diff --git a/cq_editor/cq_utils.py b/cq_editor/cq_utils.py
index 0c30d94..44db7de 100644
--- a/cq_editor/cq_utils.py
+++ b/cq_editor/cq_utils.py
@@ -9,10 +9,14 @@ from OCP.XCAFPrs import XCAFPrs_AISObject
 from OCP.TopoDS import TopoDS_Shape
 from OCP.AIS import AIS_InteractiveObject, AIS_Shape
 from OCP.Quantity import \
-    Quantity_TOC_RGB as TOC_RGB, Quantity_Color
+    Quantity_TOC_RGB as TOC_RGB, Quantity_Color, Quantity_NOC_GOLD as GOLD
+from OCP.Graphic3d import Graphic3d_NOM_JADE, Graphic3d_MaterialAspect
     
 from PyQt5.QtGui import QColor
 
+DEFAULT_FACE_COLOR = Quantity_Color(GOLD)
+DEFAULT_MATERIAL = Graphic3d_MaterialAspect(Graphic3d_NOM_JADE)
+
 def find_cq_objects(results : dict):
 
     return {k:SimpleNamespace(shape=v,options={}) for k,v in results.items() if isinstance(v,cq.Workplane)}
@@ -30,7 +34,7 @@ def to_compound(obj : Union[cq.Workplane, List[cq.Workplane], cq.Shape, List[cq.
     elif isinstance(obj,list) and isinstance(obj[0],cq.Shape):
         vals.extend(obj)
     elif isinstance(obj, TopoDS_Shape):
-        vals.append(cq.Shape.cast(obj))        
+        vals.append(cq.Shape.cast(obj))
     elif isinstance(obj,list) and isinstance(obj[0],TopoDS_Shape):
         vals.extend(cq.Shape.cast(o) for o in obj)
     elif hasattr(obj, "wrapped") and isinstance(obj.wrapped, TopoDS_Shape):
@@ -68,14 +72,17 @@ def make_AIS(obj : Union[cq.Workplane, List[cq.Workplane], cq.Shape, List[cq.Sha
         shape = to_compound(obj)
         ais = AIS_Shape(shape.wrapped)
    
+    set_material(ais, DEFAULT_MATERIAL)
+    set_color(ais, DEFAULT_FACE_COLOR)
+    
     if 'alpha' in options:
-        ais.SetTransparency(options['alpha'])
+        set_transparency(ais, options['alpha'])
     if 'color' in options:
-        ais.SetColor(to_occ_color(options['color']))
+        set_color(ais, to_occ_color(options['color']))
     if 'rgba' in options:
         r,g,b,a = options['rgba']
-        ais.SetColor(to_occ_color((r,g,b)))
-        ais.SetTransparency(a)
+        set_color(ais, to_occ_color((r,g,b)))
+        set_transparency(ais, a)
 
     return ais,shape
 
@@ -122,10 +129,27 @@ def get_occ_color(obj : Union[AIS_InteractiveObject, Quantity_Color]) -> QColor:
 def set_color(ais : AIS_Shape, color : Quantity_Color) -> AIS_Shape:
 
     drawer = ais.Attributes()
+    drawer.SetupOwnShadingAspect()
     drawer.ShadingAspect().SetColor(color)
 
     return ais
 
+def set_material(ais : AIS_Shape, material: Graphic3d_MaterialAspect) -> AIS_Shape:
+
+    drawer = ais.Attributes()
+    drawer.SetupOwnShadingAspect()
+    drawer.ShadingAspect().SetMaterial(material)
+
+    return ais
+
+def set_transparency(ais : AIS_Shape, alpha: float) -> AIS_Shape:
+
+    drawer = ais.Attributes()
+    drawer.SetupOwnShadingAspect()
+    drawer.ShadingAspect().SetTransparency(alpha)
+
+    return ais
+
 def reload_cq():
     
     # NB: order of reloads is important