Question about bump mapping

[Txeroki]

Hi everyone,

I would like to know if there is currrently a way to increase the effect of a bump map in the material controls or elsewhere. For example, I have tried increasing the Bump amount value as well as the Bump texture multiplier above 100% (to 500% or even 1000%) and the result is exactly the same as if the values are default. Is there a way to do this or is it just broken? I know in 3DsMax you can make the bump effect more intense by cranking up the multiplier next to the bump slot.

Thanks in advance!

[poseidon4o]

Txeroki This multiplier should work and change the effect of the bump, can you upload a test scene that has the problem you describe?

[Txeroki]

I'll send you an email with a link to it on dropbox, thank you! Maybe it's the nightly I'm using (Can't remember exactly the date, May something)? The previous project I worked on had the same issue, whether I used normal map or black and white bump map, with the same nightly.

[poseidon4o]

Txeroki Can you try attaching the "Color" of the image map to the "Normal Texture" slot of the Standard Material like shown here. Then the multiplier of the texture should work.

[Txeroki]

I just tried both using the Color and the Output of the image file node plugged into the Normal texture node and raising the multiplier with no difference at all Here is an example image of what I tried last. The result is the same as if the multiplier was 100% I am trying to go past 100% to get as much depth as I want for the material, in this case a tire tread. I also had previosly setup a displacement in the object tree for another object, but I have displacements unchecked in the render settings, just in case that may have something to do with it (though that would still be an issue). I am also using the bump setting in the material node instead of from bump or normal. In other words, I am trying to use just a BUMP map

[andybot_cg]

Try using the intensity node from the image connected to the bump texture in the standard material node. In the image properties, use "linear" color space instead of RGB. The effect when using intensity is often much stronger. You could also try a different image that has high contrast just to make sure your node setup is working - it could be your image doesn't have enough contrast.

[Txeroki]

Hey Andy!

Thanks for the suggestion.

I originally had it in the intensity input, but didn't change the image color space. I'll try that in the future to see what happens. I ended up getting the extra depth I wanted by using displacement for one part of the model (the tire tread). By the way, the model is the same as I posted in the gallery (Chieftain 2015 motorcycle). The bumpmap image by the way has a medium gray background (128,128,128 RGB) and the bump parts are all black (0,0,0) so it goes inwards. I am used to making my custom bumpmaps with a medium gray background, but if it's necessary for V-Ray Blender maybe it should be lighter or even white? I'll see in future projects I guess.

Thanks for the help!

[andybot_cg]

If you use white to black, you get double the detail (256 levels instead of 128 levels) If you need to tone down the map, you can always use a blend node to blend in gray. I do that quite often.

[Txeroki]

Thanks for the tip Andy! I'll use it in the future.