Lights and cameras simulate their real-world counterparts.

Lights can be artificial, or they can be physically accurate. 3ds Max includes a model of sunshine.

Cameras frame the scene, providing a controllable point of view. You can animate camera movement, and simulate real-world effects such as depth-of-field.

Materials control how an object looks: dull or shiny, red or blue, and so on.

Maps add effects to materials, simulating textures, applied designs, reflections, and other properties.