How do you create seamless tileable displacement maps for large-scale environments?

1 Photoshop Setup

The first step is to prepare a base image that will serve as the source for your displacement map. You can use any image that has some texture and contrast, such as a photo, a painting, or a noise pattern. The image should be square and have a high resolution, such as 4096 x 4096 pixels. You also need to make sure that the image is tileable, meaning that it can be repeated horizontally and vertically without creating seams. To do this, you can use the Offset filter in Photoshop, which allows you to shift the image by a certain amount of pixels and wrap the edges around. You can then use the Clone Stamp tool or other editing tools to blend the seams and create a seamless image.

2 ZBrush Import

The next step is to import your base image into ZBrush, a 3D sculpting software that can generate displacement maps from high-poly models. You can use the ZPlugin menu to access the 3D Print Exporter, which allows you to import an image as a plane with subdivisions. You can adjust the size and resolution of the plane according to your needs, but make sure that the number of subdivisions matches the resolution of your image. For example, if your image is 4096 x 4096 pixels, you should have 12 subdivisions (2^12 = 4096). You can also turn on the Smooth UV option to avoid artifacts in the displacement map.

3 ZBrush Sculpting

The third step is to sculpt your plane using various brushes and alphas in ZBrush. You can use the Standard brush with the DragRect stroke and a grayscale alpha to add bumps and dents to your plane. You can also use the Clay Buildup brush with the Spray stroke and a noise alpha to add some random variations and details. You can experiment with different brushes, alphas, intensities, and focal shifts to create different effects and styles. The key is to sculpt in a way that preserves the tileability of your plane, meaning that you should avoid sculpting near the edges or creating features that are too large or too small. You can use the Offset slider in the Deformation menu to check the tileability of your plane and make adjustments if needed.

4 ZBrush Export

The fourth step is to export your displacement map from ZBrush. You can use the ZPlugin menu again to access the Multi Map Exporter, which allows you to export various maps from your model, such as normal maps, ambient occlusion maps, and displacement maps. You can adjust the settings according to your preferences, but make sure that the resolution and format of your displacement map match your base image. You can also choose the Flip V option to flip the map vertically, as some 3D software may use a different coordinate system than ZBrush. You can then save your displacement map as a file in a folder of your choice.

5 Photoshop Adjustment

The fifth step is to adjust your displacement map in Photoshop. You can open your displacement map file in Photoshop and make some changes to improve its quality and appearance. You can use the Levels or Curves adjustment layers to increase the contrast and dynamic range of your map, which will enhance the depth and detail of your displacement. You can also use the Hue/Saturation or Color Balance adjustment layers to change the color and tone of your map, which will affect the lighting and shading of your displacement. You can also use the Blur or Sharpen filters to smooth or sharpen your map, depending on the level of detail you want. You can also use the Offset filter again to check the tileability of your map and make corrections if needed.

6 3D Application

The final step is to apply your displacement map to your 3D model in your preferred 3D software, such as Blender, Maya, or Unreal Engine. You can create a material for your model and assign your displacement map as a texture map. You can adjust the scale and strength of your displacement map according to your needs, but make sure that you have enough geometry and subdivisions on your model to support the displacement. You can also use other maps, such as normal maps, ambient occlusion maps, or diffuse maps, to complement your displacement map and create more realistic textures and lighting for your model. You can then render or export your model with your displacement map applied and enjoy the results.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?