Re: using an eps to cut a sphere

1. For a globe where the oceans are 'nothing', use a black/white image to cut holes in the material's Alpha channel. You may get a less fuzzy result by giving the image a slight blur in Photoshop. You can use any color (or image) you like for the actual land appearance, in the Color channel.

2. For a globe where the oceans are see through, but where the transparent areas have say a reflective surface like glass, place the image in the Transparency channel instead. Add just a bit Reflection and Specular (and Diffusion perhaps).
(For the optical distortion you will have with a real glass sphere, change Transparency's Refraction to 1.5)

3. After having used method 1 or 2: to have the land appear embossed on the globe, put the image in the Displacement channel and adjust strength to taste. My tip: see that the image has slightly blurred edges; it gives the plateau a nice round edge too; it reflects the light better for a nice contour.

4. To close the backsides if the embossed land pieces I think you need two globes, which should be twins and have the exact same position (i.e. just make a copy in the Object editor). Give the 'other' globe a material created with method 1 only. Since its land doesn't rise it will create a back cap.

Have fun with the cookie cutter in the Material channels!
Remember for a sphere, the material should be an exact 2:1 factor size to wrap predictably (i.e. the world map should be say 1000 pixels wide and 500 tall).



Her lips said "no!" but her eyes said "read my lips".