Combine VRayEdgesTex with a Bump texture

[Joelaff]

What is the best way to combine VRayEdgesTex with a bump texture? Possible?

Thanks.

[Joelaff]

Hmmm. It seems VRayEdgesTex outputs standard 3dsMax bump data, and thus you can combine them with a Composite node (assuming all inputs have the “bump”
data).

[Laserschwert]

I’m always using it with a Mix map, works without problems (VRayEdgesTex in one color slot, the bump map in the other color slot… mixing via the percentage spinner).

Bump-strength is a bit of trial and error… usually EdgesTex uses the default bump value of 30 to look good, so theoretically mixing it with a bump map 50/50 might require you to increase bump strength to 60, to have the EdgesTex bump look the same.

[olly]

vraybumpmtl is perfect for this…

[vlado]

@AlexP

Bump-strength is a bit of trial and error… usually EdgesTex uses the default bump value of 30 to look good, so theoretically mixing it with a bump map 50/50 might require you to increase bump strength to 60, to have the EdgesTex bump look the same.

You only need to adjust things so that the regular bump map looks ok; the edges texture cheats and usually is not affected by the bump strengths/mix amounts.

Best regards,
Vlado

[Joelaff]

So the ideal (as designed) way to do this is to use a Mix map or a Composite map? Do you put VRayEdgesTex as the base (first layer)? Or the last (top) layer?

Olly, how would you use this? Start with a VRayMtl with the image map as the bump, and then pipe the VRayMtl into the VRayBumpMtl, with the VRayEdgesTex as the bump?

Trying to figure out the intended way to combine things.

[squintnic]

use a vray comptex

[vlado]

Like squintnic, I usually use VRayCompTex in Add mode too.

Best regards,
Vlado

[olly]

@tashko.zashev

Olly, how would you use this? Start with a VRayMtl with the image map as the bump, and then pipe the VRayMtl into the VRayBumpMtl, with the VRayEdgesTex as the bump?

Yep, that is how I use it.

[Joelaff]

@Neilg

Like squintnic, I usually use VRayCompTex in Add mode too.

Best regards,
Vlado

So the VRayCompTex also comps the invisible bump “channel” using the same mode as set in the VRayCompTex (like addition)?

[RobH22]

Thanks guys. Post #9 works beautifully even this many years later in Max 2024 and V-Ray 6.

[zoranm]

@vlado

You only need to adjust things so that the regular bump map looks ok; the edges texture cheats and usually is not affected by the bump strengths/mix amounts.

Best regards,
Vlado

Please don’t ever change this feature . One of my favourite options for using bump maps

Z.

[donnie_nogylop]

@Joelaff

Olly, how would you use this? Start with a VRayMtl with the image map as the bump, and then pipe the VRayMtl into the VRayBumpMtl, with the VRayEdgesTex as the bump?

Trying to figure out the intended way to combine things.

I just want to point out that piping the EdgeTex to the VrayBumpMtl will not work. The EdgeTex must be attached to the bump slot of the original VrayMtl, see my screenshots. Maybe the devs can explain why that is. It’s not a problem, but I’m curious. I use this all the time.

[kosso_olli]

@donnie_nogylop

I just want to point out that piping the EdgeTex to the VrayBumpMtl will not work. The EdgeTex must be attached to the bump slot of the original VrayMtl, see my screenshots. Maybe the devs can explain why that is. It’s not a problem, but I’m curious. I use this all the time.

Well it should be working just fine that way, too.

[fixeighted]

Seems to work just fine for me (Max 24/Vray latest).

[donnie_nogylop]

@fixeighted

Seems to work just fine for me (Max 24/Vray latest).

Max 22, Vray 5^^
Time to upgrade.

[olly]

@donnie_nogylop

Max 22, Vray 5^^
Time to upgrade.

I use this method in Max 21 with Vray 5, so maybe there is a bug in Max 22?

[donnie_nogylop]

@olly

I use this method in Max 21 with Vray 5, so maybe there is a bug in Max 22?

That’s odd. This never worked from day1, so I just figured it was normal behaviour. Will test it on max23 real quick.

Alright, max23 can do it

[graeme_metcalf]

This process doesn’t seem to work in VRay 6 GPU, update 2.1. It does work in VRay 6 on my machine. Is there another way to combine VrayTex and a bump map in VRay GPU?

[hermit.crab]

@graeme_metcalf

This process doesn’t seem to work in VRay 6 GPU, update 2.1. It does work in VRay 6 on my machine. Is there another way to combine VrayTex and a bump map in VRay GPU?

Works fine on my end. Using @fixeighted 's method with a VRayBumpMtl. What method are you using? Note that connecting the VRayEdgesTex to a bump slot would make it use the “Rounded corners” option, not the edges (you need to bake the tex if you wish to use object’s edges as a bump).