PBR (Physically Based Rendering) workflows differ from traditional rendering primarily in their approach to light and material simulation—PBR relies on real-world physical principles for accuracy, while traditional techniques use artistic approximations.
Traditional rendering often involves manual adjustments of parameters like diffuse and specular by artists to achieve desired visuals. This subjective tweaking can lead to inconsistency, as results may not hold up across varying lighting scenarios.
PBR, by contrast, uses measured material properties (e.g., albedo, roughness, metallic) to model how light interacts with surfaces based on physics. This ensures renders remain lifelike and consistent under different lighting conditions, reducing the need for manual adjustments.
In short, PBR prioritizes physical accuracy for reliable, scalable realism, while traditional methods depend more on artistic interpretation.