What is displacement map?

A displacement map is a tool used in computer graphics to create three-dimensional effects on a two-dimensional surface. It is essentially a grayscale image that is used to deform the surface of an object in a 3D rendering software.

The displacement map works by displacing the vertices of the object's surface based on the values of the pixels in the map. Darker areas in the map will push the vertices inward, while lighter areas will push them outward, creating a sense of depth and texture to the surface.

Displacement maps can be used to create realistic effects such as ripples in water, bumps on a surface, or even adding fine details to a model without increasing its polygon count. They are commonly used in digital sculpting, texture painting, and creating visual effects in movies and video games.

Displacement maps are often used in conjunction with other maps such as normal maps, bump maps, and specular maps to create a highly detailed and realistic 3D render.