<!--
{
  "availability" : [
    "iOS: 8.0.0 - 26.0.0",
    "iPadOS: 8.0.0 - 26.0.0",
    "macCatalyst: 13.1.0 - 26.0.0",
    "macOS: 10.8.0 - 26.0.0",
    "tvOS: 9.0.0 - 26.0.0",
    "visionOS: 1.0.0 - 26.0.0",
    "watchOS: 3.0.0 - 26.0.0"
  ],
  "documentType" : "symbol",
  "framework" : "SceneKit",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/SceneKit/SCNMaterial/diffuse",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "Instance Property",
  "symbol" : {
    "kind" : "Instance Property",
    "modules" : [
      "SceneKit"
    ],
    "preciseIdentifier" : "c:objc(cs)SCNMaterial(py)diffuse"
  },
  "title" : "diffuse"
}
-->

# diffuse

An object that manages the material’s diffuse response to lighting.

```
var diffuse: SCNMaterialProperty { get }
```

## Discussion

Diffuse shading describes the amount and color of light reflected equally in all directions from each point on the material’s surface. The diffuse color of a pixel is independent of the point of view, so it can be thought of as a material’s “base” color or texture.

By default, the diffuse property’s [`contents`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNMaterialProperty/contents) object is a white color. The figure below shows the effect of setting the diffuse property’s contents to a texture image on a material whose other properties have default contents.

![](images/com.apple.scenekit/media-2934160@2x.png)

The material’s [`lightingModel`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNMaterial/lightingModel-swift.property) property determines the formula SceneKit uses to combine its diffuse color and other visual properties with lights and other contents in a scene to produce the final color for each rendered pixel in the rendered scene. For details, see `Lighting Models`.

## See Also

[`specular`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNMaterial/specular)

An object that manages the material’s specular response to lighting.

[`reflective`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNMaterial/reflective)

An object that defines the reflected color for each point on a surface.

[`multiply`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNMaterial/multiply)

An object that provides color values that are multiplied with pixels in a material after all other shading is complete.

[`ambient`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNMaterial/ambient)

An object that manages the material’s response to ambient lighting.

[`normal`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNMaterial/normal)

An object that defines the nominal orientation of the surface at each point for use in lighting.

[`emission`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNMaterial/emission)

An object that defines the color emitted by each point on a surface.

[`transparent`](/documentation/SceneKit/SCNMaterial/transparent)

An object that determines the opacity of each point in a material.


---

Copyright &copy; 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)