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BUZZFX
06-06-2007, 05:57 PM
C4D (Displacement Maps from ZBrush to Cinema 4D)

This message was posted explaining C4D's Displacement Base Point.
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"The displacement file supplied is set to have 50% grey as a base point, while white is 'high' and black is 'low'; C4D's displacement works on black as the base point, and the range--going up through grey to white--indicates higher points. So no amount of messing with constrast, gamma, etc. will actually give the correct results."

"Until C4D does displacement from a 50% base, displacing up and down in one go, or we get a map out of ZBrush that is from a black basepoint, C4D will never be as accurate as some of the other renderers."
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The Base Point of Cinema 4D is "Black" and not 50% Grey like maya, max, XSI etc. This is important because the displacement file does not displace properly (does not create the highs and lows) that it would if the base point were at 50% grey like other applications. This is important when saving displacement maps from ZBrush for example.


1. Is the base point "black" for all versions of C4D 8, 9 and 10 or has Maxon changed the base point to 50% in Version 9 or 10?

2. Has anyone found a workaround for this?

3. Will I get more detail with 8, 16 or 32 bit displacement map?


Thanks
Srek
06-06-2007, 06:19 PM
If i remember correctly it's been since R9 that you can choose between
Intensity (0% to 100% with 50% grey beeing no displacement)
Intensity centered (-100% to 100% with 0% beeing no displacement)

and
Red / Green
RGB World
RGB local

Also CINEMA does support HDR images for displacement so you can exceed the default range.
It seems the person writing the comment was a bit behind in CINEMA 4D development

Cheers
Björn
LucentDreams
06-06-2007, 06:51 PM
read the pixologic zpipeline guide. its more accurate than a lot of old posts, especially anything before r9.5

should also point out that in ZB 2 you now have zmapper, which does allow esporting maps with black as the base point, it also does redgreen displacements which is my personal recommendation.
BUZZFX
06-06-2007, 06:54 PM
Great news Srek! Thanks for that!

BTW could you please tell me what the "Default" Base point (Is it Black or 50% Grey For e.g.) is in C4D 9 or 10 and tell me where to check it?


Thanks
LucentDreams
06-06-2007, 07:02 PM
its 50% grey if you using intensity centered, and black if your using intensity.
Shilts
06-06-2007, 07:34 PM
Some pretty good tutorials on Cineversity covering this (Zbrush 2 and ZMapper though):

http://www.cineversity.com/tutorials/index.asp?cid=12&ssp=

They are free also.
BUZZFX
06-06-2007, 07:36 PM
Kai,

Thanks for that.
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