SL Forums - Importing from Maya to SL. How? From: Gabriel Reich I would like to add bump maps, textures (like metal, stone, and skin), and just add a bit more realism.
The Hypershade is your friend. It allows you to create shader networks very quickly, using an intuitive, node-based, hypergraph format. For best results, the Hypershade should be used in conjunction with the Attribute Editor (found on the right hand side of the main Maya window). Here's a quick tutorial to make a shader with a 3D bump map and a 2D color texture: Medieval Mosques Illuminated by Math.