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Displacement map over an existing shader?

Stretch65Stretch65 Posts: 167
edited December 1969 in New Users

Hi,

I have this hard-edged object that I want to apply a metallic texture to. I have some nice metal shaders which I purchased recently from the Daz store, and applying one of them is pretty easy, except that I'd like to add something more to the surface.

Recently, I've been learning how to paint a depth map in 3D Coat, which I can export out as a displacement map. I can apply this map to an object in Daz Studio, and it looks great. But I'd like to apply this map over the top of one of the metal shaders - and I don't have a clue how to do this.

The trouble is the metal shader has it's own displacement map, and it's also tiled. So, I guess my question is how can I overlay a depth map of my own over another shader? (I would imagine the answer involves using Shader Mixer, but I don't know very much about this)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Comments

  • Herald of FireHerald of Fire Posts: 3,504
    edited January 2015

    What is the shader you are using?

    There are a few ways to go about this. Firstly, there's the layered image editor. You can apply your displacement map over the top of the existing one and use one of the blending options to combine it. It's a simple method, and may not give the best results but it will do a serviceable job.

    The second, depending on if the shader allows it, is to convert it to UberSurface2 which actually has TWO displacement channels. Place both your maps in and let the shader do the rest. This depends on the shader you are using because some metallic shaders don't convert well to other shader types. It's perfectly possible to get a metal shader effect out of US2, but it may not look the same as the one you had in mind.

    Post edited by Herald of Fire on
  • Stretch65Stretch65 Posts: 167
    edited December 1969

    Hi,

    Thanks for your prompt reply.

    I'm trying out the Layered Image Editor on the map that appears in the Surface control labelled "Displacement Strength" (for the metal shader). But there's something I can't figure out. This map is tiled 10x10 in the shader, so can I actually tile it within the Layered Image Editor? At the moment, all I can see is the un-tiled map.

  • Herald of FireHerald of Fire Posts: 3,504
    edited January 2015

    Your best bet is to take the displacement into an image editor and tile it manually so you can overlay them better. Save it as a separate file.

    Post edited by Herald of Fire on
  • Stretch65Stretch65 Posts: 167
    edited December 1969

    Yeah, I figured that I would have to tile it manually. Anyway I've had a look at the the UberSurface2 shader and it looks pretty cool - having 2 displacement channels is nice. Thanks.

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