Is there any way to get this Effect with Displacement?

[andymc4997]

Hi everyone, 

I have a very simple question. Is there any way to replicate this type of glass texture with displacement?

I know a normal map would give me that third axis so that it will replicate the beveled look, but then of course the edges of the model will be smooth, and not be accurate that way. Yes, I can try modeling this from scratch, then using the bend deformer to create the pitcher's shape, but there must be a way to either use displacement or even a texture deformer? This one really has me stumped for some reason.

Thanks in advance!

-Andy

[damaggio]

Yes you can but you still need to model the shape on a flat surface , then extract a displacement map and use in the final model.

[andymc4997]

Thanks! 

Would you care to elaborate on the extraction process? I'm experienced using Photoshop to use and create displacement but I'm not familiar with the process you speak of.

[damaggio]

You can model that pattern on a flat polygon shape, then use another poly plane and then use Transfer maps to bake the high poly to the low poly plane as a displacement map. Lighting/Shading >transfer Maps

[andymc4997]

This isn't working for me. Here are my two shapes in Maya. 

All it gives me is a light gray blank tif file. Would you please be so kind as to give more details on how to generate the displacement map?

Thanks.

[stuzzz]

I'd highly recommend using Zbrush for map extraction (32 floating as EXR).

[andymc4997]

I don't have ZBrush, so that's not an option.

[mspeer]

Hi!

@andymc4997 

Please provide a Maya scene-file + your steps and settings for baking.

There is no other way for other users to check what happens.

[andymc4997]

Sure thing.

Here is the scene file:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7u0przw3dleh3qv/Pitcher_Texture.ma?dl=0

My steps to this point as follows:

1. Model the texture to be transfered to a displacement map and merge it with a plane.

2. create a new plane identical in scale to the higher res object.

3. In Lighting/Shading>Transfer maps, select poly plane and click "Add Selected" under Target Meshes.

4. "", select higher res model and click "Add Selected" under Source Meshes.

5. Under Output Maps click Displace

6. Be sure Displacement map is checked, select Tiff as file format and save in project directory.

7.Click Bake

[damaggio]

Nice job Andy, you might not see the displacement because is very subtle, you can exaggerate the model height with the scale tool and do another bake or control the height later in render time. also you can try a normal map , that should be visible right away, you can also crank up the levels in photoshop for your tif, make sure is 16 or 32 bit format.

Also remember to delete the history before saving your scenes.

[andymc4997]

Thanks damaggio, but I'm still not getting anything but a light gray square tiff file. I tried cranking up the contrast using Levels, but I see nothing. It does come in as an 8bit Tiff, but I don't see any options in the Transfer Maps window to change that. Maybe I'm missing it somewhere?

Also, again as  mentioned in the original post, I'd rather not use a normal map, as that doesn't give me true geometry changes, thus making the edges of my model smooth instead of having the beveled look as in my example photo. 

[damaggio]

Actually unfortunately there's no Tif 16 bit only EXRs 32

[andymc4997]

Tried it again by making the geometry height much more and still all I get is a light gray blank tiff. Starting to think I will have to hand model it and use a deformer, which will take a while.

[mspeer · Accepted solution]

Hi!

@andymc4997 

Sorry, but there are many errors.

1. Your high res object has faces on top of each other it's only a flat plane with an other model on top, this will not work. Make sure to one have one "clean" model only.

2. You objects are not on the same place in World Space.

You can instead use local space if you want, but then your objects also don't use the same local space.

...

If you correct these issues, it will work.

[Anifex09]

Attached an example file with displacement file.  I hope this helps.

[andymc4997]

@mspeer Ah, yeah, silly me for thinking it would work in the way I set it up. I will have to go in and bridge edges and what not to clean up the model into a single mesh. But thanks!

[andymc4997]

Awesome @Anifex09 , this helps a lot, thanks!

Referencing your displacement texture, I think I can just use my ol pal Photoshop to create the exact look I want now. For some reason I was struggling to visualize a texture that would look like it was grouted, or beveled. 

[Anifex09]

Photoshop file I used to make a quick texture.  

[andymc4997]

I think I got it looking very closely to what I want! 

I'm sure to many of you this seemed like a very simple task, but for some reason I just couldn't wrap my head around how to achieve that beveled or grouted look with a grayscale map. Here is what mine looks like (inspired by @Anifex09 of course :))

So again, thanks everyone for the help, and now I know for sure how to do something like this a couple different ways also. 

[andymc4997]

Well.. I guess not so fast 😞

As you can see, for some reason, I'm getting these strange small bumps in my render due to the displacement map. 

Any idea what could cause this? You all have already helped a ton, but I'll go ahead and share my scene file again, if anyone wants to check it out. In the folder will be the .ma file, plus the displacement map. 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8c6nrxocwflrbbg/AAChf63dOSKX_dpoEaYzgpDta?dl=0

Thanks for any help!