Quote - from what i undertand normal maps give you a more accurate 3D look like displacements but as fast as bump maps.

i think i saw some examples where a low polygon model with normal maps looks detailed and even more smooth.

... [ pictures ]

can bump do this? a low poly model that has a sharp mesh? and then make it more round and smooth? 

Yes it can do this.

Guys, because you keep saying the same non-responsive things, I'm forced to keep repeating myself and sounding more and more peeved. Please don't interpret what I'm saying here as being pissed off. I have to explain again in ever more excruciating detail what I'm saying because it's not getting through.

When the renderer processes a bump map (procedural or image based, doesn't matter), the final result is that normals are altered, exactly the same result as a normal map. The bump map represents the starting information in a different way, but the result is the same. Surface normals are varied from their original direction. The variation can be smooth and rounded or sharp. It can change a sharp edged thing to smoothly rounded, and it can change a smoothly rounded thing to sharp edged. IN APPEARANCE ONLY. The sillhouette (spelling?) remains unchanged.

Showing pictures of beautiful results via normal mapping does not demostrate a DIFFERENCE between bump maps and normal maps. It is flawed logic to present a nice normal-mapped render and claim that endorses or proves that normal maps are different from bump maps in outcome.

It's like I asked you what's the difference between a Ford and a Chevy truck, and you keep saying "Well the Chevy let's you haul things and pull a trailer." That's not a difference, because the Ford also hauls things and pulls trailers. Is that clear?

Do not keep saying that normal maps can make flat things rounded. Bump maps also can make flat things rounded. Do not say that normal maps can capture the normals of a high poly mech and make a low poly mesh look like a high poly mesh. I agree, that is what normal maps do. I do not agree that that is the difference. Bump maps ALSO make a low poly mehs look like a high poly mesh.

I'm responding to ice-boy here, but there are more posts after that one that I haven't read yet. So if somebody said something interesting between ice-boy's pictures and my response here, give me a few minutes to read the rest.

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Renderosity forum reply notifications are wonky. If I read a follow-up in a thread, but I don't myself reply, then notifications no longer happen AT ALL on that thread. So if I seem to be ignoring a question, that's why. (Updated September 23, 2019)