Displacement Map ?

[mr.t]

I'm just wondering if you should be able to preview the effect this has on the viewport window as i'm only seeing this in the render?

[datacrasher]

What effect are you talking about if you assign a displacement map and in the material editor choose show in viewport (checkered box) then you will see the displacement map in the viewport

[mr.t]

Yes i've done that but i want to see the effect i.e how much it deforms the surface in the viewport before i render. Is this possible as it does show this in the max help but doesn't explain how to do it?

[datacrasher]

Are you talking about something like this?

[mr.t]

Yes that looks like the sort of thing. Also how do you attach an image as i only seem to be able to link to http:

[datacrasher]

okay i did that with the plane add the nose modifer and change the stenght to whatever i needed it to be. Or you can use the paint deformation once you covert down to an edit poly

 

Go to advance and then manage attachments then choose the add file button.

 

Tony

[mr.t]

[ATTACH]44487[/ATTACH]

 

Cheers Tony

 

Here is the image from the max help.

[datacrasher]

Tom

I have seen that image and tutorial But i am still not sure what your trying to do are you trying to copy that tutorial or create something the same as?

[mr.t]

It looks like the map is affecting the physical geometry in the viewport. I was wondering if it can be previewed like this so you can line up the effect with other things going on in the scene without having to render off the image?

[datacrasher]

You should able to see the effect before you render the scene i don't see why you cannot. Unless it's me being Dim?

[mr.t]

Oh! Strange. No I don't see the effect. I think it is probably me being dim! LOL

[datacrasher]

If throw up an image on here by using screen grab or printscreen and then paste it into the photoshop then post it or if you have max 8 or 9 then we can take a look at the file once it's zipped with a link so we can download it. I don't have the newier viersons of max i have max 9 so i cannot help if you have the newer versions of max

[mr.t]

I'm on max 2011 so maybe something has changed, here is the image though. [ATTACH]44488[/ATTACH]

[datacrasher]

I'm complete lost i am not sure why your not seeing the effect in the viewport only when you render it maybe they have change the options in the newier max but i doubt it can be that different to the older versisons

[AubreyM]

I didn't think there was any way to see the effects of displacement in a viewport as I was under the assumption that it was only calculated at render time. It would seem to me that if it was possible it would slow a good computer to a crawl.

If I am wrong please correct me.

[datacrasher]

this is what i have make sure you make on your plane about 200 by 200 width and length segs then add your display modifier then add your image spin the strength up-to about 1000 then you should see the effect if not then i have no idea why it not working for you Tom.

 

this is just a quick and dirty with a diamond image

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/691/replacemtn.png/

 

The image was to big to load

[Joel Gray]

I didn't think there was any way to see the effects of displacement in a viewport as I was under the assumption that it was only calculated at render time. It would seem to me that if it was possible it would slow a good computer to a crawl.

If I am wrong please correct me.

 

You are correct, displacement that is derived from a material map will only be seen at render time. If you use the Displacement Modifier you can see the results on your mesh in the viewport. Note that this will only affect the mesh as far as it is sub divided... In other words, you won't see a highly displaced effect like grass in your viewport.

[AubreyM]

Thanks for clearing that up for me

[mr.t]

Ahhh! Now i get it. Thanks for everybody's help!