Maya for 3D Printing - Rapid Prototyping
In this course we're going to look at something a little different, creating technically accurate 3D printed parts.
# 1 08-11-2012 , 01:27 PM
zestken's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 31

2d Fractal Artifact In Camera Animation

Hello everyone, I'm working on this scene which has this 2d fractal applied as bump. Now the thing is that whenever the camera moves the fractal is causing some artifact (Not staircase but like an ant crawling).

I've tried using Convert To File Texture option but it wont retain the bump map scale as per my liking. But it does help to stop the artifact.

Basically what I'm trying to achieve is irregularity in wall. So I've set the fractal to crisp like but suggestions on other means of achieving the same is most welcome.

I'm attaching the video as well as the fractal node itself for your reference. Please open the maya file through Hypershade import .

Any help would be great. Thanks

Attached Files
File Type: zip Fractal Noise Artifact.zip (590.5 KB, 175 views) File Type: zip Fractal_Hypershade Import.zip (1.1 KB, 190 views)
# 2 10-11-2012 , 08:29 PM
Gen's Avatar
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: South FL
Posts: 3,522
If you baked out the bump and used elliptical filtering, is it still a problem?


- Genny
__________________
::|| My CG Blog ||::
::|| My Maya FAQ ||::
# 3 11-11-2012 , 04:04 AM
zestken's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 31
Hi Genny, Actually if I go baking with "Convert To File Texture" option. Then the bump output does not remain crisp. However it will eradicate the problem I'm having now. I had gone far converting the bump upto 4k but still it would not retain the crispness of the bump, which means I need to take it higher I guess?? But I don't want to.

So I was looking some suggestion on the 2d fractal node itself. Anyway I think the solution for me is to use mental ray "Batch Bake" option. I was just testing it the other day and as my scene involves just a camera animation it would be fine.

I've tried seeking help on other forum too but yet no solution.

Anyway Thanks. user added image

Here's with the fractal node applied to a plane and a camera animating over it.

Converted To File Texture-Expectation
user added image

2d Fractal Node- Reality
user added image


Last edited by zestken; 11-11-2012 at 05:10 PM.
# 4 11-11-2012 , 04:44 PM
Gen's Avatar
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: South FL
Posts: 3,522
Take that sucker to Photoshop!


- Genny
__________________
::|| My CG Blog ||::
::|| My Maya FAQ ||::
# 5 11-11-2012 , 05:13 PM
zestken's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 31

Take that sucker to Photoshop!

Hehe Yup meanwhile the only option untill I learn some texture painting.

Thanks

# 6 11-11-2012 , 06:07 PM
PixalZA's Avatar
Lifetime Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Posts: 525
Have you tried to assign a constant value to the input time connection of the fractal node? It is not visible in the attribute editor but is visible in the connection editor.


Earth: The crazy asylum of the universe.
# 7 12-11-2012 , 01:44 AM
zestken's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 31

Have you tried to assign a constant value to the input time connection of the fractal node? It is not visible in the attribute editor but is visible in the connection editor.

I've no idea how to do that and how it is suppose to help me. Please give me more details about it.

Thanks.

# 8 12-11-2012 , 05:32 AM
PixalZA's Avatar
Lifetime Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Posts: 525
I am trying to eliminate any inputs that can cause the fractal node from being an animated node which can possibly cause the effect that you are seeing in your animation.

I tried to recreate the effect last night. I created a simple poly plane, assigned a new lambert to it with a 2D fractal plugged into the bump and color, added one spotlight to the scene and animated the camera over the plane. For the life of me I could not get the pixels to "drift". Can you share the fractal and material settings you are using?


Earth: The crazy asylum of the universe.
# 9 12-11-2012 , 05:39 AM
Gen's Avatar
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: South FL
Posts: 3,522

I am trying to eliminate any inputs that can cause the fractal node from being an animated node which can possibly cause the effect that you are seeing in your animation.

I tried to recreate the effect last night. I created a simple poly plane, assigned a new lambert to it with a 2D fractal plugged into the bump and color, added one spotlight to the scene and animated the camera over the plane. For the life of me I could not get the pixels to "drift". Can you share the fractal and material settings you are using?

Was it a very high contrast high frequency fractal?


- Genny
__________________
::|| My CG Blog ||::
::|| My Maya FAQ ||::
# 10 12-11-2012 , 06:58 AM
PixalZA's Avatar
Lifetime Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Posts: 525
Hi Genny Yes, it is almost just pure black or white. The only way I so far could get any flickering was with FG enabled or with a very reflective material where specular highlights move around.


Earth: The crazy asylum of the universe.
# 11 12-11-2012 , 08:19 AM
zestken's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 31

I am trying to eliminate any inputs that can cause the fractal node from being an animated node which can possibly cause the effect that you are seeing in your animation.

I tried to recreate the effect last night. I created a simple poly plane, assigned a new lambert to it with a 2D fractal plugged into the bump and color, added one spotlight to the scene and animated the camera over the plane. For the life of me I could not get the pixels to "drift". Can you share the fractal and material settings you are using?

Yup you can download the exact node Here. Just Import it in Hypershade.

My scene setup is simple with just the 2d fractal applied to a plane in a new scene and a camera animating over it. That's all.

Please if you could test it one more time. It will be very helpful. Thanks

# 12 12-11-2012 , 08:29 AM
PixalZA's Avatar
Lifetime Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Posts: 525
Got it. Busy rendering.


Earth: The crazy asylum of the universe.
# 13 12-11-2012 , 06:04 PM
PixalZA's Avatar
Lifetime Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Posts: 525
The levelMin and levelMax values are the culprit for the animation flickering. The values are very high so the the fractal is returning a very detailed image. Your problem is in essence the same as using a hi-res image with lots of detail for a relative small amount of screen pixels. You get flickering.

https://s1180.photobucket.com/albums/...t=Fractal3.mp4

I baked the fractal out to a 8K texture and used it instead of the fractal node. Without applying any filtering on the texture the result was exactly the same. The only way I could get rid of the flickering was to apply filtering at the cost of detail.

Question for the animation gurus here, how does one get rid of the flickering but retain the detail.


Earth: The crazy asylum of the universe.
# 14 13-11-2012 , 02:08 AM
zestken's Avatar
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 31

The levelMin and levelMax values are the culprit for the animation flickering. The values are very high so the the fractal is returning a very detailed image. Your problem is in essence the same as using a hi-res image with lots of detail for a relative small amount of screen pixels. You get flickering.

https://s1180.photobucket.com/albums/...t=Fractal3.mp4

I baked the fractal out to a 8K texture and used it instead of the fractal node. Without applying any filtering on the texture the result was exactly the same. The only way I could get rid of the flickering was to apply filtering at the cost of detail.

Question for the animation gurus here, how does one get rid of the flickering but retain the detail.

Thank you so much for trying this out. I didn't go above 4k while baking the fractal node so I thought there was some problem with the fractal node itself.user added image

Posting Rules Forum Rules
You may not post new threads | You may not post replies | You may not post attachments | You may not edit your posts | BB code is On | Smilies are On | [IMG] code is On | HTML code is Off

Similar Threads