Common mistakes when painting PBR 3D models include ignoring material texture rules, overadjusting metallic/roughness values, and skipping light interaction testing.
Ignoring rules means using incorrect textures—like bright albedo for metal (which should be dark)—breaking real-world material logic. Overadjusting values often leads to unnatural results, such as plastic that’s fully metallic or fabric that’s too glossy. Skipping light testing means not checking textures in different lighting, so flat or unrealistic surfaces go unnoticed.
To avoid these, use real-material reference photos to match texture values and preview your model in the target engine’s lighting early—this fixes mistakes before finalizing.