Base color is only the starting point
The base-color or albedo image describes color without baked-in highlights and deep shadows. Strong lighting already present in the photograph can be repeated by the renderer and make the material look artificial. Neutral, repeat-safe source photography generally produces a more reusable asset.
Architectural materials also need a known physical repeat. A detailed image with an unknown scale is less useful than a well-calibrated source that can be checked against a brick, tile or board dimension.
Choose maps by the surface effect
Bump maps use grayscale height differences to perturb shading without changing the model silhouette. Normal maps encode surface direction and usually preserve finer directional detail. Roughness maps vary the sharpness of reflections. Displacement maps can alter geometry and should be used carefully because they cost more to render. Metalness distinguishes metallic from non-metallic regions and is usually unnecessary for masonry, timber, plaster and most other non-metals.
- Use bump or normal for shallow relief such as grain, pores and fine joints.
- Use displacement only when silhouette or deeper relief matters.
- Keep roughness plausible and avoid using brightness as an automatic roughness value.
- Use metalness as a material classification, not a general contrast control.
Preview at the distance that matters
A map that looks dramatic in a close-up sphere preview can become noise in an elevation or interior view. Check the material at the intended camera distance, under diffuse and directional light, and beside nearby materials. Reduce map strength when the surface starts to look inflated or wet.
Exported maps are inputs, not a finished guarantee. Rendering engines use different conventions, especially for normal-map direction and roughness versus glossiness, so validate the package in the actual application.