PBR Safe Checker


  • Where to find it: (This Node is available in the Nodegraph only)


    • NodeGraph / Right Mouse Click / Add Nodes / Misc / Extension Pack / 


  • Shotcut (Nodegraph Only): non assigned

    



The PBR Safe Checker generates a heatmap (green = good, red = bad) on which values are correct or incorrect according to PBR Standards.

While breaking the rules is ok, the node helps with first learning the rules better.

You generally want to remove this node in the final chain of nodes that are exported to not introduce the heatmap anywhere in the exported result.


Example Heat Map Output from the PBR Safe Checker


Basic Principles


Values of your Albedo for Areas where metalness is 0 should generally adhere to the following


  • Dark values should not be lower than 30 sRGB (tolerant range) to 50 sRGB (strict range).
  • Bright values should not be higher than 240 sRGB.


Values of your Albedo for Areas where metalness is 1 (raw metal) should generally adhere to the following:


  • Since Albedo will be used for refletance information, for raw metal the reflectance needs to be in the range of 70-100%, which we can map to 180-255sRGB



Node Overview 

Node Ports 


  • Output

The main output of the node determined by its set Validation Mode and Overlay Map Setting


  • Mask Metallic

Outputs a Mask for the illegal Values in the Metallic Map, attached to the Metallic Port.

This Mask can for example be fed into a grade node to grade out illegal values


  • Mask Albedo

Outputs a Mask for the illegal Values in the Albedo Map, attached to the Base Color Port.

This Mask can for example be fed into a grade node to grade out illegal values



  • Base Color

The Base Color to test for illegal values, e.g. too bright or too dark.


  • Metallic

If a Metallic/Metalnes Map is attached, this will check the Base Color for illegal metallic values.

Using a Metallic Map will use the Base Color to determine reflectance. 

The Metallic Map itself is not really checked for values. It only works as an Acvitvation for an additonal

check on the Base Color to also check against metallic rules.



Node Properties 


  • Validation Mode

The validation mode determines what calculations are performed


    • Albedo .. will only evaluate the Albedo Map and test it for too dark or too bright values
    • Metal ... will test both metal and albedo map against each other to determine where metallic values vs albedo reflectance values are wrong
    • Combined ... will perform both Albedo and Metal Mode Calculations



  • Albedo Dark Range Threshold

Let's you choose between strict (min 50sRGB)t and relaxed testing (min 30 sRGB) of dark ranges in your albedo



  • Metal Reflectance Range

Let's you choose between strict (70-100%)t and relaxed testing (min 60-10%) of reflectance values in your combined albedo/metallic map.




  • Overlay Map

Allows you to overlay the original map with the heatmap. In green areas the original will be shown.

 Overlay is only available if you choose as valiation mode either "Albedo"  or "Metal". It is not available in "Combined" Mode