What is Physically Based Rendering (PBR)?
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What is Physically Based Rendering (PBR)?
Definition Physically Based Rendering (PBR)
Physically Based Rendering (PBR) is a material and rendering approach that uses physical properties of surfaces – such as Albedo (base color), Roughness (micro-roughness), and Metalness. This allows materials to react consistently and realistically in any lighting setup. For brands, this means: uniform product looks across all channels, without having to readjust lighting and shaders every time.
The most important PBR maps
- Albedo (Base Color): pure color information without light/shadow.
- Normal MapSimulates surface structure for light calculation without increasing geometry.
- Roughness Mapcontrols micro-roughness → how much highlights "smear" or are clearly reflected.
- Metalness (Metallic) Map: defines whether a pixel is metallic (reflects energy differently).
- Ambient Occlusion (AO): darkens crevices/edges to enhance contact shadows.
You can also find a guide about the most important PBR materials at Adobe/Substance 3D PBR Guide.
Examples of PBR Maps
Which PBR map do I need for rendering?
More information about textures & material creation: Material & Surface Digitization as well as Surface Visualization.
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This is what Physically Based Rendering (PBR) looks like in everyday life: Using the same map types (Albedo/Base Color, Roughness Map, Normal, Metalness), we create realistic material properties for wood, fabric and glass - consistently across all product series
Workflow at Danthree
- Scan / Digitization – Surfaces (wood, fabrics, metals) are scanned or procedurally generated.
- Map Creation – Albedo, Normal, Roughness, Metallic, AO etc.
- Look-Dev & Shader-Setup – Integrating the maps in the render engine.
- Test Render – Checking different lighting setups; Adjustments to Roughness/Metalness.
- Approval & Asset Library – Material migrates to your central 3D asset library.
More about the process: 3D Visualization Studio and 3D Modeling.
PBR vs. classic Shading (Specular/Glossiness)
FAQ - What is Physically Based Rendering (PBR)?
What's the difference between PBR and classic shading?
Classic shading often uses Diffuse/Specular/Glossiness and requires manual tweaking for each lighting setup. PBR uses physical parameters (Roughness/Metalness, etc.), making materials react consistently everywhere. You can find more background information in the NVIDIA GTC Talk: Physically Based Shading in Practice.
What's the minimum number of maps I need for PBR?
Albedo, Roughness, Metallic, and Normal are considered the basics. Ambient Occlusion is optional but can improve contact shadows. You can find an overview of the parameters in Adobe Dimension: Standard Materials (PBR-Parameter)
Can I convert existing materials to PBR?
Yes. Diffuse becomes Albedo, and Specular/Glossiness can be converted into Metal/Roughness. Conversion tables or tools in your 3D software can help with this.
Where can I get PBR textures?
Either through your own digitization (scan/photogrammetry) or from libraries. Pay attention to license rights and the consistency of the maps. You can also find information on the standardized PBR set at Khronos glTF 2.0