Displacement map for gravels (V-Ray for Sketchup)

[Ricardo Oliveira]

What would be the ideal way of displacement map for gravels? I made two types: one blurry and the other not blurry. Also, is displacement the best way to do it?

[Francisco Penaloza]

a good displacement texture is blurred but not much, you only want to avoid hard contrast areas and also provide enough gradient from white to black so the displacement shape the mash and not just push creating hard edges.

Displacement is a valid method to do this type of effects but you need to keep an eye on your RAM, in some cases scattering real tones would be more efficient and will look better.

But that depends of the shot

[ramon acha]

Xoio's one works pretty good (as everything they do.. )

http://xoio-air.de/2011/gravel-map-pack-2/

 

RDT displacement maps are also a good reference

[CliveG]

So where would Normal mapping fit in with this sort of application then?