Heightmap for floor too high?

[nguyen824]

I got this from: https://www.textures.com/search?q=Brick%20Floor 

Named "Flat Cobblestone"

How to stick it back down to floor?

[mspeer · Accepted solution]

Hi!

Based on the preview image the displacement image has colors in a range from about 0.4 to 0.6, so you will get this offset for your displacement too.

You can edit the image in an image application and bring the lowest color values down to 0 or modify the values in the file node:

Color Balance -> Alpha Gain

Color Balance -> Alpha Offset

[nguyen824]

Thanks mate, I got it right now. Stuck it back onto the floor geometry. 

Adjusting the file node in Maya "Colour Balance -> Alpha Gain/Offset" did stick it down but also made the bricks flat so that did not completely work.
Had to adjust levels in Photoshop. I'm noob, had to trail and error a few times by 'adjusting levels, saving a new PNG file then loading it into the file node' a few times. :p.
When you said "colour range 0.4 - 0.6" did you mean like 40%-60% from blacks to whites?

Credits: Screenshots taken with ShareX.

Before adjusting levels.After adjusting levels pushing in the blacks more. In photoshop.

[mspeer]

Hi!

"Adjusting the file node in Maya "Colour Balance -> Alpha Gain/Offset" did stick it down but also made the bricks flat so that did not completely work."

- Only Alpha Gain makes it flat, so increase gain again.

When editing the image you can also increase overall contrast, so the higher values will become white.

Please also make sure to use "RAW" for color space as you want to use the raw color values for displacement.

[nguyen824]

"Only Alpha Gain makes it flat, so increase gain again."

I don't understand? what gain? Alpha gain or Colour gain? Tried both, it just makes it fly up or flatten down without editing in Photoshop.

I've attached my map files (from textures.com) if you want to try on a single plane polygon with no subdivisions with aiStandardSurface node.

"When editing the image you can also increase overall contrast, so the higher values will become white."

It just seems to darken everything slightly, even before and after adjusting levels? Try it?

Please also make sure to use "RAW" for color space as you want to use the raw color values for displacement. 

Ah ok, thanks. I thought you mean Raw file format then I discovered this https://substance3d.adobe.com/documentation/integrations/substance-textures-in-maya-196215825.html

You meant an option in the node in Maya. All it did was increase intensity/sensitivity of the Alpha Gain option slider.

[mspeer]

Hi!

Gain is a multiplier and Offset an offset.

I recommend to do some tests with different values or do some research about how this works. You only need these 2 attributes to perfectly tune your displacement.

"It just seems to darken everything slightly"

- You can manually define the black point and the white point with your Levels slider in Photoshop, everything else doesn't matter. Then in Maya you can control the amount of displacement by using "Apha Gain" in the file node or "Scale" in the displacement node.

[nguyen824]

"You only need these 2 attributes"

I've already tried, it didn't work for these, only make it fly up or flatten. Only adjusting levels in Photoshop worked. Try it.

Thanks for helping.

[mspeer · Accepted solution]

Hi!

Then you maybe missed one important thing,

Alpha Offset can also have negative values.

[nguyen824]

Ah, good spot, thanks!