description of a surface material’s attributes, see Surface material nodes.