Displacement Map Using Image not Text

[David Bogie]

Most displacement map questions are handled by carefully examining the manual. Remember that the dsiplacement image is examined at the source, not after filters are applied or geometry is adjusted, that’s why displacement maps are usually referenced from nested comps or precomps.
I’m not watching your comps so I can’t really imagine what you’re doing but the most likely explanations are that your image is not scaled properly in the precomp that feeds the displacement effect or you need more shades of gray. Your PSD is likely a full range color image.

You can also search at adobe.com for “displacment map” and “coumpound effects.”

bogiesan

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

[Eban Escott]

Hello Bogiesan, the actual displacement map in the precomp is working fine as I can put a text layer in the comp and it works ok, i.e. the text displaces/waves in the clouds. My precomp is scaled properly and the shades of grey are fine because when I add text I can get it to displace fine on the comp. I thought I stated this in the original post so pointing me at manuals doesn’t really help. I thought this was what forums were about?

Its when I put in a image instead of text in the comp that the image does not displace properly. Its hard to explain, the image does displace a little bit in places but it doesn’t look remotely as good as when I had the text displacing. I didn’t think that any of the colours of the image I am trying to get to move in the clouds had any effect at all? I thought it depended on the precomp with the greyscale was setup correctly you could add text or images to the comp to displace?

Why is it reacting differently between text and an image?

Please help. Thanks.

[Darby Edelen]

It was not clear at all in your original post whether the text was what was being displaced, or whether it was what was doing the displacing. After reading this post it seems that what you’re saying is that the text was being displaced, and now you’re trying to displace an image (not use the image as the source for the displacement map?) but I’m still not sure if that’s the case.

Please clarify as to what you are displacing and what you are trying to use to achieve the displacement. Also the purpose of the forum is not to replace the manual, but to augment it. Have you read the manual?

https://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/AfterEffects/8.0/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103a9d3c597-7b87.html

Especially the part that states: “If the control layer isn’t the same size as the layer to which the effect is applied, it is centered, stretched, or tiled depending on the setting for Displacement Map Behavior.”

Darby Edelen
Lead Designer
Left Coast Digital
Santa Cruz, CA

[Eban Escott]

And the penny drops … got it and thanks for the help. I did read the manuals and googled for it but couldn’t quite put it together until your advice, there are many things going on and getting your head around it can take time. The final step, as guided by you, was to use the image in photoshop and put it a 1280×720 image with a transparent background, import this into AE and use it! Works now because its the same size … got it.

Thank you both David and Darby for the help, really appreciate your patience with the not so gifted 🙂

[Darby Edelen]

[Eban Escott] “The final step, as guided by you, was to use the image in photoshop and put it a 1280×720 image with a transparent background, import this into AE and use it!”

You can also pre-compose the image in a 1280×720 composition in AE.

Darby Edelen
Lead Designer
Left Coast Digital
Santa Cruz, CA