Hi every one, I am new to maya!

I have been working with Max for 1 year, just on my free time, and I am ready to get serious. I have a few questions about materials that I would like to ask.

How do you deside what kind of maps to use, like for intance I want to make a mirror - How the heck do I do that, I dont want a tutorial, I just want some one to make sence of the whole thing! I am interested in a carrer as a envoirmental artist, and I want to find out some resources about materials and such. I can really only find short information on it, one material at a time, I really would like to find a book, or some advice on why you do what you do to get what you want.. get it? I hope some one can understand that~ I want to make my own only!


Thanks for any help you can give.