My explaination of using bump maps might have been misunderstood, I'm not sure. I am not implying that bump maps should be used INSTEAD of a Terrain or Lattice, for raised surfaces, but in CONJUCTION with. I was hoping to show everyone how the two together can make a better final result. Yes, Terrains and Lattices can be made to simulate a "bump" for models that they create, that's obvious. But, in projects like this, there comes a height point where a terrain or lattice is of no use. That is because the terrain or lattice is made in 3D from a 2D picture in a 3D enviroment. It's the SIDES of the height points in a Terrain or Lattice that is the (slightly) uncontrolable part. If I made the engravings on my shield come up to far with the lattice, they would make the shield look silly, and the sides of the engravings would look far too rough unless I smoothed out the picture to the point where...well to square one again. As you smooth, the height falls and slightly spreads, too much that it starts to become incompatible with the texture (and any other map) you will apply to it. There is a perfect balance between the height points of a terrain/lattice and the bump map that is used for it. I think I have stumbled across that balance (for this project anyway). Or, at least I am close. I am of the opinion that really almost any model without a bump map (unless it's supposed to perfectly smooth) is a handicap to the final render. Let me show you my point with the above picture, the same render as the original shield with the Image (texture) map completely removed on both sides. On the left is with the Lattice only, on the right is the Lattice but also with the Bump Map. See the difference? Which side would you want to have in your pic? In this case (so far) a really low height in the Lattice and a good bump is the way to go. But, yes...in other cases, it CAN be the complete opposite. Some other exaples in Part 2 coming up, and... why the heck am I using a Symmetrical Lattice and not just a Straight Terrain? There is a VERY good answer to that. Agent Smith

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