Derivative Maps

Derivative Map

The Derivative maps within Knald are generated one the fly from the Height maps provided by The Integrator. They are adjustable in real time in terms of intensity via the Bump Scale slider in the Main Tab.

Derivative Maps are a recent method of bump mapping that does not use tangent spaces. This has numerous advantages over traditional normal map based workflows¹⁾²⁾.

These are as follows:

• Reduces foot-print
• Is much better suited for synthesized surfaces/tessellation
• Does not distinguish between regular geometry and tessellation.
• Works with per pixel generated texture coordinates such as Tri-Planar Texturing.
• No issues regarding multiple standards for implementation of tangent space generation.
• Mirroring trivially works.
• No need to recalculate tangent spaces on meshes with complex geometric deformations.
• Better visually during texture magnification.