What is the color code PXR?
The color code PXR is not a universal CSS or HTML color standard. In most technical graphics contexts, PXR (often seen as Pxr in documentation) is a prefix used within Pixar’s RenderMan shading ecosystem to name shaders and color-related nodes, rather than representing a single color value.
Where the Pxr prefix appears in modern graphics workflows
A number of RenderMan and USD shading workflows use the Pxr prefix to designate shaders, parameters, and color data. In this context, color information is typically expressed as RGB triplets or color data flowing through shader networks, not as a standalone hex or named color like “red” or “blue.”
- PxrSurface: A widely used physically based shader that describes how a surface reflects light, with color inputs that determine the surface color.
- PxrColor: A color-related node or parameter used to define a constant or parameter-driven color within a Pxr shader network.
- PxrTexture: A texture-driven source that supplies color data to a shader, often feeding RGB values into a Pxr surface.
In practice, you’ll encounter PxrShader nodes such as PxrSurface or PxrColor in Renderman pipelines. These nodes expose color inputs and outputs, but the actual color values come from numeric RGB values or texture maps, not the literal string “PXR.”
In short, the Pxr prefix signals a particular namespace within Pixar’s shading tools, and it does not encode a specific color by itself.
Is PXR used in contexts outside Pixar’s tooling?
Yes—some teams and brands use PXR as an internal label or palette identifier in documentation or design specs. In those cases, PXR is not a color value but a reference to a brand palette or project-specific coding system. If you see PXR in non-RenderMan files, treat it as a label that requires you to refer to the accompanying palette or style guide for the exact color values.
- Brand or product palettes where PXR denotes a named color in a corporate palette, with the actual values stored in a style guide.
- Development specifications where PXR is used as a shorthand for a particular color batch or material category.
Two common scenarios are:
When interpreting PXR in non-graphics contexts, always check the relevant design system or project documentation to extract the precise color values (for example, hex codes like #RRGGBB or RGB triplets 0–255).
How to identify the actual color value when you see PXR
Before you work with colors labeled PXR, follow these steps to retrieve the real color values:
- Locate the source: Search the shader code, USD/SL shader network, or design docs for the PXR label and its associated color inputs.
- Look for numeric color data: Expect RGB values as floats (0.0–1.0) in shader code or 0–255 integers in textures or style sheets, or hex codes in brand materials.
- Check texture maps: If PXR color is supplied via a texture, open the texture to read its RGB values.
- Consult the palette: If PXR is brand-related, refer to the official brand/color palette or guidelines.
- Ask the author: When in doubt, contact the designer or developer who produced the specification for the exact value.
These steps help map a label to a concrete color value in your project files.
Understanding PXR in context is essential: it is more about namespace and workflow than a single color specification.
Summary
PXR (or Pxr in many documents) is not a universal color code like a hex or named color. It most often denotes a namespace used in Pixar’s RenderMan shading ecosystem for shader nodes and color data. In non-RenderMan contexts, it can serve as an internal label tied to a brand palette or project-specific color codes. To determine an actual color, you must locate the underlying color values in the shader network, texture, or brand guidelines referenced by the PXR label.
