---
title: "Spectral Shader"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XSPECTRAL.html"
section_path: "Material Manager > Classic Materials > Classic material > Channel Shaders > Spectral Shader"
element_id: "XSPECTRAL"
description: "The Spectral shader is ideal for prismatic or iridescent effects such as shiny pearls or the shiny colors on a CD. The calculation of this effect takes …"
---

# Spectral Shader

The Spectral shader is ideal for prismatic or iridescent effects such as shiny pearls or the shiny colors on a CD. The calculation of this effect takes the camera perspective and the angle between the light source and surface into account. In general, the Spectral shader should be primarily used in a Specular layer (under Layer: Color) in the Reflectance channel.

![Image: 004440.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/004440.jpg)

> **Tip:** Tip:Note also the [Thinfilm Shader](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XTHINFILM.html.md), which will render these types of physical effects correctly.