Displacement Maps in 3ds Max

Photorealistic 3D rendering is used in many professional disciplines – design and architecture among them. 3D renderings are an excellent way to communicate the intended structure and operation of a scenario, building or machine online quickly.

This sharing enables designers to pitch for professional assignments in construction and engineering. Pro quality 3D renders are usually cheaper that photographs to produce, too; and they can be updated easily as object designs are changed due to varying preferences and parameters.

All this means that 3D modelers often have to make complex objects with varied and detailed geometries. This can take a lot of time and effort. 3ds Max Displace modifier and 3ds Displacement map tools can simplify and speed up this process. Like a Bump, 3ds Displace/Displacement works with monochrome textures that determine the coordinates of displacement maps; but it differs from a Bump in that it makes real manipulations on the model relief rather than imitating it.

In 3ds Max Displacement map and 3ds Max Displace modifier, polygons and points are displaced without affecting the geometry. 3ds Max Displace reads only the black and white channel from the 3ds Max Displacement map; so even if the image is in colour, it is read as monochrome. A model created with 3ds Max Displace looks more realistic than with Bump alone if you use a high-resolution displacement map in 3ds Max. Rendering takes longer when using a 3ds Max Displacement map; but with 3ds Max Displace modifier, you can create complex objects like grass, mountains, décor, etc.; so there are clear advantages too.

There are three ways of utilising Displacement when using CoronaRender in 3ds Max:

1. Apply the 3ds Displace modifier to the model
2. Use 3ds Max Displacement map when manipulating the texture of the model
3. Use the CoronaDisplacementMod modifier

How to configure the 3ds Max Displace modifier

First, create a high-polygon object. The more polygons there are, the higher the quality of the drawing projection in 3ds Max. Then go to Modify > Modifier List > Displace (fig. 1). After applying the modifier, an orange frame will appear. If there is no frame, or it is a different size to the object, the 3ds Max modifier hasn’t been applied correctly. Use the Image section to set the texture used to create the terrain. Click the None button in the Map subsection. You can select any standard 3Ds Max map. In the Bitmap section you can set any image (that can be created in, say, Photoshop). The Remove Map/Bitmap buttons delete the maps.

In the 3ds Max Displace modifier, the parameters Strength, Luminance Centre, Centre, and Blur create the relief in the 3ds Max model. After applying the cards, you need to change the Strength value. This parameter is responsible for the extrusion force and direction.

The Luminance Centre parameter changes the offset of the geometry. By default, the object’s polygons are either shifted (in white areas of the map) or remain in place (in black areas). 

The Luminance Centre in 3ds Max is responsible for the colour, and with what force the polygons will be shifted. Blur distorts the boundaries between the white and black areas of the 3ds Max Displace map. The stronger Blur is the smoother the edges are. 

After creating the terrain in the 3ds Max Displace modifier, the next step is to redact the shape. This is done by adjusting the following parameters in 3ds Max: Map (Planar, Cylindrical, Spherical, Shrink Wrap); Length; Width and Height; and U/V/W Tiles.

• Planar – for planar projection in 3ds Max. Suitable for rectangular flat objects. 
• Cylindrical – enables cylindrical projections. 
• Spherical – creates a spherical projection with two poles, where the texture is stitched.
• Shrink Wrap – the second variant of the spherical projection; it has only one pole where the texture is sewn.
• Length, Width and Height affect the size of the projected shape by resizing the texture.
• U/V/W Tiles change the repetition of the texture.

Projection settings

The Alignment section in 3ds Max displacement maps contains settings for projecting planes onto the model. Check the X, Y or Z box to align the planes along the axes. Scale the plane to the dimensions of the model in Fit. Bitmap Fit sets the image size of the plane, which can be selected separately (using another texture) in a 3ds Max displacement maps.

• View Align – aligns the plane to the camera installation point.
• Reset – returns the plane to its original shape. 
• Centre – centres the plane on the model. 
• Normal Align – sets the plane along the normals of the 3D model.
• Region Fit – stretches the plane over the object.
• Acquire – allows you to choose another object to adjust the size of the plane.

The 3ds Max Displace modifier is flexible and convenient for creating decorations such as the relief of walls, floors, ceilings, etc.; but using it increases the number of polygons, which greatly adds weight to the 3ds Max scene – though makes it more detailed and realistic.

Configuring Displacement in Corona

Displacement maps in 3ds Max can be adjusted by using the CoronaDisplacementMod modifier or the 3ds Max Displacement map channel when adjusting Corona materials. 

When using the CoronaDisplacementMod modifier in 3ds Max displacement maps, the settings will be available after the modifier is applied to the object (fig.2).

Next, the following parameters are highlighted:

• Min/Max level – responsible for black and white pixel offset.
• Water level – a conventional secant plane at the bottom of which the geometry can be cut off. 
• Subdivision Quality – adjusts the pixel resolution used for volume extrusion. 

Using the 3ds Max Displacement map channel when adjusting Corona materials, the model geometry is extruded thanks to a map embedded in a slot in the material (fig 3). This method is almost identical to that employed when using the CoronaDisplacementMod in 3ds Max displacement maps: it also has Min/Max level, and Water level settings. To use it, create a material from the Corona material list. Select Displacement, then after loading a map into it, set the extrusion depth and the plane from which this manipulation will take place.

That’s about it from the VizAcademy on Displacement maps in 3ds Max and 3ds Max Displace. We hope you found the article interesting and informative. Watch this space!

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