Do you use displacement maps? Discussion/Tips/post pics

[wasteland giant]

Just had a look at our archshader package and there's some displacement maps in here. Persoanlly, I've never used these so I've got nothing...

 

Interested to see how this complements the work we do and working examples.

[danb4026]

Robert, what software do you use? Displacement maps are a constant part of my workflow in Max.

 

A displacement map is generally a black and white image that is used to deform an object. The white parts of the image are the raised portions and the black parts create the lowered portions. The map can be placed within the displacement modifier and applied to an object, like I did in the image below.

Or it can be used within a material that is applied to an object.

 

Below, the plane on the left has the displacement map applied to it as a material, just to show you what the map looks like. I then took that map and placed it in the Map slot of the displacement modifier and applied that to the plane to deform it according to the map. The object, in this case a plane, has to have a sufficient enough number of sub-divisions to create smooth transitions between the elevations.

Edited September 14, 2009 by danb4026

[wasteland giant]

I've moved so far away from vray that I'm almost exclusively mentalray at the moment. Max 2009. MentalRay renderer. Thanks for your response.

 

 

anyhow... I could be off with my topic. Its actually normal maps I'm talking about. ha. what a dope

 

 

[danb4026]

I had a feeling there was something wrong with your question! I figured I would answer it just in case.

 

Where did you find normal maps?

Edited September 14, 2009 by danb4026

[epictor.com]

used it only few times.

allways as a matter to reduce the scene size and speed up rendering.

 

workflow was allways the same:

1. modelling the pice

2. rendering the normal map

3. substituting the piece with a simpler geometrie with the applied normal map

 

i do not recall where, but there was a nice tutorial somewhere about creating good enough normal maps from imagery - though haven't tried it yet!

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

Displacement is not Vray, Vray just made it easy and popular...