It is very easy to see how you can use these elemnts in 3dsMax,
1.Specify the ambient color and the diffused color of an object.
2.Specify the specular, reflective, and luminosity material properties of objects.
3.Add filters to an object.
4.Create various surface patterns such as smoke, tiles, and swirls.
5.Compare and contrast techniques for simulating land and water.
6.Create reflections and refractions on objects.
7.Compare, contrast and use opacity versus transparency
8.Create maps that will wrap an image onto an object.
9.Create maps that will modify the surface of an object.
10.Apply environmental maps for modifying background images