Need help
 

I'm modeling a space ship in maya using nurbs part of the detail requires putting grooves in a solid surface without deforming the surface. What's the best way i could accomplish that.

If i'm getting what your asking.... a bump map should do what your wanting to achieve.

i figuered a bump map might do it but is the a possible way to do it on the geometry itself or would it be easier to just do the bump map cause there might be some real close up shots.

easiest way to have that kind of geometry detail would be to either convert to polygons or try a displacement map.