---
title: "PxrSurface - Material Layering"
canonical: "https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/RU/619806721/PxrSurface%20-%20Material%20Layering"
format: markdown
---
![RenderManXPU_Bike.jpg](media://eaf4ebec-675e-4d87-b2ca-bf93fdaaaf8f)

Shading artists at Pixar commonly layer materials for props, sets, and environments, enabling the creative control that layering offers.  Being able to control the amount of dirt on top of a clean prop between shots or simply altering a prop's look and feel based on feedback from the film’s Shading lead or the film’s director, such as:

## *‘Can you make this prop a little less dirty in this shot?’ *

or

## *‘This prop needs to feel more damaged in this sequence’*


Having a procedural and layered workflow to materials allows the artist to quickly refine the look of the asset without having to go back and re-paint the textures, export them all, and re-render.

Layering materials using the PxrSurface is the creative heart of materials at Pixar, so this page is dedicated to helping you understand the basics and versatility of layering materials so you can apply the techniques in your work.

Whilst this subject can get quite complex, let’s not worry too much at this point about diving down into the finer details.

The video below will give you the basic concepts

> Macro (widget)



> ℹ️ <span style="color: #ffffff">**Example Renders**</span>

![BikeRender01.jpg](media://733b0858-23e1-47fd-afc9-2cb56972ce6c)

![RenderManFundaMentals_MidnightRebel_Teaser.mp4](media://025b7c8c-9b34-4829-9b6e-639c1e6ec22c)