Creating Displacement Maps

In 3ds max, the Displace modifier acts as a force field to push and reshape an object's geometry. You can apply its variable force directly from the modifier gizmo, from a bitmap image, or from a combustion workspace.

The grayscale component of the image is used to generate the displacement. Lighter colors in the image push outward more strongly than darker colors, resulting in a 3D displacement of the geometry.

To create a displacement map:

1. In 3ds max, select the object to which you want to apply the displacement map.

In this example, the displacement is applied to a sphere primitive.

2. In the object's Parameters rollout, increase the number of Length and Width Segments. The closer the number of segments approaches the resolution of the displacement map, the more accurate the result.

For example, 200 by 200 gives good results in the example that follows.

3. Apply a Displace modifier.

(Click the Modifier tab, click the More button, then in the Modifiers dialog, select Displace and click OK.)

4. In the Parameters rollout, Image group, click the Map button.



5. The Material/Map Browser appears. Select combustion and click OK.

"Map #1 (Combustion)" appears on the button.

6. Open the Material Editor, and then click and drag the "Map #1 (Combustion)" button to an unused sample slot in the Material Editor.

An Instance (Copy) Map dialog is displayed.

7. Select Instance and click OK.



8. In the Material Editor, combustion Parameters rollout, click Edit.

This launches combustion. In the New dialog, set the Type to Paint, and create a gray-scale image to use as a displacement map. The following image shows a circle with a custom gradient on it.



For more information, see Paint: Drawing Basics.

9. In 3ds max, increase the Displacement strength in the modifier Parameters rollout, and switch the type of mapping if necessary.

As you increase the strength, you can see the result of the displacement map on the selected object.



10. In combustion, save your workspace, then in 3ds max, disable Edit in the combustion Parameters rollout to exit Edit mode.