Displacement map confusion.

[Friend of Mutts]

I have been trying to use a displacement map and the result is that the entire layer is shifted by the number of pixels specified when using the filter. I have had this issue before and just gave up out of frustration. I have a layer that is a textured skin layer. There are plenty of dark and light contrasts. I  have opened the layer in a new document, converted to gray scale, enhanced contrast and saved as a PSD. I am trying to put some wrinkles on the skin and want for them to take the contours of the skin contrast. I created a layer with the prospective wrinkles (not very good yet. That is a work in progress). When I apply the displacement map, all that happens is the entire wrinkle layer is shifted by the designated number of pixels in one direction. There is no change of the pattern withing the layer. I hope that this makes sense and someone can tell me the likely simple solution to this.

I have attached the PSD displacement map, the face that I am trying to put the wrinkles on, the face with the wrinkles pre and post dispacement and the steps of the displacement process. You will see in the post displacement that the entire darker portion, the wrinkles, has been shifted inside the highlights, but there is no distortion in the actual wrinkles. I had to do the wrinkles and the highlights seperately as one is a linear dodge layer and the other a linear burn layer. It works out well, because it clearly illustrates my issue.

If anyone can make heads or tails of this, I will be eternally grateful.

[Trevor.Dennis · Accepted solution]

First thing to check is Preferences > File Handling Maximise File Compatability, which must be set to always for Displacement Maps to work.  I was stuck for a full day over that little hidden gotcha some years back.

We have a few threads on using them

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/displacement-map-doesn-t-do-anything/...

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/problem-with-displacement-maps/td-p/1...

When you get it working, place two copies of the map layer above the displaced image layer. Set one to Muliply and the other to Screen.  Adjust opacity for best effect.  The place an S shaped Curves layer above to increase contrast.   The example below is pure illustration, as in 100% Photoshop — projects like these are a lot of fun, and a good way to increase your Photoshop skills.  Lets us know how you get on, and maybe show us some examples.

Good luck.

[Friend of Mutts]

Thank you so much. It is warping the layer. It still shifts the entire layer somewhat, but I'm guessing that is a function of the fact that the contrasts and displacements are small in this example. Crazy that this one preference is integral to making such a common and necessary filter function correctly. As to your suggestion on placing multiple layers of the map layer above the displace layer, I will keep that in mind. This project currently has about 30+ layers functioning. I will make sure to optimize the look of the displacement, per your advice, when the rest of the image is settled.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

It is warping the layer. It still shifts the entire layer somewhat, 

What else would you expect with a Displacement Map with an average of 86? (Edit: 50% gray translates to no offset, so if the desired effect is »small random local displacements in both/all four directions« the average of the Displacement Map should be 50% gray.)

And which also has identical R- and G-Channels? 

[Trevor.Dennis]

I hadn't actually looked at the images in the OP, and now I have, that is not a good subject for using a Displacement Map. It would have been useful to see the actual map. Then we'd be better placed to offer advice. The easiest method would be to split the face into separate areas (i.e. whole head, eyes, nose) and use Bevel & Emboss. Or use dodge and burn, or paint highlights and shadows onto new layers and tweak (blur, smudge) them. 

I tried using Gen Fill for the wrinkled forehead, but the results were shite, so that's a simple composite using hue/sat to match tone etc.

[Friend of Mutts]

Thank you for the advice and tweaks. Definitely food for thought. The composite looks great. I am still hoping to figure a way to create that effect with lights and shadows, but maybe composite is the way to go. Thank you again.

[Trevor.Dennis]

It's the same process, but coming at it from a different direction. 

Well build it up using new layers, and making most of them Smart Objects so we can tweak them.

I filled a elliptical selection with white > Made it a Smart Object, and gave it a lot of Gaussian Blur (50.0)

I still needed to move the layer to get it in the right position.  I obviously need to reduce opacity, and clip it to the head which is now a cutout on its own layer.

I've reduced the top of the head highlight opacity to 30% and clipped it to the head layer so there is no overlap.

I have also made a selection and filled a new layer with white for the ridge of the nose

The nose highlight only needed Guassian blur at 20.0 and opacity 60%

OK, a new tool for you.  I have made workpaths under the eyes, and I am going to stroke those paths with the brush tool with a fully hard, Pressure Controls Size preset.  The stroke has Simulate Pressure checked.

Which gives us this

I have done the same thing above the eyes, but using black. Blur 10.0, opacity 60%.

This should be enough to get started.  Stroking the paths is useful if you don't have a steady hand with the brush, and you can tweak the path and stroke it again.  Using layers means you can Free Transform to tweak size and position.  Making the layers Smart Objects means you can tweak settings like blur strength non destructively.

Good luck and have fun.

[Friend of Mutts]

Thank you for your feedback. How do I find the displacement map average and can I adjust it to make the mask more effective. Also, I was under the impression that the best option for creating a displacement map was choosing the channel that showed the greatest contrast, which would mean that the other two, R and G in this case, would be identical. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this. Thank you and I look forward to any advice you can give.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

• Using the same Channel for both Channels of the Displacement Map will have a »diagonal« effect. 

• You can use a Curves Layer to »neutralize« the Map (and use the Filter Average to determine if the average is anywhere near 127). 

[Zesty_wanderlust15A7]

I'm surprised it still exists. I thought they were going to drop that functionality?

[Trevor.Dennis]

It's funny you say that because I was not 100% sure I was going to find it when making the screen shot.