How to Use Blender's new ULTIMATE Shader: Principled

Blender 2.79 comes with some new exciting features, and one of them is the Principled BSDF.

Normally a new shader lets you create one more type of material. But this is different, because this is like every shader rolled into one. Simplifying the complex node setups that were required before, into simple easy to use sliders.

There are 3 reasons why this is big news:

  1. It's simpler and easier to use
  2. It's automatically realistic (eg. proper roughness & fresnel)
  3. It gives consistent results between applications (like Substance to Blender)

In fact, it's likely that 95% of all your future materials will be made using the Principled BSDF, because it's so powerful!

The Basics

To use it with a set of textures, like this one from Poliigon (or a Substance Painter export), connect it like this:

Advanced Use