"Gathering materials" is the phrase used to describe the process of collecting resources for a specific purpose.
This phrase is commonly used in a variety of contexts, such as in art and design, research, writing, and more. For example, an artist might gather materials for a painting, while a researcher might gather materials for a study.
Here are some examples of "gathering materials" in Engpsh with Chinese translations:
"I'm gathering materials for my presentation next week." (我正在为下周的演讲搜集资料。)
"She spent the afternoon gathering materials for her art project." (她花了整个下午搜集她艺术项目的材料。)
"The historian spent years gathering materials for his book." (这位历史学家花了数年时间搜集他的书的资料。)