---
title: "Material"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/PREFSMATERIAL-PREF_MM_MAIN_GROUP.html"
section_path: "Configuration > Preferences > Material"
element_id: "PREFSMATERIAL"
group_id: "PREF_MM_MAIN_GROUP"
description: "The material preview in the Material Editor, Attribute Manager and Node Editor is (almost) freely configurable. You can make all the relevant settings …"
---

## Material

The material preview in the **Material Editor**, **Attribute Manager** and **Node Editor** is (almost) freely configurable. You can make all the relevant settings here.

![Image: subgroup.gif](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/subgroup.gif)\
Material Preview

### Default Size

Parameter ID: `PREF_MM_SIZE`

Defines the size of the material preview in the Material Editor/Attribute Manager or Node Editor.

### Shader Default Project

Parameter ID: `PREF_MM_SHSCENE`

Defines the scene that is displayed as a preview for the shader preview (see also [material preview](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/5863.html.md)).

### Material Default Project

Parameter ID: `PREF_MM_MATSCENE`

Defines the scene that is displayed as a preview for the material preview (see also [material preview](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/5863.html.md)).

### Frame Rate (FPS)

Parameter ID: `PREF_MM_FRATE` · Range: [1..100]

As the material preview can also be animated (see also [Material Preview](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/5863.html.md)), set the frame rate at which the animation is to be played here.

### Preview Length (sec)

Parameter ID: `PREF_MM_PREV` · Range: [0..2147483647]

Here you define the length of the (looping) animated material preview.

![Image: subgroup.gif](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/subgroup.gif)\
Node-based Materials

### Node Preview Size

Parameter ID: `PREF_MM_NODE_PREVIEW_SIZE`

Set the size of the two previews (Node and material) in the Attribute Manager of the Node Editor (Preview tab).

### 3D Preview Scene

Parameter ID: `PREF_MM_NODE_MAT_PREVIEW_SCENE`

Here you can define the scene that is to be used for the Node materials in the Node Editor (Basic tab).

![Image: subgroup.gif](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/subgroup.gif)\
Material Manager

### Default Material

Parameter ID: `PREF_MM_DEFAULT_MATERIAL`

Set here for the Material Manager which material should be created when you create a new material (see also [Default Material](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/5809.html.md)) create.

- **Auto**: a material is created to match the set renderer. For example, a physical material is created with the physical renderer or an RS standard material with Redshift.
- **Standard**: a [material](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/MMATERIAL.html.md) with activated color channel and "old-fashioned" reflectivity channel settings.
- **Physical**: a [material](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/MMATERIAL-ID_MATERIALGROUP_REFLECTION.html.md) that functions physically correctly via its reflectivity channel.
- **About**: a [material](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/NET_MAXON_NODE_UBERMATERIAL_NODE.html.md) based on Nodes with numerous material channels.
- **Node**: an empty [material](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/NET_MAXON_NODE_UBERMATERIAL_NODE.html.md) based on Nodes.
- **Sketch**: a [Sketch material](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/MTOONUP.html.md).
- **Hair**: a [Hair material](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/6255.html.md).

### Always Open Node Editor

Parameter ID: `PREF_MM_ALWAYS_OPEN_NODE_EDITOR`

Node materials can be opened in either the Material Editor or the Node Editor. Decide here how this should be handled when double-clicking on a material.