Which map is used to define the base color of a material, independent of lighting?

• A. Albedo map
• B. Normal map
• C. Emission map
• D. Roughness map

Answer: (A)

The map that defines a material’s inherent color, independent of lighting, is the albedo texture. It stores the surface color per pixel—the color you’d see if lighting were neutral—before any shading is applied. Lighting then modulates that base color to produce the final appearance. The other maps serve different roles: a normal map changes surface direction data to create shading detail without altering color; an emission map makes parts of the surface glow, adding self-illuminated color; a roughness map controls how sharp or diffuse reflections appear, affecting how light bounces off but not the base color itself. That’s why the albedo map is the correct choice.