Blender Principled Shader Unleashed

The Principled shader combines multiple layers into a single easy to use node. It is based on the Disney principled model also known as the “PBR” shader, making it compatible with other software such as Pixar’s Renderman® and Unreal Engine®. Image textures painted or baked from software like Substance Painter may be directly linked to the corresponding parameters in this shader.

This “Uber” shader includes multiple layers to create a wide variety of materials. The base layer is a user controlled mix between diffuse, metal, subsurface scattering and transmission. On top of that there is a specular layer, sheen layer and clearcoat layer.

In this tutorial we see how to use the new principled shader, in the first part we are going to explore the Metallic and opaque Dielectric materials.

In the second part we see how to use the new principled shader transmissive feature to create glass and transparent materials.

In the third and final part we see how to use the new principled shader to create some cloth/fabric material and how to use it´s subsurface scattering properties.