What is a bump map?

[machopenguin001]

What is a bump map? Is it a flat texture, or is it a texture, with it's own polygonal extrusion? Just wondering.

BTW I came up with a cool idea to make better skins. First, model all the extruding details on a plane, then put the basic skin on it, and then apply some lights. You now have a more accurate render/skin!

[cooldude5990]

a bump map is a black and white copy of a texture. i think that black will make it pop out. and white will make it go in but dont quote me on that.

[Waverunner]

bumpmaps are pretty much 3d textures, like cooldude said.

[BEEF!!!]

Some newer bump maps actually come in colors. I was watching somethign somewhere on the internet about it. I think the colored ones are more accurate with shadows.
Someone correct me if i'm wrong on that.

[Waverunner]

Pie was talking to me about bump maps once. He showed me a texture w/o them, and then one w/ them. You wouldn't think it looks better, but it actually makes a huge difference. The textures look much more realistic.

[[users]Leg0]

i can't really tell the difference
i mean, it looks nice with all the effects but i can't tell the difference in max or anything like that..


i mean it looks pretty neato in my paintshop.. ugh, maybe i'm colorblind?

here's one with regular bitmap.


here's one with my uggo bumpmap.

[Waverunner]

I can tell the difference. Much more exact

[[gx]shadow]

i am almost positive that the 'color' ones are called normal maps and the balck and white are called bumpmaps

[Sonictag]

Some newer bump maps actually come in colors. I was watching somethign somewhere on the internet about it. I think the colored ones are more accurate with shadows.
Someone correct me if i'm wrong on that.

Thats called a Normal Map, games such as Doom 3, Chronicals of riddick, Half Life 2 use it. Problems with normal maps is that they tend to be quite blurry up close.