What does PBR treatment mean?

[(XBOX)LAZYNOOB2017]

Every time we get an update DE gives a few items the PBR treatment. What does that mean?

[spiralmenace]

physically based rendering. basically it allows for multiple material textures on the same object, like how prime stuff has metallics mattes and glosses

for example compare vauban and vauban prime. vauban is plastic-y, vauban prime is more like composite with metal

Edited October 15, 2016 by spiralmenace

[NovusNova]

PBR = Physically-Based Rendering.

Can learn about it here: http://www.marmoset.co/toolbag/learn/pbr-theory

 

[Katinka]

Physics Based Rendering.  It's an improved way of rendering textures that allows different materials such as metal and cloth to reflect light in different ways.  Makes stuff easier for DE to make, makes it look nicer and the main benefit to players is that it allows our equipment to have better looking colourable areas, most notably colourable metallics on Prime gear.

[(XBOX)LAZYNOOB2017]

Just now, spiralmenace said:

physically based rendering. basically it allows for multiple material textures on the same object, like how prime stuff has metallics mattes and glosses

So it's just making it look however many times sexier?

[taiiat]

here's one of the most prominent articles on the rendering methodology.
https://www.marmoset.co/toolbag/learn/pbr-theory

 

tldr - Physical Rendering calculates reflectivity type lightning based on what type of Material it is supposed to be.
just a few years ago, before this methodology, if say, you wanted to create a realistic soldier - the Texturing would have some bits of exposed skin, cotton cloth, kevlar and w/e your Armor is made out of, probably some metal plates for cool factor too, glass/plasic visor on the helmet....

except, with traditional rendering, the entire Soldier would have to have the same reflectivity. so skin, metal, plastic, and cloth all look like they're made out of the same thing.
Physical Rendering, lets as many pieces of a thing as you want, to calculate lighting in a different way. so that skin isn't hilariously shiny, metal strangely dull, Et Cetera.

[NightmareT12]

Long story short, they make the textures look more realistic. It also opens the chance for metallic areas in items to be colored.

Before:

After: