Vector Displacement Map Extraction options

Target Models

Displays the name of the model to receive the extracted map. The map produced will represent the difference between this model (low resolution) and the source model(s) (high resolution).

Note: Unless you are extracting maps in PTEX format, the target model must have UV co-ordinates.

The target model is usually the lowest subdivision level of a model with multiple subdivision levels. You can click the displayed subdivision level (next to the target model name) to select a different subdivision level from a drop-down list.

Use the Add All, Add Selected, and Remove buttons to change the model listed as the target.

Smooth Target Model

On by default. Uses a smoothed version of the target model (low resolution) for map extraction calculations. Turn off if you are extracting texture maps for games applications where a smoothed model is not used.

Smooth Target UVs

Smooths the positions of interior UVs of the target model during the texture extraction. Smooth Target UVs only smooths when the Smooth Target Model option is on.

This can be useful if your image rendering software (for example, Arnold for Maya or Arnold for 3ds Max) can smooth the UV texture coordinates on a mesh during rendering to improve the results.

Use Creases & Hard Edges

For target models with creasing or hard edge data (see Import and export objects with creasing and hard edges), lets you set how Mudbox handles the creasing information when extracting texture maps.

When on, Use Creases & Hard Edges affects the operation of other map extraction options. If you are smoothing your target mesh (Smooth Target Models is on), it ensures that the creases are maintained in the smoothed mesh. If you are using Ray Casting, it ensures that vertex normals are used to map the surface together (rather than face normals). If you are creating a normal map, it ensures that the local tangent space calculation takes the creases and edges into account, rather than interpolating smoothly over the model.

Source Models

Lists the model(s) to extract maps from. The source model (high resolution) typically contains the sculpted details to be extracted into the map(s). This model does not require UV texture coordinates.

You can click the displayed subdivision level (next to the source model name) to select a different subdivision level from a drop-down list. Use the Add All, Add Selected, and Remove buttons to change the model listed as the source

Smooth Source Model: On by default. Subdivides the source model and uses the smoothed version for map extraction calculations. This option is useful for most texture extraction applications.

Image properties

(Available only when you set Map Type to Texture.)

Generate one map for all targets

Use this option when extracting to multiple targets if you want one map generated (for each extraction type selected) that can be shared by all target models. This is useful for conserving the number of texture maps when multiple objects share one UV tile.

Important: When generating one map for multiple targets that share the same UV tile, ensure the models do not have overlapping UVs.

Generate one map for each target

Use this option when extracting to multiple targets if you want one map extracted for each individual target model. This is useful when the target models use different materials or when the UV texture coordinates occupy the same UV tile location and producing one shared map would not be possible.

Image Size

Specifies the height and width in pixels of the output map(s).

Note: A larger Image Size produces more detail in the map, but increases extraction time and file size.

Edge Bleed

Specifies the size of the border that is automatically extended outside the perimeter of a UV shell when painting on a model. Extending paint pixels beyond the perimeter edges reduces the appearance of seams on a painted model where separate UV shells meet.

There are two options Global (default) or Custom. The default Edge Bleed setting, Global uses the Edge Bleed value set in the Paint Preferences, while Custom lets you set an Edge Bleed value used only for Map Extraction. (See Texture extraction overview

Note: When Edge Bleed is set to Global (the default), modifying the Image Size value automatically updates the value in the Edge Bleed Pixel field, as it is determined by the Paint Preference and Image Size values. If you set the Edge Bleed value to Custom, changing the Image Size setting does not affect the Edge Bleed pixel input field; the Custom setting means this value is now absolute.

Antialiasing

When on, improves the quality of the final extracted image map by applying a filter comparison between pixels in the image. Higher values increase the amount of antialiasing that occurs and the time to extract the image map. For initial test extractions, use a small Image Size value and leave the Antialiasing property turned off until you produce a final image.

PTEX resolution options

(Available only when you set Map Type to Ptex.)

Set these options to determine the number of texels in your final map, and how they are distributed across the mesh.

Density: Default is 0.5.
Number of Texels: Lets you enter the desired number of texture samples (texels) for the extracted map. (Default is 100 000.)

Note: Not available if Texel Distribution is set to Use PTEX Setup.
Texel Distribution: Lets you control how texels are distributed over the surface. Select from the following options:

Uniform: Applies a similar amount of resolution to all faces, independently of the face attributes, and depending on the Number of Texels amount you enter.

Note: This method does not guarantee that all faces receive the same resolution, only that Mudbox tries to distribute resolution as uniformly as possible while matching the desired Number of Texels. Some faces may have one step higher resolution than others.
Based on Face Size: More resolution is added in areas with bigger faces in world space.
Based on UV Size: More resolution is added in areas with bigger faces in UV space.
Use PTEX Setup: (Only available when the target mesh is set up for PTEX painting - see Prepare a model for PTEX painting.) Applies the same texel distribution you defined during PTEX setup.

Vector Displacement Map Options

Vector Space

Specifies the coordinate space for calculating vector displacement maps.

Options include:

Relative Tangent

(Formerly Tangent.)

Defines the coordinate space on a face using the normal, tangent, and the binormal.

Use this option if you plan to use the output vector displacement map primarily for sculpting in Mudbox as a stamp or stencil. This option stores displacement vectors so that you can apply the vector displacement map image at any scale to any random surface. See also Sculpt using a vector displacement map.

Not recommended for rendering displaced detail on characters that will deform, because the height of the displacement can change where the surface squashes or stretches.

Note: You can extract a vector displacement map from a model with no UVs using Ptex (set Map Type to Ptex in the Output Options). However, maps with Relative Tangent or Absolute Tangent space can only be applied to models with UVs.

Absolute Tangent

The coordinate space on a face is defined by the normal, tangent and binormal, which are orthogonalized and normalized relative to each other.

Use if you plan to render displaced detail on models that will need to deform. This option stores vector lengths that are hard-coded, or absolute, which maintains the height of the displacement across surface deformations.

Object

Local coordinate space for the model. Use if your model is animated without deformation.

World

Coordinate space for the 3D scene. Use for environment maps when your model is not animated and not deforming.

Important:

Do not use Relative Tangent if you are extracting a vector displacement map for use outside of Mudbox.

If you plan to use the map in another Autodesk application (such as 3ds Max, Maya, or Softimage), use the following guidelines when setting the Vector Space:

For use on an object that will deform or be animated, use Absolute Tangent.
For use on an object that will not be deformed or animated, use Object Space.

Lastly, note that you can extract a vector displacement map from a model with no UVs using Ptex. However, if you use Relative Tangent or Absolute Tangent space, the map can only be applied to models with UVs.

Output options

Map Type

Lets you specify whether to extract a Texture map or a Ptex file.

The other Output options available change depending on which type you select.

Available when Map Type is set to Texture:

Base File Name

Enter a name for the extracted map(s). To have Mudbox automatically append the target mesh name to your filename, use the wildcard characters %s.

Important: If you are extracting a map for multiple target meshes and Generate a map for each target is on, ensure that you use %s as part of your Base File Name. (Otherwise the map generated for each target will have the same name and overwrite the map output for the previous target.)

Click the browse icon to set save options (including file format) in the Save As window.

Note:

If the model contains UVs within multiple UV tile spaces, that is, outside the 0 to 1 range, Mudbox automatically creates separate maps that correlate to each UV tile and saves to the directory you specify. For example, <basefilename>_u1_v1.bmp, <basefilename>_u2_v2.bmp, and so on.

Bits per Channel

Lets you specify the color depth of the output map.

Note: To change the format of the output image file, click

next to Base File Name to open the Save As options.

Preview as

(Different Preview as options display depending on the type of map you're extracting. Refer to the options for each specific map type.)

Available when Map Type is set to Ptex:

Include Mesh Data

When on (default), Mudbox also saves general data about the mesh (vertex positions, list of faces, and so on) in the output PTEX file. This can be useful if other tools in your pipeline can use this type of PTEX data, for example if you will use a PTEX viewer to inspect the output file. It is recommended that you keep this option on when extracting PTEX files.

File Name

Enter a name for the extracted Ptex file.

Click the browse icon to change the default save location in the Save As window.