Questions On Live Effect 3D Bump Map

Hi. I am glad to see the Xara update to Xara Extreme.

I have tried out the the 3D Bump Map feature, and I'm wondering if you
find the following operations to be the same on your computer as I have
on mine. (Windows XP, 1 Gig of memory, with 80 Gigs of free space
remaining.)

1. It seems that this feature is better suited for bitmaps and text objects
rather than vector objects.

2. When using this feature on vector objects (such as a circle), I find that
no matter what original color is on the vector object, it becomes black in
the 3D Bump Map window, until a color is specified.

3. Directional Light Type. Only these parameters seem to have any
noticeable effect/change : Intensity and Scale. All other parameters do
not alter the vector object. This is also true if you click the Inverted Option.

4. Point Light Type. Likewise, only Intensity and Height parameters make
any noticeable change. When including the Inverted option, then the
Scale parameter also effects a change.

5. Spotlight Type. Only adjustable parameters making a change are
Intensity, Height, Blue, Width, Elevation, Angle. This is also true if you
include the Inverted Option.

6. When adjusting the color in the 3D Bump Map window, you cannot
use the eyedropper to grab colors from other areas (as you can from the
Color Editor).

I'm asking if you are experiencing the same results when using the 3D
Bump Map feature, so I can know if what is happening here is the "norm",
or if I am experiencing some snafu.

Could you also please share what you see the main usage/benefit this
feature has in Xara ? Perhaps I'm missing something in its applicability.
(The 3D Bump Map feature reminds me of the 3D Light function in the
bitmap app Real Draw Pro.)

Thank you for your help.

Ken

Hi Ken

All you say here is correct. That's the way 3DBumpMap tool should work.
But let me explain some ideas behind it.
When you add new light in BumpMap tool it actually creates a bumpmap image based on source image and light settings that you provide with tool interface.
Bumpmap image is created similarly to the emboss effect, and it's result looks like colorless surface with bumps here and there enlightened by some light source.
With default settings you get white light with 50% intensity that makes flat areas look grey and bumps with their brighter and darker sides.
Now how the bumps are created? As I say it's, almost like in emboss effect. Areas with similar color in the source image are flat, and any color changing edges are treated as an elevation change.
Now you understand why you get just a gray fill for any single colored shape?
But there's also one more thing you may not know. It's a Merge checkbox.
If you check it, than result will be not the bumpmap, but the bumpmap combined with original image.
It may take some practice to get nice results with this, but result will add some volume to your painting.
Also notice that there are many settings that may be used to easily create light effects.

This tool is a bit complicated but it is very powerful.
I think it would be nice to have a tutorial one day on XaraXone.

Thank you, John, for your thoughtful reply. I have used the 3D Bump Map
feature on various vector shapes and objects to simulate curvature/volume.

And yes, as you said, it would be nice to have a few tutorials on this, and
examples from others as to how they are applying this.

Ken

Hello

Perhaps it is early days, but the bump map option is somewhat weak. The effect is visible sort of, with no image
merged, but once the image is merged, the effect is almost lost and the result looks washed out. There needs to be a transparency and also merge options(multiply?). The other thing that is missing is that there is no option to apply a different image as the bump source.
It might be that there is something that I am missing.
It would be really good if the light could be dragged about, rather than using the dialogue (very unXara). The XY co- ords give no sense of the position of the light.

In essence this a lighting effects filter and it should be much better than it is, but as I said it is early days.

The image bump 2 takes a grey bump map and merges that with the original behind the bump, Brightness mix mode and 65% transparency. This what the effect should be like.

Mike Engles

Hello

Further to the last post, an example of using a different bump source, but merged as in bump 2. The effect is exaggerated!

Import a image, convert to editable, make it midtone grey.
Use a plugin to add a noise, then blur that noise. Apply the Xara bump map and place on top the original image.
Mix mode brightness and adjust transparency.

A multiply mix mode would be the best. The merge in Bump map, seems to be a screen mode.

I notice that controls, like blur, height and width only seems to work as the slider is being moved, but the effect remains the same. Scale,angle and elevation do make changes.

Mike Engles

I was looking at Page Curl 2. It doesn't have bump map capability, however, Page Curl Pro 2 does. Rich

Perhaps I should post this here too:

http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthread.php?t=18552

A bump map tutorial I wrote.