Bump map terrain

[Oldman731]

What does that mean?

What does it do?

- oldman

[Lusche]

Bump mapping is a computer graphics technique where at each pixel, a perturbation to the surface normal of the object being rendered is looked up in a texture map and applied before the illumination calculation is done (see, for instance, Phong shading). The result is a richer, more detailed surface representation that more closely resembles the details inherent in the natural world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bump_mapping

[USRanger]

In other words, it makes the ground look "bumpy".

[Strip]

In other words, it makes the ground look "bumpy".

Einstein has spoke....

 

[thndregg]

"Phong shading" (Sounds like a few beers and something kinky. )

[USRanger]

Einstein has spoke....

 

[R 105]

Thanks I had no clue what it meant I just turned it off because someone said it would help my frame rate.

[USRanger]

It may.  I only lose 2 fps though with it on and it makes the terrain much more realistic looking.

[Oldman731]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bump_mapping

Thanks, Lusche.  So turning it off might speed things up for the folks who are on the thin edge of playability?

- oldman

[RufusLeaking]

It may.  I only lose 2 fps though with it on and it makes the terrain much more realistic looking.

Similar results here.  It is the only advanced graphics option I have turned on.  It helps me avoid augering, especially over water.

[Lusche]

Thanks, Lusche.  So turning it off might speed things up for the folks who are on the thin edge of playability?

- oldman

It's always worth a try though I have, as others do, the impression that potential gains are quite small.
But it doesn't hurt to test, particulary on very old machines.

[715]

It changes the shading of the ground to give the appearance of texture.  It doesn't change or add any polygons and the ground is still flat even though it looks like it is bumpy.

[HPriller]

Boiled down it makes all those little pock-marks in the terrain that you only see at extremely close ranges (like under 300ft).  A slight graphical enhancement for GV and very low alt situations.

[Krusty]

It takes almost no power to display. I get 60 fps with bump on, but details off, but I get unplayable teen digits with details on and bump off.

[Bruv119]

i found this setting to only make an adverse effect on frame rates down low in the weeds.  A small one at that.