GIMP Version: 2.8.10
Operating System: Mac OS
OS Version: Mavericks
GIMP Experience: Beginner Level

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So my bump mapping is coming together

However I notice when I try to map black colored text I don't see any actual difference.

How can I tweak this?

Because bump map doesn't work on black. At all. Not even a little bit.

LOL... well alrighty then... that settles that! LOL

So how does one go about creating the same/similar effect achieved with non black colors?

They will work on dark shades of gray.

This text image below was created using the "Bump Map" filter. The text started out as Black, then I added some brightness only of about +25 using "Brightness and Contrast" filter, to making it a dark shade of gray.

Then by playing with "Levels" I was able to darken it a bit more.

Here are the settings I used for the bump map filter. Notice that "Invert Bumpmap" is also checked.

Once the bump mapping was done, I did a slight "selective blur" and also a slight "gaussian blur" to the text.

One other thing I did was use the "Chisel" script to create somewhat of the same effect.
The "chisel" script was used on this image below. The color of the text was not changes, I left it "Black"(#000000).

Explained here.

Set the background color to white and then remove the alpha channel of your bump layer.

Just remembered this. You can duplicate your black text layer, alpha lock it, bucket fill with medium grey (hex 808080) and bump map that. Then grain merge it into your black layer. The shadows will still be lost because they are black on black but the highlights will show up.

Yes, saulgoode,

"It now makes sense to me what you were saying in the last thread...otherwhirl wrote:
Still I have gotten VERY inconsistent results too often sometimes. Ranging in results from ZILTCH to awesome. What I don't understand is why wouldn't the f/x apply to any text related design I assign it to? (they are all just simple text designs. )"

Bump mapping ignores the alpha channel. Typically the color of transparent pixels is black (it doesn't have to be) and so a common problem arises when trying to bump map against a layer containing black text (as shown in your screenshot). Since the (transparent) background of the black text is also black, you are basically bump mapping against a solid black layer, resulting in what you describe as "ZILCH".

"