Displacement Map

[apasskey]

I have been trying Wendy's (I think it is yours) tutorial for putting a flag on a car. I really don't comprehend the technique. I guess I don't understand what a displacement map is. I occasionally get one to work(pruely accidental) but usually I face dismal failures. And I can't seem to duplicate the technique since I don't understand what I did.

I am confused by the 2nd step - Do I need to make a file with this map in it? Or is that what happens in step 4. Then - in step 9 my flag doesn't distort. I guess I maigh need more detailed steps. I have done this several times and I am obviously being dense...I think I'll try again. I am actually trying to make a rhino with flowers on his skin. I'd actually like to put him back into the original picture after I get him all decorated.

Wish me luck. I'm off to try again... Andie

[kimi_boo]

Andie.. make a dulicate of what you want to use as your map. Change it to greyscale and save it as a PSD file named map.

[Wendy]

Hi Andie ...

Just do what Kimi said nd it should be OK ...

I would love to see a Rhino with flowers on his skin ... that sounds wonderful :) :)

Wendy

[GaryK]

Andie

One thing to remember .. at least how I understand .. is that you need some differences in contrast to get the map to work well.
So once you have turned your image to greyscale the more the contrasting areas the better the distortion will be.
If you took a rhino picture in flat light then you may not see as much distortion as you would like.

I have done a few and I have to think about what the heck I am doing every time.:)

[Daviskw]

Hi there

Displacement mapping is an iffy thing even in the best of circumstances.

Not sure of the procedures you are using but...

In the example below..

Made a selection of the rhino and saved it.

Made a selection of the whole file and copied to the clipboard.
Pasted to a new file
Changed mode to Grayscale and used levels to increase contrast
Saved file as rhinomap.psd.

Back to original rhino I filled a new layer with blue flowers. With the flower layer active….

Then Pressed Filters>Distort>Displace
Hor scale…10
Ver scale…10
Stretched to fit
Repeat edge pixels..then OK

When prompted for displacement map I used the rihnomap.psd from above then OK

The flower layer was displaced…I loaded my saved selection…inverted and deleted the rest of the flowers I did not need.

Changed the flower layer to Multiply… but experiment and see what works best.

Sometimes you may want to copy the rihnomap and paste to a layer and set to multiply to increase contrast… not needed in my example.

I decide for the sake this example to make the ears a different flower group. I just repeated the steps above with the same displacement map.

Hope this helps Butch

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1vt4kvtgV0cUtRYxEM2liG5BjEsD_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1vt4kvtgV0cUtRYxEM2liG5BjEsD)

[Ritage]

There is a "Tip" on the WACOM Site that helps to enhance displacement maps that do not have much contrast, by airbrushing the highs and lows with white and black paint.

I have only used it a couple of times and not with all the steps described, which are somewhat involved. It can make an improvement.

http://www.wacom.com/tips/tip.cfm?ID=56&category=Photoshop

I'm not sure, but I believe you have to be registered to access it.

Rita

[apasskey]

Wow - you all are wonderful.Thanks for all the help. I never did make it back to my rhino yet - I got caught up in cooking stuff for Thanksgiving tomorrow. I really got a lot of preparation done but that means my poor rhino is still a boring gray color. Maybe I'll get to him tomorrow.

My family doesn't like pumpkin pie so I made a peanut butter and jelly pie instead. I baked a cranberry bread, made cranberry sauce and cranberry relish, chopped celery and onion for the turkey stuffing, and made a coffee cake for breakfast. Whew...Anyway - that's what I did instead of PSE tonight.Is anyone else cooking up a storm? I love fixing stuff for Thanksgiving!! Then I love going shopping the next day.

Happy turkey day to all my stateside friends on the forum.

Andie

[Wendy]

Hi Andie ...

When you are ready to start the tutorial again just let me know ... and if you get stuck with it I will help :)

Using displacement maps is fairly easy to do once you have done a couple of them ... and they do give a great effect :)

Wendy

[apasskey]

Here it is:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1tIuRA5estza1tiS83BMZ8EJtrw3s_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1tIuRA5estza1tiS83BMZ8EJtrw3s)

Thanks for everyone's help. ( Butch - your description was really helpful - thanks)The only trouble is I still don't really understand the process. I'll keep practicing and maybe it will become clear to me. Andie

[Wendy]

Hi Andie ...

Oh that looks really good !!

I've sent you a pm :)

Wendy

[GaryK]

Andie

I like that:D :D

[apasskey]

Thanks Gary - This was one of those - "Why did you do THAT?" projects. My family just doesn't understand. Andie

[GaryK]

Andie

Because you can.:D :D