After spending many hours modeling the neck for my acoustic guitar, meticulously splining the frets and binding, I gave up and went to bed. As my head hit the pillow, it dawned on me: This would be the perfect job for a displacement map. (I'm assuming that's the same as a bump map) I took a jpg render of the fret wires and made a black and white alpha channel. But I'm now at a loss what to do with it to make it work. I'm hoping for a similar kindness to that displayed in my quest for flattening. Thank You for your help.

Hi Myron. I had similar problems when trying to apply bump maps and stuff. But the kind people here helped me out loads. First apply the image as a decal, then expand its properties. You should see "images" and "stamps" appear as drop down options. If you expand the images one you can change the type from color to bump or displacement or whatever you need. Hope that makes sense and helps somewhat.

Hey, I just completed a short tute on displacement maps that may be some help. It's pretty easy once you know how!
http://www.hash.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=35271

One thing to keep in mind is to use a neutral grey (i.e., rgb 128, 128, 128) to keep the mesh at it's original height, then of course lighter raises the mesh, and darker lowers it.

Just apply the image as a decal onto a few flat patches, go into the decal properties and change the image type from colour to bump, or displacement, and then render to see the effect. Displacement will show up in the realtime display while bump maps require rendering to see the effect.

It looks like you are covered as far as advice on using displacement maps. However, since you've already modeled the neck and frets, you will be better off using the geometry you modeled instead of a disp map. The guitar will render much faster, and will probably look better if you use the actual geometry. It will also be easier to texture the individual parts.

Obviously there's something I'm missing.

I used the original geometry.

Colors are at 128, 128,128.

I applied the decal to the first 5 frets.

Where to I find the option to turn the decal from color to displacement?

EDIT: I went to the tech manual and it said that Decal Type is displayed: 'Sometimes' but doesn't explain the circumstances under which is gets displayed

expand the tree under that particular decal and check the properties of the one under it.

To expose more options: click on the plus (+) near your decal name (xx1xS Fret01) , then click on the plus by Images - click on color (current value for the type) - change it to displacement & May Lawd have mercy on yer soul.

Some general Rules for finding things in A:M:

Whenever you have a property triangle - expand it by clicking on it -
Whenever you have a plus - expand it by clicking on it -
Whenever you have a value set for the property - click on it to change it.

Whenever you have a name, window, anything: select it by clicking and then right click while its selected to find other options available

ok Nancy,
What in the world is that?
lol

huh? - No comprendo - This was just a nonesense lathed model that was decaled with the first image that I grabbed - purely for the purpose of illustrating how to change the decal type (using a screen grab).

The other stuff - was hopefully to give Myron an insight into how to find anything in A:M - Now as for it making any sense, once one does find what one is looking for - that's a different story ....

It kinda looks like a Spleen.
LOL

Thank you once again, Nancy.
Found it and now I can continue my diabolical experiments to warp, twist and otherwise distort these nefarious splines, cp's, and patches.

Gene,
If that's not your Spleen, then I'm sure it must be my liver.

Myron's Liver Dances with Gene's Spleen