What you'll learn

In this Maya tutorial we will learn how to simulate the light-scattering appearance of a diffraction grating, which can be seen when looking at the surface of a CD or a DVD. While Maya may not have the capability to simulate a true diffraction grating, we can create a shading network that can very closely mimic the effect. We will learn how to use ramps, layered shaders, anisotropic materials, texture placement nodes, and specular lights to create a realistic rendered CD. Software required: Maya.