Blender - Displacement Maps Pt. II (anim)

[ODdOnLifeItself]

You can also map the Displacement Map to an object, but using an Empty to control where it is. This way, animating by merely moving the Empty, allows the displacement to be fluid/moveable. You could use similar ideas to (controllably) wave a flag or have the ground ripple after an explosion... You could also use this idea to have particular bricks in a brick wall suddenly protrude...(by painting a Displacement Map with the non-moving bricks in black and the protruding bricks in white)


Here is a simple example...




Peace

James

[angelize]

That is cool!

[guyke]

You can also map the Displacement Map to an object, but using an Empty to control where it is.

Here is a simple example...

I understand what you're saying, James but I cannot figure out how you did it. I don't see hwo (or where) you can set an empty to control a displacement map (which basically is a texture).
I'm sorry to - again - claim some of your precious time, but I honestly tried hard to work it out for myself.

[ODdOnLifeItself]

Hello Larry,

Do not feel bad in the slightest. This is not an easy thing to pull off. I had to work at it several times to understand about using an empty to control where an image is painted onto an object. While sitting here before, I had thought, well if the empty can control the mapping of the image for Color data, it'll surely work to control the image, but having it control Displacement instead. It worked right off the bat, but only because I had spent previous time on using Empties to control where an image is mapped to an object.

For this to work, you map the Image (that controls displacement) to the Object but under Mapping/Coordinates, you must choose Object in order to get the field available in which to choose the Empty.

Important point...the image will be mapped to fit the X-Y size of the Empty, but with the depth of the complete Z size of the empty. This is how you can use this technique to map a stencil/logo onto an object, but control the depth. (the default is it goes through and projects out the other side! --- the Empty is the way to control this behavior)

Since the Image is controlling displacement now, you need to turn off Color and turn on Displacement.

One other important thing. Where it normally says to Repeat the Image Texture, you need to change that to Clip Cube to keep it cut to the size of the Empty.

Below is a scene I made so that you can look at and compare to the way you have the displacement set up in your file. The Sphere in the middle has an Empty controlling where the Displacement is applied on the Red Rock shape.



The only thing I changed between the two images is the location and rotation of the Empty...



Blendfile

Peace

James

[ODdOnLifeItself]

Sorry for calling you Larry, Guy.

Not that Larry wouldn't also be fun to be.

Was WAY tired, forgive me!

James

[guyke]

Apologies accepted James, but none needed ! It's another tremendous explanation, and I'm sure I can go a lot further now in figuring out how it works.

Thanks again.

[guyke]

ok, I think I got the basics covered, thanks to James' explanation

[wizard509]

I was a little confused too but that's nothing new. Anyway interesting info James Thank you from me too.
So now that we have that all straightened out I won't have to get

Mr. after you.

[ODdOnLifeItself]

Yes, Guy, you definitely have it figured out.

Glad I could help, but it was as much your persistence.

It's a useful technique for sure.

Picture you were making some horror scene. I could see the Empty being used to control a Displacement texture that basically submerges the ground plane to "dig a grave" in real time just by moving the Empty. One moment, there is flat ground...the next moment, the ground drops out to reveal a grave. Now, I'm curious which would work better...using the Displacement method, or to [Separate] the soon to be dropped plot of ground and descend that through a premade shaft to create the grave.

Looks like I'll be experimenting.

Peace

James

[ODdOnLifeItself]

Hello Larry,

Don't worry about him.

Let's just say we have everything under "control."



Peace

James