Diffuse Map

A diffuse map controls the visible non-specular color of a material, such as paint color, fabric pattern, skin tone, or surface markings.

They are similar but not always identical. An albedo map in PBR should store pure base color without lighting, while a legacy diffuse map may sometimes include baked shadows, ambient occlusion, or painted highlights.

For physically based rendering, a diffuse or base color map should not include cast shadows or directional lighting. Shadows should come from the scene lighting, ambient occlusion, or baked light maps.

Common diffuse map formats include PNG, JPEG, TGA, TIFF, and sometimes EXR. PNG and TGA are common when an alpha channel is needed.

Most diffuse maps need UV coordinates so the 2D image can be placed correctly on the 3D model. Procedural materials can avoid image UVs, but image-based diffuse textures usually depend on them.

A diffuse map stores color, while a normal map stores direction data that changes how light reacts to the surface. A normal map creates the appearance of bumps and grooves without changing the model geometry.

A diffuse map stores surface color, while a roughness map controls how broad or sharp reflections appear. Roughness affects shine, not the base color pattern.

Yes, but it may need cleanup before use as a PBR base color map. Any baked highlights, strong shadows, or lighting gradients should usually be removed.

Many tools keep the word diffuse for compatibility with older shading models, file formats, and artist workflows. Modern PBR tools more often use the terms albedo or base color.