Bump Map vs. Displacement Map

#1

OK, this may be a silly question, but here goes:

I am starting to work with a Mudbox/Maya workflow and I am confused a bit. With a bump map, 50 percent grey does nothing, while lighter values bump up and lower values go down. With a displacement map, black does nothing and lighter values pull the mesh up, right? Does this mean that if you were to make a plane and carve a valley into it in Mudbox, Maya would need to raise the overall plane to make the valley? Am I missing something?

#2

With programs like Zbrush and Mudbox for example would use Black, Mid-grey and grey as Negitive, 0 and Positive.

Traditionally programs like Maya or Max have only used Black and white for bump or displacement… The Zbrush style displacements do allow this such as overhangs and caves.

#3

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