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

We live in a time when technology advances rapidly, shaping the future of animation as we expect 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. And with AI-driven innovations redefining animation workflows, the possibilities for enhancing realism are expanding even further.

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. Its ability to enhance realism not only elevates visual quality but also taps into the subtle psychological elements that make animated content more engaging and immersive. PBR is 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 physically-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.
• What can be the reflection measurement of an object is determined by its metallic properties. It goes without saying that metals have high metallic values and thus reflect their color. On the contrary, non-metals have low metallic reflective values, as they usually tend to reflect the colors of their surrounding environment.
• Regarding reflection, rough terrains tend to scatter light more, thus having blurry reflections, while smooth surfaces tend to reflect more sharpened light, resulting in clearer reflection. The roughness value of an object can be determined with this property.
• With the alteration of the direction of light rays, the normal map put on the surface of the object is able to create an illusion of depth on a flat surface, as well as texture due to the light conditions in the surroundings.
• How much light is able to reach a given point on the surface is defined by the surface’s ambient occlusion map. Occlusion maps can be useful in desolating Shadows and crevices on an object by shedding light on areas hidden by other surrounding objects.
• The emissive property of the surface defines how much light it emits. Emissive surfaces can create glowing effects and self-illumination.

PBR uniquely enables rendering to consider the properties and appearance of the virtual scene’s material to render for lights with reflexive alterations. For instance, any metallic object appears to have a luster and is reflective in bright sunlight. And while in a dimly lit room, it looks dull and dark. The level of realism that PBR provides is especially useful in digital media and social content, where impressive visuals drive engagement. Diffuse and specular reflections from a rough object will always seem more evident than when compared to a smooth object, regardless of the lighting conditions.

Why Use PBR For Realistic 3D Animation?

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

• Photorealism: PBR enables the creation of lifelike materials that look like real objects, also referred to as Physically Based Rendering. PBR deals with complex phenomena that deal with lighting as well as combining effects of reflection, refraction, shadowing, global illumination, and subsurface scattering. While all of these enhancements make the images look more realistic, they also deepen the divide between the traditional essence of a human creator versus the creator of AI tools used for 3D animation, regarding where the boundaries lie for such depth of immersion within the animation.
• Consistency: With Physically Based Rendering, the alteration of material dependence relies solely on the environment rather than artificially creating lighting and adjusting changes for every material within a scene. In other words, adjustment does not require effort on the artist’s part, and the content visually flows across the board, irrespective of the details and angles shown.
• Sustainability: Physically based Rendering is a standardized workflow that different artists and tools can quickly adapt. Interestingly, its flexibility aligns well with how audiences psychologically respond to realism in animation—a concept explored in deeper cognitive dives elsewhere. 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 components of 3D rendering that may either be used together or separately. PBR is a rendering technique that simulates the interaction of light with material properties in accordance with physical laws and real-world values. Ray tracing, on the other hand, is a light simulation method that models the path of a ray of light as it hits and reflects off the objects in a scene, especially effective when paired with modern, on-the-fly rendering approaches explored in more dynamic contexts.

In simple terms, PBR can construct convincing materials that are visually believable, whereas ray tracing can manage other sophisticated light effects like shadowing, global illumination, reflection, refraction, and many more. PBR also enhances productivity in the process of generating three-dimensional graphics due to the automated and precise characteristics it offers without the need for modifications.

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. As technology advances, we can expect new innovations to make these processes more efficient, shaping the next era of animation.

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: Both PBR and ray tracing are beneficial in the designing, simulation, testing, and visualization of systems and products realistically before they are manufactured or deployed. For instance, PBR and ray tracing are applied in Nvidia’s RealityServer platform for the simplification of Pro-3D interactive product visualization applications.
• Radio Propagation Modeling: Radio waves’ functionality and interaction with the environment can be analyzed through ray tracing in urban regions, buildings, and tunnels. Ray tracing can also be applied to estimate wireless communication systems’ fading, coverage, and interference.

