Material accuracy is not a final polish step. It begins with usable references, correct scale and a shared understanding of how the material should behave under the intended light.
Close-range details such as stitching, joints and edge conditions matter because they reveal whether the scene has been assembled carefully. Normal maps can add depth, but incorrect scale or direction makes a surface less credible.
A useful review process separates geometry, material response and lighting. That lets the team identify the actual source of an error instead of repeatedly adjusting the complete image.