using displacement

[Jet]

I am trying to work on using displacement as a method of making some of my exterior bitmaps not look so flat. under the maps option in the materials editor, i check the displacement option, but what happens is i get a crazy distorted map. that is more like terrain as opposed to changing a flat stone wall bitmap to a more 3d looking surface as what my intensions are.

Any insight on this is appreciated.

 

jet

[Jet]

Ok i found a very good tutorial that walked me thru doing a displacement for a plane surface.

is the process different for solid objects, because i dont even almost get the same result when i use a solid and displacement.

The method that i took to do the plane surface was after creating a plane and converting it into a mesh, i applied a displacement approx modifier, and then in the materials map section under the material editor i checked displacement and raised the value,although it doesnt change the geometry, it worked pretty good. Well what if i have a model, and i want to it to actually change the geometry, and the model is made of solids, is there a different process. Any help is appreciated.

 

jet

[Vince Paske]

I think what you are trying to do would be better served using a bump map.

[Jet]

I dont think so.

I have been able to see some of the difference with displacement. And if the technique can be mastered. Theres no telling how much it could save in modeling. im still learning, but a greyscale map that could change the geometry with user end controls is huge!

 

i.e.

brick with bump

 

brick with displacement

 

Displacement Brick Placed in scene

 

Those are all using a plane surface. So now if i can figure how to get the same control using solids or surfaces with more thickness, and have some of the same control it will probably work pretty good.

 

jet

[stefkeB]

Displacement is nice... but it will definitely slow down the rendering as it generates lots of geometry.

 

Using Mental Ray with Displacement seems to be very usable (but still slow).

 

Using bumps gives you almost no speed penalty.

 

And when you look at a building from a distance, you don't even need any displacement or bumps at all.