---
title: "Get Shading Context"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/NET_MAXON_PATTERN_NODE_UTILITY_SHADINGCONTEXT.html"
section_path: "The Node Editor > The individual Assets > Context > Get Shading Context"
element_id: "NET_MAXON_PATTERN_NODE_UTILITY_SHADINGCONTEXT"
description: "This page describes the Get Shading Context node of the classic node materials in Cinema 4D. It exposes render-time sample data — surface position …"
---

# Get Shading Context

> **Note:** **What is it about?**
>
> This page describes the **Get Shading Context node** of the classic node materials in **Cinema 4D**. It exposes render-time sample data — surface position, smoothed normals — the deepest access level for custom shading.

This Node offers comprehensive access to data that is in part first created during rendering, e.g., the position of each render sample on the surface or the smoothed surface Normal at that location. By modifying these settings and returning the information via the Get Context Node, effects can be achieved that you could have only dreamed of – until now.

The context read out here can also be assigned using a separate input. Normally, the lion's share of this information will be taken, among others, from the Texture, UVW, Normal and Phong tags.