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Exposure

Exposure
Color

Adjusts exposure in EV stops, working in linear light for natural-looking brightness changes.

The Exposure node applied to a source image: original (left) and result (right).
Side-by-side comparison: the original image on the left and the same image after the Exposure node on the right.

Exposure works like camera exposure compensation: +1 EV doubles the light and -1 EV halves it. Because the math runs in linear light, the result looks more natural than a brightness offset, especially when darkening.

Offset shifts the black point in linear space, and Gamma is a final midtone correction applied after both. In an 8-bit document Offset reads as a whole code value from -255 to 255, like the editor’s other 8-bit controls; a 32-bit (Float) document keeps the -1 to 1 fraction with full overbright headroom.

Texture sets

Section titled “Texture sets”

On a texture set or a library, a Map row at the top of the panel picks the one map Exposure edits, such as the Roughness, and every other map passes through untouched. See Changing one map.

Parameters

Section titled “Parameters”

Pins

ImagePixels or Texture
InputRequired
MaskMask
InputOptional
ImagePixels or Texture
Output

Adjust

MapChoice
Default: Base Color
Texture set or library wired

Which map of the texture set this node edits. Every other map passes through unchanged. Shown while a texture set or a library is wired

  • Base ColorWork on the set's Base Color. The first map for the color and tone nodes.
  • NormalWork on the set's Normal. Offered on Normal Map (rescale its intensity) and the nodes that read a map into a selection; a color node never edits a direction.
  • RoughnessWork on the set's Roughness, a linear 0 to 1 map with one channel.
  • MetallicWork on the set's Metallic, a linear 0 to 1 map with one channel.
  • Ambient OcclusionWork on the set's Ambient Occlusion, a linear 0 to 1 map with one channel.
  • HeightWork on the set's Height, a linear map that can pass 0 and 1.
  • OpacityNever offered: the Opacity is the set's cutout, which Mask Apply edits.
  • EmissiveWork on the set's Emissive color.
Exposure (EV)Number
Default: 0.00 Range: -5.00–5.00

Exposure in EV stops. Works in linear light for natural results. +1 EV doubles brightness, -1 EV halves it

OffsetNumber
Default: 0.000 Range: -1.000–1.000

Black level shift in linear space. Positive lifts shadows, negative crushes them

GammaNumber
Default: 1.00 Range: 0.10–5.00

Gamma correction. >1 brightens midtones, <1 darkens them

Mask

Mask FromChoice
Default: Luminance
Color image connected to the mask input

How the connected color image is read as a mask

  • LuminanceRead the image's brightness as the mask. The default.
  • AlphaRead the image's transparency as the mask.
  • RedUse the red channel as the mask.
  • GreenUse the green channel as the mask.
  • BlueUse the blue channel as the mask.
Mask FitChoice
Default: None (native size)
Mask connected

How the mask is sized when it doesn't match the image

  • None (native size)Center the mask at its native size, with no resizing. Unmasked regions are unaffected.
  • StretchStretch the mask to exactly match the image dimensions. May distort the mask shape.
  • Fit (letterbox)Scale the mask to fit inside the image, preserving aspect ratio. Letterboxes where needed.
  • Fill (crop)Scale the mask to fill the image, preserving aspect ratio. Crops edges if aspect ratios differ.

Usage Tips

Section titled “Usage Tips”
  • Use Offset to lift shadows; its visible effect is strongest in dark areas.
  • Gamma above 1 brightens midtones and below 1 darkens them, like Levels gamma but applied after exposure.
  • Connect a mask to adjust only part of the image, for selective dodge and burn.
Section titled “Related Nodes”