Which texture map defines the base color of a surface in a PBR workflow?

• A. Albedo map defines the base color of a surface.
• B. Normal map defines the base color of a surface.
• C. Metallic map defines the base color of a surface.
• D. Roughness map defines the base color of a surface.

Answer: (A)

In a PBR workflow, the color information that defines the surface’s inherent color is stored in the albedo texture. It provides the base color that light reflects diffusely from the surface, independent of lighting and shading. The albedo map is what you paint to give the object its actual color. The other maps don’t set this color: a normal map alters how light interacts by changing the perceived surface geometry without changing color; a metallic map tells the shader whether the surface behaves like metal, which affects how reflections are colored; and a roughness map controls how polished or jagged the surface appears by altering microfacet distribution, which changes the spread of reflections. So the albedo map is the best representation of the surface’s base color.