If you select a surface or 3D geometry in the scene before adding a Shader node, a shader inclusion link is automatically applied; otherwise, the shader is applied to all objects. You can also apply inclusion and exclusion links manually. You may want a shader to only affect an individual or specific group of objects, or prevent a shader from affecting an individual or specific group of objects.

To apply selective shading:

1. Add a shader to the scene.

   All objects are affected.

   
   

2. Select Lighting from the Edit Mode box (or press l).
3. To affect only a selected object, click the Shader node, and drag it to an object you want affected.

   The selected object is connected to the shader by a blue dotted line with an arrow, and only the selected objects are affected.

   
   

   (a) Shader inclusion link  

4. To exclude an object, hold the Alt key while clicking and dragging from the shader to the object you do not want affected.

   Excluded surfaces are connected to the shader by a red dotted line with an “X”, and they are not affected by the shader.

   
   

   (a) Shader exclusion link