Best bump mapping?

[SolarEagle]

I tend to enjoy bump maps that, if anything, are over-done rather than under-done. Like nothing else they add to the feel of the suface. In fact I love the "orange peel" effect, as is gives the surface so much character, and steps up my visual enjoyment of the model. The FW190 could be said to have the orange peel, but it's one of the things that makes it such a visual stunner. I want to reach into the screen and rub my hands all over it.

On the other hand you've got the A2A P-40; unquestionably some of the best bump maps out there, yet with no orange peel, and it's equally as stunning. It has it's own style, one that's nearly photographic and perhaps less stylized, but even so the skin is silky smooth, which I love. I want to reach into the screen and run my hands all over it.

So they are both equal to me, becuase they both look good. Personally my main interest is to have something that visually wow's me when I fly it, and I'm not so interested in photoreal vs stylized, accurate vs inaccurate, as long as it looks like an awesome rendition I'll see an awesome rendition when I fly.

I have always regarded the Classics Hanger FW190 to have some of the best and most visually stunning exterior textures and bump map out there, as I have the RealAir Spitfire, the A2A P-40 and P-47, and despite being sub par in other categories the RealFlight Hellcat.

The recent work of IDCP showcases what the FSX engine is capable of, and similar comments have been made regarding the texture work on the CH 190, as it was praised for leveraging GPU power over CPU power with the fact that a simple model using highly detailed HD texture work gives the appearance of a highly detailed model.

All in all I like seeing different styles of art, being it attempts at photo real over heavily stylized, though I like seeing only the most stunning and highest quality art on my planes. Getting to experience another persons style is one of the joy's of buying this stuff, so I appreciate the opportunity.

I rate them as such: In no particular order.

 

[Mathias]

I

.... similar comments have been made regarding the texture work on the CH 190, as it was praised for leveraging GPU power over CPU power with the fact that a simple model using highly detailed HD texture work gives the appearance of a highly detailed model.

Hehehe, when they say it looks simple and easy you know that you did a good performance (the musician's speaking here).
It's actually a pretty dense and detailed 3d model, the externals for the most part build to 10 millimeter mesh accuracy and the interior to 1 millimeter (the gauges 1/10 of as millimeter with a very few exceptions. Don't get fooled by the streamlined airframe. There was no point to model rivets and panel lines since they are all flush on the Fw190.
The ease on CPU comes from efficient usage of smoothing groups, basically the entire mesh is in smoothing group 1 what takes off alot of burden of processor power, and some tricks that makes the GPU process the 100+ drawcalls like just 10 or so.

 

[Bjoern]

I'm sure bumps would look great on a T-55 tank turret...

Sure you don't confuse them with holes? :d

 

[sblzei]

Surely bumpmapping adds extreme realism to the models, and today they look far better than the airplanes present in previous versions of MSFS, with their "plastic" or "cardboard" look.

The work of today model designers is by all means to be considered with very high regard by every user/flyer, as sometimes it approaches art...

Neverthertheless, while I sure appreciate a "perfect" looking model, I still consider flight qualities as the major criteria for rating an aeroplane.

Let's be exigent on the .air file as well !!!

Ezio

 

[SolarEagle]

Hehehe, when they say it looks simple and easy you know that you did a good performance (the musician's speaking here).
It's actually a pretty dense and detailed 3d model, the externals for the most part build to 10 millimeter mesh accuracy and the interior to 1 millimeter (the gauges 1/10 of as millimeter with a very few exceptions. Don't get fooled by the streamlined airframe. There was no point to model rivets and panel lines since they are all flush on the Fw190.
The ease on CPU comes from efficient usage of smoothing groups, basically the entire mesh is in smoothing group 1 what takes off alot of burden of processor power, and some tricks that makes the GPU process the 100+ drawcalls like just 10 or so.

Very interesting!