1. A method for generating a file structure that represents a library of materials, wherein the materials can be applied to geometry in a graphics scene when performing rendering operations, the method comprising: generating a class file that includes material parameters representing rendering characteristics of a material class; generating a library root file that includes a reference to the class file; generating a rendering implementation file for translating values of the material parameters into a format recognized by a particular rendering engine; generating a user interface file that includes at least one user interface configured to allow a user to modify the values of the material parameters; linking the class file to the library root file; generating a rendering implementation file structure that includes one or more files that link the class file and the rendering implementation file; and generating a user interface file structure that includes one or more files that link the class file and the user interface file.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the library root file, the class file, the rendering implementation file, and the user interface file comprise XML files.