Displace A Mesh

Slide 2

Learn how to displace a mesh.

  1. Examine the hierarchy on the left side of the desktop.
  2. Left click NewMeshNode.
  3. The node highlights, indicating selection.
  4. Wait a moment and left click again.
  5. The node opens for naming.
  6. Set the name to Terrain and hit ENTER when you are finished.
  7. Right click over Terrain and select Modifiers » DisplaceModifier from the listed options.
  8. This adds a DisplaceModifier to the mesh construction history.
  9. The hierarchy looks like this: This is a picture of the hierarchy.
  10. Double click DisplaceModifier.
  11. This displays modifier properties in the property editor.
  12. Scroll down and find the Displace property group.
  13. Left click the right column of the Displacement File parameter field.
  14. This displays the Open dialog and allows you to select a displacement file.
  15. In this case, displacement file is a true-color bitmap containing elevation values.
  16. Set the file path to EXERCISES\TEXTURES\KLAMATH_FALLS.BMP.
  17. Set Translation to 4. [ This is a small area file. You don't need a large displacement. ]
  18. Click Open when you are ready.
  19. The mesh is displaced along Z.
  20. [ See The Displacment Map ]
  21. The worksheet looks like this: This is a picture of the worksheet.
  22. Examine the hierarchy.
  23. Right click over RectangleGeometryModifier.
  24. Select Tessellation » Tessellation: 32 from the listed options.
  25. The worksheet looks like this: This is a picture of the worksheet.
  26. Examine the hierarchy.
  27. Right click over Terrain and select Modifiers » CalculateNormalsModifier from the listed options.
  28. This adds a CalculateNormalsModifer to the mesh construction history.
  29. The worksheet looks like this: This is a picture of the worksheet.