This chapter explains how you can use textures to control a number of surface attributes besides surface shading.
• Creating
Bump Maps
Bump Maps simulate relief on objects by perturbing
the surface shading according to an image map. The result is the illusion
of bumps, ridges, and imperfections, but with no change to the objects’
geometry.
• Creating
a Displacement Map
Displacement Maps, though similar to bump
maps, actually perturb objects’ rendered geometry according to
an image map. This creates bumps, ridges, and other surface variations
that cast shadows that correctly follow the displacement.
• Creating
a Transparency Map
Transparency Maps make an object’s surface
transparent or opaque, according to an image map. This is useful for
“cutting holes” in otherwise solid surfaces without modifying
the surfaces’ geometry.
• Creating
a Reflectivity Map
Reflectivity Maps make an object’s surface
reflective or not, according to an image map.
• Creating
a Reflection/Environment Map
Reflection Maps cause reflections of the source
image map to show up as reflections on the surfaces of reflective objects.
This often allows you to create reflections without using raytracing
to calculate them.
You can also use them to create proper raytraced reflections of objects or environments that are not in the frame, but are reflected by objects that are in the fame.
• Environment Maps use their source images to surround the scene with a simulated environment, which shows up as reflections on the surfaces of reflective objects. They can also be used to create backgrounds or light scenes using High Dynamic Range (HDR) images.
SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.6.01