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: Game developers use PBR extensively to improve realism and make virtual worlds more immersive. PBR improves the material assets of objects, environments, and characters, enhancing a game’s visuals and making it more believable.
2. Film and Animation: In the film and production industries, PBR has become very important. PBR assists in the representation and reproduction of scenes with light and materials in a realistic manner. It integrates 3D models into a live-action scene, improves effects, and participates in the film’s overall appearance.
3. Architectural Visualization: PBR techniques are very common in architectural visualization and help in achieving realistic renders of buildings and interiors. It allows architects and designers to present their designs with true representations of materials, lighting, and shadows. PBR assists stakeholders and clients in discerning and conceptualizing architectural ideas, enhancing communication and decision-making in construction.
4. Product Design and Manufacturing: PBR is used in the workflows of product design and manufacturing to build virtual prototypes and other visual representations. It allows designers to represent the properties of the materials, lighting, and surfaces of their designs in a realistic manner. PBR helps create product portrayals, promotional designs, and presentations that are appealing and functional.
5. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): PBR is used together with VR and AR technologies to enhance the quality and realism of virtual environments and experiences. This helps users view virtual objects and environments as real, thus making them immersive. There are different applications of AR and VR technology in gaming, education, training, simulation, and more, making it beneficial for a wide range of industries.
6. Industrial Simulations: PBR can efficiently be used in industrial simulations to visualize and assess complicated systems. It serves well to simulate the functioning of machines, vehicles, and environments, which can then be used for studying, performance optimization, training, and evaluation of safety measures issues.

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. Beyond the technical aspects, the way audiences emotionally connect with animated visuals also plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of these advancements.

How To Create PBR Animations?

There are two main components that are needed for PBR animations: 3D models and a set of PBR materials. A 3D model is usually a digital representation of an object or character, defining its shape, size, topology, rigging, etc. A PBR material is the texture and parameters that define how the surface of the 3D model looks and behaves under light—often crucial when aiming to add emotional depth to animated storytelling.

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 for creating, editing, painting, baking, animating, and rendering models and materials with PBR. For instance, one can use Substance Painter to modify the model’s surface and apply different paints realistically. Substance Designer helps in creating procedural materials from scratch or scanned models to achieve more dynamic textures. For more imagery features, Substance Alchemist helps modify images into materials, whereas Substance Sampler aids in capturing real materials using a camera device. To manage scenes, Substance Stager can be used to organize scenes with lights and cameras, and all assets and projects may be accessed from one place with Substance Launcher.
• Blender: Blender, unlike many other software, does not have a licensing fee. It is a powerful open-source 3D creation software that supports PBR. PBR makes it incredibly easy for one to sculpt, model, animate, render, and composite 3D scenes. With its node-based editor, one can create or modify materials. It also comes with a real-time renderer viewport called Eevee, which displays PBR assets.

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 was animated using Unity HDRP, which provides support for an advanced level of PBR with volumetric lighting and additional screen-space reflections. The film depicts a mysterious figure wearing futuristic clothing with an astonishing human head and jaw-dropping environments and effects.
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II: Ninja Theory’s Hellblade II portrays the journey of a psychotic Celtic warrior. This title is set to be released as soon as it has been announced. Senua’s Saga has been developed utilizing Microsoft Azure and Unreal Engine 4, enabling the game to provide realistic animations and graphics using advanced PBR. It features stunningly detailed models of Senua and stunningly immersive landscapes and atmosphere.

Conclusion

PBR is a remarkable method when it comes to making realistic 3D animations that can improve your projects’ visuals and immersion. With PBR, the animation industry can benefit from remarkable improvements in technology. PBR also helps in making your workflow more effective and less complicated by delivering consistent and accurate results under specific lighting settings. Programs like Adobe Substance 3D and Blender, as well as many others that support PBR, can be used to create PBR animations.

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, one of the best animation studios in LA, will help you get started.