Example of use displacement map placeholder made from: gradient, shape and bitmap:

This feature does not work in LITE / STANDARD edition of Krasbit Layouter. You must own Trial / PRO / NFR edition.  See Version comparison table.

This is optional step. Use this tab if your project requires apply a custom distortion effect to placed image. The distortion is based on displacement map that might be prepared in advance as bitmap image or can be a vector shape that will generate displacement map runtime.

Displacement theory

There are 2 types of displacement maps that differs on how they are pushing pixels:

Grayscale map

Works if your input displacement map is given as grayscale image. Here are pixel offset directions that this map does:

• 50% black is neutral for pixel. Makes no movement to a pixel. Use this color like a mask. Region covered with neutral 50% gray will not change.
• White - moves pixel horizontally to the left and vertically upside. Pure white makes the maximum offset. That offset reduces smoothly as you use shades of gray between 0% of black up to neutral 50% gray.
  
• Black - moves pixel horizontally to the right and vertically downside. Pure black makes the maximum offset. That offset reduces smoothly as you use shades of gray between 100% of black down to neutral 50% gray
  

Color map

Works if your input displacement map is given as RGB image. It gives you more control for each possible axis. Instead of black and white, you have this colors to control offset: Yellow, Cyan, Blue and Magenta.

The more intense is the color the higher distance pixel is moved. Gray color makes no movement. Pixel movement directions for certain colors works as pictures shows:

Displace map OUT.

* this displace map will be pushing pixels out of image bounds. Created using Mesh Fill tool.

Displace map IN.

* this displace map will be pushing pixels into the center of image. Created using Mesh Fill tool

No distortion

Default option. Disables displace effect. No distortion made to  target import image placeholder

Displace to map

This option will displace imported image in second step after it is scaled or cropped due to alignment mode. Placeholder must be a color or grayscale bitmap that defines how to push pixels in custom direction. Use this option if you are familiar with displacement theory and can prepare a map in advance which will do desired effect perfectly.

Displace to shape

This mode will make displacement map automatically and on the fly for a given input vector shape like circle, ellipse, curve. Image is imported into rendered displacement map in second step. Displacement map IN will be based on colorful displace map covered with neutral gray mask made from the shape with custom amount of blur. Finally pixels at non - masked areas should be pushed into the center and overall picture get the look like shape's mask.

Make displacement map

This button will generate a displacement map from selected vector shape in advance so it can be adjusted or reused somewhere else in project.

Displacement suboptions

Displacement edge blurring

This suboption available only in Displace to shape mode. Specifies how many of blur to apply when neutral gray mask is applied on shape.

Displacement intensity horizontal

This is multiplier/ factor Controls how much intensive will be the displace effect in X axis.

Specify 0 to ignore pushing pixels in that axis regardless of displace map expectations

Displacement  intensity vertical

This is multiplier/ factor Controls how much intensive will be the displace effect in Y axis.

Specify 0 to ignore pushing pixels in that axis regardless of displace map expectations.

Inflate bitmap X

A number of transparent pixels to add to edges on x axis before applying displace effect.

Inflate bitmap Y

A number of transparent pixels to add to edges on y axis before applying displace effect.

Inflate matters in case when displace effect is pushing pixels out of original image boundary.

Without inflating bitmaps- final effect makes impression like image is cut. If inflate is used - pixels moved outside image are still visible on added space.

Inflate bitmap to map size

This checkbox toggles inflating as described above.

See more examples in Krasbit Layouter data files which will show you how to get different effects given by different maps and displacement settings