Material PropertiesColor: This channel applies color, textured patterns, or images to the surface.

Material PropertiesSpecular: This channel creates the highlights that appear on surfaces from reflected light. Some highlights are small and bright, like shiny metal, others are larger and duller like plastic.

Material PropertiesBump: This channel provides surface texture as most objects are not perfectly smooth. Bump requires a texture map or procedural shader of some sort. Darker areas can make an extrusion or depression on the surface.

Rust ShaderTexture Map

Material PropertiesReflection: This will cause your object to show reflections of other objects on its surface.

Reflection channel set on the floor object

Material PropertiesAlpha: An alpha channel works similar to a mask in photoshop; black will block the image (making it invisible) and white will reveal the image. Using black and white images on an alpha channel allows you to create holes in objects.

Material PropertiesBy combing channels realistic objects and scenes can be created.

Material PropertiesDemonstration project creating sample materials.