What this book covers

Chapter 1, Overview of Materials in Cycles, explains how Cycles materials work and their main characteristics. You will learn how to build a basic Cycles material, add textures, use lamps or light-emitting objects, use volume materials, set displacement, and set the World.

Chapter 2, Managing Cycles Materials, shows you how to manage and organize the Cycles textures and materials, create node groups, and build libraries to link or append the materials from.

Chapter 3, Creating Natural Materials in Cycles, covers the process of creating several types of basic natural materials using mainly procedurals but also some image textures.

Chapter 4, Creating Man-made Materials in Cycles, explains the creation process of several types of man-made materials using procedurals and textures.

Chapter 5, Creating Complex Natural Materials in Cycles, teaches you the creation of more complex natural materials using mainly procedurals.

Chapter 6, Creating More Complex Man-made Materials, covers the creation of some more elaborate man-made materials using procedurals and textures.

Chapter 7, Subsurface Scattering in Cycles, explains the use of the Subsurface Scattering node, some ways to simulate the Subsurface Scattering effect in Cycles, and how to build a fake Subsurface Scattering node group.

Chapter 8, Creating Organic Materials, demonstrates the creation of several types of organic shaders that try to use only procedural textures where possible. You will learn how to create hair, fur, and a layered human skin shader in Cycles.

Chapter 9, Special Materials, explains the use of volume materials. You will then be able to create clouds, smoke, fire, and many other special effects.