As the introduction of the chapter has to a large extent already set out what we want to accomplish here, we can very quickly define our goals for this stage of the project, noting really that they are twofold at this point.

First, we want to increase our personal understanding of just why it is that objects we see in the real world look the way they do. And secondly, we want to stir up in ourselves a desire, a thirst if you like, for gaining ever deeper insights into the workings of the world around us. This will then hopefully stimulate and cause us to make further investigation and experimentation a part of the typical approach we take to all of our lighting- and material-based projects. In fact, this secondary objective should really be considered a critical element in the ongoing development of any 3D artist.