Personally, I am VERY impressed of what you visually present out of a simple 2D texture. I would never say that the effect you show is too big and that it does not fit to the natural look of something. Rather than that I have to say that the effects are absolutely awesome. Making this 3D look out of a 2D picture is awesome. You show the extremes of what is possible I guess.... lowering the visual effect is just a thing of tweaking I guess.

Bumpmapping is one thing (and I understand it!), but this.... I don't know how you make the things look like this when they are viewed from the side.... they look like the 3D mesh is build out of the picture...... Could you explain the texhnique a little more?

Greetings,
Dirk