Advances in Physically Based Rendering (PBR) for Realistic 3D Animation

We live in a time when technology advances rapidly, and we expect more and more realism and quality from the digital media we consume. To meet this demand, we need the right tools (such as apps, plugins, or executables) and the right technique. That’s where physically-based rendering (PBR) comes in: a modern solution for creating realistic and stunning 3D graphics.

Physically based rendering is a method of shading and rendering that provides a more accurate representation of how light interacts with material properties. PBR is based on real-world values, making it more consistent and realistic under all lighting conditions, and widely used in the video game and film industry and online 3D platforms such as Sketchfab.

In this blog post, we will explore some of the advances and benefits of physical-based rendering (PBR) for realistic 3D animation and how it compares to traditional 2D animation techniques. We will also look at examples of PBR animations and how they are created using software tools such as Adobe Substance 3D and Blender.

What Is PBR, And How Does It Work?

PBR simulates how light behaves in the real world based on physical laws and formulas. PBR takes into account the following factors:

• The surface’s base color defines its hue and saturation.
• The surface’s metallic property determines how reflective it is. Metals have high metallic values and reflect their color, while non-metals have low metallic values and reflect the color of the environment.
• The surface’s roughness property defines how smooth or rough it is. Rough surfaces scatter light more and have blurry reflections, while smooth surfaces reflect light more sharply and have clear reflections.
• The normal map of the surface, which defines its small-scale details and bumps, can create the illusion of depth and texture on a flat surface by altering the direction of the light rays.
• The surface’s ambient occlusion map defines how much ambient light reaches each point on the surface. Ambient occlusion maps can create realistic shadows and crevices on a surface by darkening the areas occluded by other objects.
• The emissive property of the surface defines how much light it emits. Emissive surfaces can create glowing effects and self-illumination.

PBR can use these properties to create realistic-looking materials that invariably react to different lighting scenarios. For example, a metal object will look shiny and reflective in bright sunlight but dull and dark in a dimly lit room. A rough object will look more diffuse and less specular than a smooth object under any lighting condition.

Why Use PBR For Realistic 3D Animation?

PBR has several advantages over traditional 2D animation techniques, such as:

• Photorealism:Physically Based Rendering can create lifelike materials that match the appearance of real-world objects. PBR can also handle complex lighting effects such as reflections, refractions, shadows, global illumination, subsurface scattering, etc. This can create a more immersive and believable experience for the viewers.
• Consistency: Physically Based Rendering can ensure the materials look the same under any lighting environment without requiring manual adjustments or tweaking. This can save time and effort for the artists and provide a coherent visual style across different scenes and platforms.
• Sustainability: Physically Based Rendering is a standardized workflow that different artists and tools can quickly adapt. PBR can also be scalable and adaptable to varying levels of quality and performance, depending on the target platform and audience.

How Does PBR Compare To Ray Tracing In Terms Of Realism And Performance?

PBR and ray tracing are two different aspects of 3D rendering that can be used together or separately. PBR is a method of shading and rendering that provides a more accurate representation of how light interacts with material properties based on real-world values and physical laws. Ray tracing is a technique that simulates how light bounces by following a ray of light as it strikes and reflects off the surfaces in the scene. PBR can create realistic-looking materials that match the appearance of real-world objects, while ray tracing can handle complex lighting effects such as reflections, refractions, shadows, global illumination, etc. PBR can simplify and streamline the workflow of creating 3D graphics by providing consistent and accurate results without requiring manual adjustments or tweaking. At the same time, ray tracing can enhance the visual quality and immersion of 3D graphics by creating lifelike physics of light transport. However, ray tracing is also more computationally expensive and slower than PBR and may require special hardware or software support.

Examples Of PBR And Ray Tracing Applications Are:

• 3D Animation And Rendering: PBR and ray tracing can create realistic and stunning 3D graphics for films, TV shows, commercials, etc. For example, the 2019 remake of The Lion King used PBR and ray tracing to create photorealistic animals and environments, a new PBR Material serving Mobile, Web, Real-time Engines and Raytracing 
• Video Games: PBR and ray tracing can enhance the visual quality and immersion of video games by creating life-like materials, lighting, shadows, reflections, etc. For example, Se Nua’s Saga: Hellblade II uses Unreal Engine 4 and Microsoft’s Azure cloud technology to create realistic graphics and animations with PBR and ray tracing. Here is the ray tracing application.
• Online 3D Platforms: PBR and ray tracing can be used to create and display 3D models and scenes on the web with high fidelity and interactivity. For example, Sketchfab is an online platform that supports PBR and ray tracing for 3D content creation.
•  Product Design and Virtual Prototyping: PBR and ray tracing can be used to design, simulate, test, and visualize products and systems realistically before manufacturing or deployment. For example, Nvidia’s RealityServer platform uses PBR and ray tracing to create interactive 3D applications for product visualization.
• Radio Propagation Modeling: Ray tracing can be used to model and analyze the behavior of radio waves in complex environments such as urban areas, buildings, tunnels, etc. For example, ray tracing can be used to estimate the coverage, interference, fading, etc. of wireless communication systems

Where Do People Use PBR For 3D Stuff?

