Predictive material editor

A computer-readable medium storing instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause a graphics application to generate a user interface for a set of materials, wherein each material includes a material definition and is capable of being applied to a geometry in a graphics scene when performing a rendering operation, by performing the step of:

• determining that a first set of materials is associated with configuration information related to a computer system environment, wherein each material represents a texture map related to a selected surface and comprises a definition that specifies a set of editable material parameters for the material, and wherein each editable material parameter specifies a characteristic of the material to use in the rendering operation in which the material is applied to the geometry;
• selecting the first set of materials to be displayed in a graphical user interface;
• and
• causing the graphical user interface to be displayed to an end-user.

A computer device, comprising:

• a processing unit;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processing unit and storing instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to:
• determine that a first set of materials is associated with configuration information related to a computer system environment, wherein each material represents a texture map related to a selected surface and comprises a definition that specifies a set of editable material parameters for the material, and wherein each editable material parameter specifies a characteristic of the material to use in the rendering operation in which the material is applied to the geometry;
• select the first set of materials to be displayed in a graphical user interface;
• and
• cause the graphical user interface to be displayed to an end-user.