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Trouble with Vector Displacement in Arnold for Max 2018

8 REPLIES 8
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Message 1 of 9
TMat
1621 Views, 8 Replies

Trouble with Vector Displacement in Arnold for Max 2018

Hi,

 

I have been trying to figure out how to get vector displacement working properly in Arnold 5 for Max 2018.

 

I started with a tutorial on the subject found here:

 

https://support.solidangle.com/display/A5AF3DSUG/Vector+Displacement+from+Mudbox+to+Arnold

 

After importing the obj from the page and following the instructions exactly as they are described I get an inaccurate render:

 

bloated.jpg

 

The result looks like a typical bloated displacement effect that could usually be fixed by tweaking values but I don't know Arnold so I'm not sure what I should be doing to fix it.

 

Also it's a 32 bit FP VDM map so it shouldn't be necessary to change values at all to achieve an accurate effect.

 

 

Can anyone shed some light on this situation or perhaps try the tutorial listed above to see if they have the same issue?

 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

PS: A .EXR format vector displacement map baked in ZBrush will crash Max 2018 instantly if you place it in the Displacement slot of the Arnold Properties modifier!

 

8 REPLIES 8
Message 2 of 9
ads_lecoufm
in reply to: TMat

Hello,

 

Thanks for the information!  The tutorial has been removed meanwhile, it won't work with Max's sphere topology.  You also mentioned crashing when using an .EXR map as a displace map in the Arnold Properties modifier but we've been unable to reproduce.  Would you mind sharing the .EXR you are using?  Thank you, have a good day!

 

 

Marianne


Marianne Le Couffe-Lapointe
QA Analyst Rendering
Message 3 of 9
TMat
in reply to: ads_lecoufm

Hi,

 

I have discovered more recently that the .EXR file I was using will be accepted by the Arnold Properties Modifier if the mesh is first converted to an Editable Poly from an Editable Mesh.

 

 

I have attached a zip file containing the EXR map, a diffuse map and OBJ file.  I would appreciate it if someone could apply the maps to the object in Max and test render in Arnold.  It is a ZBrush vector displacement diagnostic so the correct value will be found beneath a perfectly rendered sphere.  This is something I have not been able to achieve so far in my tests.

 

 

Thanks for investigating the issue and please let me know when you have any results to share.

 

 

 

 

 

Message 4 of 9
ads_lecoufm
in reply to: TMat

Hello,

 

Thanks a lot for the files, they were very useful.  I've been able to determine this crash will occur with any OBJ imported from ZBrush and it has been logged.  There are many workarounds to the crash as you pointed out; editable poly will be OK, applying an OpenSubdivs modifier, etc.

 

As for obtaining the correct topology from the displacement to obtain a sphere I have not been able to achieve that yet with this file, but I'm not a ZBrush specialist.  I'm hopeful the correct export/import workflow for ZBrush and MAXtoA will be posted soon and will investigate a bit further on my end.  Thanks again!

 

 

Marianne


Marianne Le Couffe-Lapointe
QA Analyst Rendering
Message 5 of 9
TMat
in reply to: ads_lecoufm

Great news!

 

Thanks to you and the team responsible for your continued support.

 

I will look forward to any updates as I am keen to try Arnold in production.

 

Let me know if there is anything I can do on my end to help get the issue resolved.

 

Regards,

 

Tristan.

Message 6 of 9
RGhost77
in reply to: TMat

arnold_prop_bug1.png

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold Properties Catmull-Clark subdivision not works properly (wrong topology of subdivided meshes). So displacement through Arnold properties is useless until it will be fixed. (bug reported)

 

 

 

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/3ds-max-forum/no-bug-report-page-for-2018/m-p/7026360#M136038


Royal Ghost | veda3d.com
Message 7 of 9
RGhost77
in reply to: RGhost77

ADSK, come on! It's ridicules to publish  features of MAXtoA which not working properly! MAXtoA 1.2.893 still doesn't works properly with quads but in "Enchantments"  we see - "Subdivision frustum culling options: it is now possible not to subdivide patches outside the view or dicing camera frustum."... this is broken too because main subdivision not works properly.

 

ADSK PLEASE FIX ARNOLD Catmull-Clark subdivision FIRST!!! Because Opensubdiv modifier not an option for serious production with displacement.


Royal Ghost | veda3d.com
Message 8 of 9
gavinedde
in reply to: TMat

How is this solved?  I am running into the same issue myself but I can't seem to figure out how to get my VDM to work on my character.  All I am receiving are the same bad Displacement results rather than the actual VDM results...

Is there a current fix/work around?  This is my first time every trying to do a Vector Displacement Map in Arnold because in every other program it was easy, just put the VDM map into the VDM material node but there doesn't seem to be such a thing in the Arnold supported materials.  Unless I'm wrong?

Message 9 of 9
RGhost77
in reply to: gavinedde

You can tessellate geometry using Opensubdiv modifier. It slow but works in most cases.

 

p.s. I have no hope that this bug will be fixed in near future.


Royal Ghost | veda3d.com

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