Glorofin on 12/3/2002 at 18:23

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What's bumpmapping?

xman on 12/3/2002 at 19:54

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Although I just can't imagine you seriously don't know what bump-mapping is, I'll explain it... Just in case you were serious.

You must have noticed that, usually, textures are flat, haven't you?
Well, basically, bump-mapping is an additional texture that alters the reflectance of the flat textures in order to make them look rougher... more 3D (although it's only a visual trick as the textures remain flat but they look like they have a relief).
This effect is particularly visible on brick walls and such where you have the impression that the bricks are coming out of the "cement".

Warning: in Arx, some blocks are REALLY coming out of the walls, this is not bump-mapping at all!

Tels on 12/3/2002 at 20:04

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You need to get close, and of course, your 3D card needs to support it. Also, I don't know if it is necc. to restart Arx.

There is another trick, called "detail texturing" which adds a small bumpy detail texture to the walls, like grains, stripes, scratches etc. It is very small and repetive, but since it overlaps the normal texture, you no longer notice how blocky it is, but are tricked into believing you can really see details.

Very noticable, f.i. in Serious Sam (and looks good ;)

Read the everything links, they explain it pretty good.

Hope this helps,

Tels

xman on 13/3/2002 at 09:25

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Mmmh...

Another textual description:
(http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/B/bump_mapping.html)

An idea of what it does:
(http://javaboutique.internet.com/Bumpy/index.html)

here, the image is 2D. But, bump mapping, which artificially alters the way the lights meet the surface, gives an impression of relief.

Udasai on 14/3/2002 at 02:43

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Much like most major advances in automotive tech happened in the 1950's, so have most computer science advances come from the 70s. Look at Linux, for goodness sakes. We're rushing headlong into the past. Is there nothing new under the sun?