I just came across Andrea Coppola's feature-packed PBR shader node.
With SMART PBR PRO v. 1.2 you can finally:
- Create a complex material without worrying about the right node configuration.
- Have full material control with minimal effort.
- Take advantage of its easy and intuitive interface.
I have a LONG history with Blender - I wrote some of the earliest Blender tutorials, worked for Not a Number and helped run the crowdfunding campaign that open sourced Blender (the first one on the internet!). I founded BlenderNation in 2006 and have been editing it every single day since then ;-) I also run the Blender Artists forum and I'm Head of Community at Sketchfab.
6 Comments
What benefits does this node have over the inbuilt Principled BSDF shader?
I was thinking the same. It's going to be very hard to justify paying for an unknown PBR shader once 2.79 is released with the Principled BSDF node.
I'm not saying this is better or not but Principled BSDF (from what I've tested) isn't a solution for every situation. It will be, of course, a universal shader in the Blender community for simple scenarios and a huge time saver but it doesn't mean it will do all users need. Some PBR nodes out there have some cool things like dispersion and fake caustics. I believe that in the near future the "uber shaders" will be replaced for node utilities that can just be plugged in the Principled BSDF.
I should really sell some of my own PBR Nodes - seems like easy money. Don't get me wrong this sure is useful... but cmon it's really not that hard to create a Nodegroup like this if you do some research.... (I mean it's basically enough to watch some Nodegroup Tutorials on YouTube, know how Fresnel and Roughness work together and google "Cycles fake caustics" and maybe "Cycles Bump optimization"). Then you sell it for 20$. The Description on the YouTube Video is all Caps like its the best thing sice the invention of the wheel. "STOP TO CREATE A NEW MATERIAL EVERY TIME.. ..ONE NODE, INFINITE MATERIALS" - yeah we get it bro. Also like other ones noticed, the Principled BSDF Node will hopefully soon come and stop this "boom" of commercial PBR Shaders. Sorry I'm so toxic but i really feel like people should stop supporting this overflooded "PBR Shader" market.
Sorry for the harsh tone - i didn't mean to personally attack anyone. It's just my honest opinion.
My thoughts exactly...