The downside of this method is that it can create very heavy meshes that require a lot of RAM to process.īump, normal bump, and displacement mapscan be used in various scenarios depending on the required level of quality and computer performance constraints. It does so by dividing the model’s polygons into a much denser mesh during the rendering process, which is either elevated or depressed on an up/down axis based on your chosen texture. It’s thus mostly used in computer games to add detail to models while keeping a low polycount.Ĭontrary to those methods, displacement maps help create real 3D geometry it casts real shadows and looks realistic from every angle. Like bump mapping though, the effect is purely based on rendering it doesn’t add real detail to the geometry. It does the same job as bump mapping, except the details are created based on an RGB color map that encodes the angles of the surface. There are cases where it doesn’t look all that convincing.Īnother method is the normal map (normal bump). You wouldn’t, for example, see changes to the contour of the object. It does the job for small, finer details, and only in some angles. Instead, it creates an illusion of 3D, “faking” it during the render process by having light bounce off simulated features that are not actually there.

However, bump mapping doesn’t create a real 3D structure. By taking the placement of light on the model into consideration, it imitates a sculptural relief on the surface, portraying shadows and highlights to simulate texture and depth.

Given this all-important feature in real surfaces, 3D applications quickly incorporated tools in their material editors necessary to generate such an effect. It’s this essential trait in materials that make them look interesting and real. Each surface contains a 3D structure through which, slick or rough, we perceive texture by how light bounces off its bumps and scratches. Displacement maps, Bump maps, and Normal Mapping It’s not only color or reflection the 3D surface of the material also needs to be reproduced for a realistic look.įirst, let’s have a look at how displacement works as opposed to bump and normal mapping.

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