Displacement

[Luma3d]

OOOOOOOH...I need to try.

[Luma3d]

vasile_bulgac sounds like it's time for a tutorial.

[vasile_bulgac1]

vasile_bulgac sounds like it's time for a tutorial.

Sure,

In the week-end I'll post a step by step tutorial for displacement simulation in Vantage, be warned though, it requires a lot of RAM depending of the complexity of the displacement

In the mean time some more fine examples of displace that I managed to simulate and render'em in Vantage:

[vasile_bulgac1]

Here's my short yet powerful method to create and render near identical displacement maps in Vantage, but anyone please take note that the method requires a large amount of RAM and a little patience because when applying the modifiers stacks 3ds max sometimes might behave like it's stuck but it's not.

Here's how:

There are two basic ways to use the Displace modifier and render it in Vantage

1) Apply displacement effects directly by setting Strength and Decay values but I don't use it very often because the results sometimes might be unpredictable.
2) Apply a grayscale component of a bitmapped image (preferably input gamma 1.0) to generate the displacement.

Step by step procedure:

- First step: Select an object or create a simple plane and apply a Tessellate modifier that operate on Polygons, Edge not face-center and the Iterations set to 4 (very important and see the screenshot attached).
- Second step: Apply the TurboSmooth modifier with Render Iters and Iters: at least of 4-6 (hardware dependent, especially RAM)
- Third step: Apply the Displace modifier, then in the In the Parameters rollout -> Map group, select one of the four gizmo types, then in the Displacement group, set values for Strength and Decay. Vary these settings to see the effect of the displacement on the object.
- Fourth step: Apply a bitmap as a displacement map (most important), In the Parameters rollout -> Image group, click the Bitmap button (which is labeled "None" until a map has been chosen). Use the file dialog to choose a bitmap and use input gamma 1.0 but that depends, then adjust the Strength value. Vary the strength of the field to see the effect of the bitmap displacing the object's geometry.
- Fifth step (final): Apply again a TurboSmooth modifier with Render Iters and iters: at least of 1-2.

I say again depending on the object and the complexity of the bitmap, you might need to use dense geometry to see the effect clearly. Try a test run and, if necessary, add tessellation in the areas of greatest detail. (see the screenshots and the steps I have described)



Now save the file anywhere, and then export it using Vray's vrscene exporter. You have to be patient because it might take 1-2 mins the save the vrscene file.
After that load it in Vantage and behold the might displacement

If anyone have further questions don't hesitate to ask

[vasile_bulgac1]

The mighty displacement in Vantage
Also, after you get the image you want from bitmapped displacement, you can apply an Optimize modifier to reduce the complexity of the geometry while retaining the detail, but that's just optional.

[fixeighted]

You could also use this method which is quicker and should be at least identical to the result from the modifier, if that 1;1 is necessary. https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/a...s-Max-geometry

[vasile_bulgac1]

You could also use this method which is quicker and should be at least identical to the result from the modifier, if that 1;1 is necessary. https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/a...s-Max-geometry

I'm aware of that method too, but unfortunately only V-Ray Displacement with 3D Mapping type can be converted with this script. 2D mapping and Subdivision types do not work with the script...

[Luma3d]

Very nice.

[glorybound]

After a couple of MAX releases ago, subdivision messes up my geometry; it acts like there is smoothing on it, but there isn't. It is a pain when you do something in MAX, and it applies a smoothness to it automatically. If I use a chamfer modifier, it gets smoothing, so I have to put a poly modifier over it and remove the smoothing. DUMB!

[Joelaff]

Have you tried setting chamfer to only smooth the chamfers, not the whole object?

[glorybound]

I don't remember seeing a setting for that. I will look closer next time.

[Joelaff]

https://help.autodesk.com/view/3DSMA...1-530EAAEC4A2B

I never understood why it defaults to Smooth Entire Object. I almost always set this to Smooth Chamfers Only.

[glorybound]

The chamfer was just an example, but I'll make sure I remember this. Thank you!

[Joelaff]

I am frequently fighting smoothing somehow after using chamfer. That will often fix it, but sometimes have to do other smoothing, or manually adjust smoothing groups.

Max is one of the most powerful apps in letting you really control smoothing, but that can often be more of a curse that a blessing.