💡 Materials and shaders are essential components in 3D rendering that define the appearance of surfaces. 👉 Materials determine how an object interacts with light, giving it properties like color, texture, and reflectivity. 👉 Shaders are algorithms that calculate these interactions, producing effects such as transparency, glossiness, and shadows. Having a basic knowledge of materials and shaders is crucial for rendering stunning images because they control the visual realism of your 3D models.