# Materials

## <img src="/files/T7hrOBHr2MVnB9tUrTyX" alt="" data-size="line"> Materials

The Materials command opens the Materials panel which specifies the color, finish, transparency, texture, and bump for use by the built-in Rhino renderer.

**Materials panel toolbar**

The Materials panel has additional browsing tools.

**Add material**&#x20;

Click to select an action to create a new material.

<img src="/files/sxvqMkqeWtPe42pnAquR" alt="" data-size="line">**Import from material library**

Imports a material (.rmtl) from the Render Content library folder.

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/add_pbr_textures.png" alt="" data-size="line">**Create Physically Based material from texture files**

Creates a physically based material from image files, or a PBR texture set (.zip).

**Steps**

1. Select one or more image files, or a PBR texture set (.zip).

   Free or paid PBR texture sets can be [downloaded](https://www.google.com/search?q=PBR+material+download) from the Internet.
2. In the [Texture Selection](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/information/pbr_texture_selection.htm) dialog, set the material name, texture assignment, texture mapping, and units.

<img src="/files/Q4VWdA9DEXdnVHmXCCmG" alt="" data-size="line">**Choose existing**

Creates a new material by using an existing material as the template.

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/material_blend.png" alt="" data-size="line">**Blend**

Creates a new [blend](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/materials.htm#blend_panel) material.

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/material_custom.png" alt="" data-size="line">**Custom**

Creates a new [custom](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/materials.htm#custom) material.

Custom materials have all possible settings available in the editor.

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/material_doublesided.png" alt="" data-size="line">**Double Sided**

Creates a new [double sided](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/materials.htm#doublesided_panel) material.

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/material_emission.png" alt="" data-size="line">**Emission**

Creates a new [emission](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/materials.htm#emission_panel) material.

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/material_gem.png" alt="" data-size="line">**Gem**

Creates a new [gem](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/materials.htm#gem_panel) material.

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/material_glass.png" alt="" data-size="line">**Glass**

Creates a new [glass](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/materials.htm#glass_panel) material.

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/material_metal.png" alt="" data-size="line">**Metal**

Creates a new [metal](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/materials.htm#metal_panel) material.

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/material_paint.png" alt="" data-size="line">**Paint**

Creates a new [paint](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/materials.htm#paint_panel) material.

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/material_pbr.png" alt="" data-size="line">**Physically Based**

Creates a new [physically based](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/materials.htm#physicallybased) material.

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/material_picture.png" alt="" data-size="line">**Picture**

Creates a new [picture](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/materials.htm#picture_panel) material.

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/material_plaster.png" alt="" data-size="line">**Plaster**

Creates a new [plaster](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/materials.htm#plaster_panel) material.

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/material_plastic.png" alt="" data-size="line">**Plastic**

Creates a new [plastic](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/materials.htm#plastic_panel) material.

<img src="/files/QPaaTJDGSEMiArZAVS0T" alt="" data-size="line">**More types...**

Creates a new material from the [Material Type Browser](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/information/contenttypebrowser_materials.htm) dialog.

<img src="/files/zr9kLRZlP75mMdjnepZ9" alt="" data-size="line">**Search**

* Click the search box (magnifying glass) to display a menu for searching names, notes, or tags.

<img src="/files/CHBoF52en0HtCJcBLYqH" alt="" data-size="line">**Search Names**

Limits the search to names.

<img src="/files/bEcyj94ncxumFv7qPuEh" alt="" data-size="line">**Search Notes**

Limits the search to notes.

<img src="/files/M79FYLbxEI4oWGG8vODo" alt="" data-size="line">**Search Tags**

Limits the search to tags.

* When tags: is selected, a list of available tags appears. These tags are gathered from the materials, environments, and textures in the document.
* In the tags list, arrow keys move up and down and the selected tag is appended to the search.
* Type a semicolon to keep the selected tag and append a semicolon to the search.
* Backspace removes the last tag from the search.
* Once the focus is on the tags list, you can navigate the list using the keyboard with the semicolon and backspace keys appending and removing tags from the search without having to use the mouse.

**Thumbnail indicators**

The icons at the lower-right corner of a material thumbnail indicate the status of the material.

![](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/topic_illustrations/material_indicators.png)

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/content_in_use.png" alt="" data-size="line">The material is used by objects not in selection.

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/content_in_use_selected.png" alt="" data-size="line">The material is used by objects in selection.

<img src="https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/image/icons/content_incomplete.png" alt="" data-size="line">At least one external image used by the material is missing.

* Pointing the mouse cursor to the icon shows information about the missing images.
* If any missing image is detected when Rhino opens a model, the [Missing image files](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/renderreportimagefiles.htm) dialog appears.
* The [Save textures](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/save.htm#SaveTextures) option in the [Save](https://docs.mcneel.com/rhino/8/help/en-us/commands/save.htm) dialog stores images in the 3dm file to prevent images from missing.


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