Diffusely convolved cube map
Contents
Diffusely Convolved Cube Map
Introduction
A diffusely convolved cube map is simply a blurred-down version of a regular cube map. When a shader adds the cube map to the model's diffuse map the result is similar to global-illumination, except it is extremely efficient performance-wise.
| File:DiffuselyConvolvedCubeMap$tmp.320.whatif nmech env-alone.jpg | File:DiffuselyConvolvedCubeMap$tmp.320.whatif nmech env+lgt.jpg |
| The convolved cube map on a normalmapped model. Actual size< >image byEric Chadwick,Whatif Productions LLC |
Convolved cube map plus lighting. Actual size< >image byEric Chadwick,Whatif Productions LLC |
AMD Cubemapgen
Cubemapgen is great for filtering down cube maps.
You can load your own geometry in Cubemapgen using the Load Object button, really helps to see what settings are working well.
You can also load a bitmap for the model using the Load Basemap button. There's a bug right now that causes your Basemap to be mirrored vertically... to fix it pre-flip the bitmap yourself before loading it in Cubemapgen. An Ambient Occlusion Map map makes a great Basemap, or you can use your DiffuseMap.
| File:DiffuselyConvolvedCubeMap$tmp.320.cubemapgen nmech cube.jpg | File:DiffuselyConvolvedCubeMap$tmp.320.cubemapgen nmech basemap+cube.jpg |
| Custom geometry in Cubemapgen. Actual size< >image byEric Chadwick |
Basemap is modulated (multiplied) with the cube map. Actual size< >image byEric Chadwick |
Editing Cubemaps in Photoshop
If your cube map is in DDS cube format, you'll need the NVIDIA DDS plugin to load and save in Photoshop.
Unfortunately NVIDIA introduced some bugs when they updated the plugin, so now DDS cubes don't load mips properly. If you need to load cube maps with mips, here's an old version that does it right.
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