Bump map for material

[S. Jaisimha]

I want to create multiple materials with different bump maps, so that they can be assigned to the objects in AutoCAD for rendering. Please see the attachment for an idea. The idea is to assign the appropriate one to the object for rendering.

If this can be achieved, it will avoid a whole lot of symbol creation, since right now to get the design etching, we are creating individual symbols for each design. Obviously this is very time consuming and results in literally thousands of DWG files, one for each design and size.

Is this possible at all? If so, how can this be done? Any help is much appreciated.

[George Ioannidis]

I think that for that type is better to use displacement map. Displacement actually modifies the geometry rather then just fake the relief.

[S. Jaisimha]

Thanks for replying George.

I tried a displacement map, but I am having serious trouble getting the map to sit right. Is there any example for nXtRender anywhere that I can follow? Will one single material with a displacement map work immaterial of the object size, or should I create one material for each size?

How are the texture co-ordinates related to the displacement co-ordinates?

[Roy Hirshkowitz]

I would stay away from displacements for this-- they will impact performance way too much.

This is going to require a combination of mapping and materials to really work.  nXt can get the size of the bitmap from the material definition, that part is not a problem.  However, it cannot get the location and orientation.  That requires mapping, information which attaches directly to the object, not the material.  

You can set up some typical shutter sizes with mapping already attached (use the quick mapping option to do this.)  You will have to have models for each size of shutter with preattached mappings-- the rest you can do with materials of appropriate size.