Stucco
 

I'm working on a building, and it happens to have stucco on the outside walls. The problem? Well, I'm envisioning a close fly-by, and perhaps some of the stucco breaking off in small chunks and powder... I'm still a horrible noob, but as I understand it, a bump map just wouldn't be very helpful in a situation like this. So, my real question is: What is the easiest way to create a stucco object (in other words, a 3-d model of stucco instead of a flat picture)?

-LeRoy3rd

P.S. Is there perhaps a plugin where I could "spray-on" the stucco as part of the mesh???

The only way I can think of approaching it is to create your wall with quite a high mesh density and jiggle the points where you want to create the stucco. You don't have to apply this to the whole wall so you can then try modelling the broken off bits but it is going to be difficult considering you're using close up work and are restricting yourself to not using a bump map.

Hmm.. another possibility is to use a heavily sub divided and subpatched object with a displacement map and possibly some hypervoxels for the dust ???

:) Both very interesting and eloquent solutions to my problem. As I'm still working on the basics, even my original question was asking for more than I am able to use, but thanks for your suggestions. With any luck/skill/patience/practice I will be at a proficient level to use your advice in a couple of months.

Yes I tend to be with Mark on this one... I think that is one situation you want for displacment maps and hypervoxels.

I will go on record that I have a lot of faith in good bump maps (particularly ones you paint yourself). So if your camera is going to be more than 3inches from the stucco, I would probably stick with bumps.

Good luck.