Increased applied interest of micro-nanolithography to the fabrication of geometrical and optical patterns, photonic crystals and other elements of photonics on functional light-sensitive layers enhances basic investigations of stimulated structural, geometrical and optical transformations in these materials as well as of the recording technology in general. Objectives of our work were the research and development of light-sensitive materials for applications, based on the stimulated changes of optical absorption, refraction and, especially, of the volume or layer thickness and density in the direct, one-step fabrication process.   Investigations were focused on the formation of giant (height modulation from nanometers up to micrometers) geometrical reliefs. The results of spot, lines and periodical, 2D or even 3D relief recording on simple As(Ge)-S(Se) amorphous chalcogenide layers or nanocomposites, made of chalcogenide glasses and gold nanoparticles, as well as on acrylate-based nanocomposites with gold and oxide nanoparticles will be presented. The excitation of plasmon fields of gold nanoparticles in the nanocomposite was used for the enhancement of the recording process. Additional functionalization of polymer nanocomposites and formatted structures by luminescent nanoparticles was realized.     Besides optical the direct surface patterning by focused electron or ion (proton, Ar+, He+) beams  is also possible in these materials and it is applicable for fabrication of photonic elements. Results were used for better understanding the phenomena of light- or particle-induced mass transport, including the diffusion of nanoparticles in the process of optical and/or geometrical relief recording and for the selection of optimum compositions, irradiation parameters which influence the quality of the fabricated photonic elements.