Physically Based Rendering finds widespread usage in various industries and applications related to 3D graphics. Here are some common areas where PBR is utilized:

1. Video Games: PBR is extensively used in the gaming industry to create realistic and immersive virtual worlds. It enables game developers to achieve visually stunning graphics by accurately simulating material properties and lighting interactions. PBR enhances the quality of game assets, including characters, environments, and objects, resulting in more visually appealing and believable gaming experiences.

2. Film and Animation: PBR plays a significant role in the production and computer-generated animation. PBR helps create visually realistic and detailed scenes by accurately representing materials and lighting. It allows for the seamless integration of 3D elements into live-action footage, enhances visual effects, and contributes to the cinematic experience.

3. Architectural Visualization: PBR techniques are widely used in architectural visualization to create realistic renderings of buildings and interiors. It enables architects and designers to showcase their designs accurately, representing materials, lighting, and shadows. PBR helps clients and stakeholders visualize and evaluate architectural concepts, improving communication and decision-making in the construction industry.

• • Product Design and Manufacturing: PBR is employed in product design and manufacturing workflows to create virtual prototypes and visualizations. It allows designers to accurately represent the physical properties of materials, simulate lighting conditions, and assess the visual impact of their designs. PBR aids in creating compelling product visualizations, marketing materials, and presentations.

4. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): PBR is integrated with VR and AR technologies to enhance the visual fidelity and realism of virtual experiences. It enables users to perceive virtual objects and environments as accurate, resulting in more immersive and engaging VR/AR applications across various industries, including gaming, education, training, and simulation.

5. Industrial Simulations: PBR is used in industrial simulations to visualize and analyze complex systems accurately. It helps create realistic simulations of machines, vehicles, and environments, allowing engineers and operators to study and optimize performance, conduct training, and evaluate safety measures.

PBR is widely used in the gaming industry, film and animation production, architectural visualization, product design, virtual reality, augmented reality, and industrial simulations. Its ability to achieve realistic material representation and accurate lighting interactions makes it a valuable tool in various 3D-related applications.

How To Create PBR Animations?

To create PBR animations, you need two main components: a 3D model and a set of PBR materials. A 3D model is a digital representation of an object or character that defines its shape, size, topology, rigging, etc. A PBR material is a collection of textures and parameters that define how the surface of the 3D model looks and behaves under light.

There are many software tools that can help you create 3D models and PBR materials for realistic 3D animation. Some of them are:

• Adobe Substance 3D: Adobe Substance 3D is a suite of tools that allows you to create, edit, paint, bake, animate, and render 3D models and materials with PBR. For example, you can use Substance Painter to paint your models with realistic brushes and effects, Substance Designer to create procedural materials from scratch or from scanned data, Substance Alchemist to transform images into materials with AI-powered features, Substance Sampler to capture real-world materials with your camera or phone, Substance Stager to compose your scenes with lights and cameras, and Substance Launcher to access all your assets and projects from one place.
• Blender: Blender is a free, open-source 3D creation software that supports PBR. Blender can model, sculpt, rig, animate, simulate, render, and composite your 3D scenes. Blender has a powerful node-based material editor allowing you to create and tweak PBR materials easily. Blender also has a built-in real-time renderer called Eevee that can display high-fidelity PBR materials in the viewport.

Examples of PBR Animations

Here are some examples of realistic 3D animations that use PBR:

• The Heretic: The Heretic is a short film by Unity Technologies that showcases the capabilities of the Unity engine for creating cinematic-quality graphics with PBR. The Heretic film features a mysterious character with a realistic human face, a futuristic outfit, and stunning environments and effects. The film was created using Unity’s High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP), which supports advanced PBR features such as layered materials, volumetric lighting, screen-space reflections, etc.
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II: Hellblade II is an upcoming video game by Ninja Theory that follows the journey of a Celtic warrior with psychosis. The Senua’s Saga game uses Unreal Engine 4 and Microsoft’s Azure cloud technology to create realistic graphics and animations with PBR. The game features a highly detailed and expressive character model of Senua and immersive landscapes and atmospheres.

Conclusion

PBR is a powerful technique for creating realistic 3D animations that can enhance your projects’ visual quality and immersion. PBR can also simplify and streamline your workflow by providing consistent and accurate results under lighting conditions. To create PBR animations, you must use software tools that support PBR, such as Adobe Substance 3D and Blender. You can also get inspired by some fantastic examples of online PBR animations. If you want to learn more about PBR and how to use it for your 3D projects, contact us today and we will help you get started.