Quote: " I thought the specular was a greyscale map and the darker areas don't reflect as much light as the light areas."
The basic concept is correct. Lighter areas are shinier than darker areas. I'm just making the point that the spec map should not just be a grayscale version of the diffuse - that almost never works unless through sheer coincidence.
And the spec can be COLOR too! For metal, make the dirty areas a rusty brown color on the spec map for a tarnished look. Or try a faint green specular on a copper wall for an oxidized look. For an oily stained floor, try a spec map with a rainbow of dull colors in the oily areas to really give it that iridescent look of filthy oil.
On a tile floor, try adding footprints on just your spec map! when the light reflects off of it, you will see those footprints!!! Look at a real tiled floor as the light reflects off of it to see what I mean!
Again, the spec map is SOOO important to the final look.
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"bond1 - You see this name, you think dirty."
