Normal Map Creation: Difference between revisions

From Valve Developer Community
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Moved from Normal Map. (Will move more sections soon, don't worry.))
 
m (made redir)
 
(21 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
A [[Normal Maps|normal map]] should be created in the same dimensions as the image texture (color map) it will go with. There are a few options for how to create one, depending on the quality you want, your skill with various programs, or your patience.
#redirect [[Bump map#Creation]]
 
 
 
==Normal Map from a Heightmap==
 
As the Source tool [[Height2Normal]] doesn't work anymore, you will have to resort to other tools in order to convert a heightmap to a normal map.
{{todo|Which ones?}}
 
 
 
==Normal Map from an image editing program==
 
*[[Normal Map Creation in Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro|Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro]]
*[[Normal Map Creation in The GIMP|The GIMP]]
 
 
 
===Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro===
 
{{note|As of Jasc Paint Shop Pro version 9, the NVIDIA normal map plugin no longer works. Use Photoshop or GIMP instead.}}
<!-- Someone please test if it works with v. 8 -->
 
If you have Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, you can use [[Wikipedia:NVIDIA|NVIDIA's]] normal map tools, available [http://developer.nvidia.com/object/photoshop_dds_plugins.html here]. To use them, open a copy of the texture and apply the Normal Map filter. Fiddle with the settings until you get something that you feel will be bumpy enough for your texture. The greater the range of colors, the greater the range of angles on the surface. A very flat surface will look that medium blue color all over. If you want to have more control over it, change the image to grayscale and fiddle with brightness and contrast to make certain details stand out before applying the filter. Be sure to change the texture back to RGB mode, or else the normal map tool will not work. Do this step multiple times to get different details to stand out, and then put the images together in layers with the blend mode set to overlay.
 
[[Image:Beforenormal.jpg|thumb|left|Image texture (color map).]]
[[Image:afternormal.jpg|thumb|left|Normal map created from texture on left using NVIDIA's filter.]]<br style="clear:both">
 
 
===GIMP===
 
[[Image:gimp_normal1.jpg|thumb|220px|Place the windows in a useful way]]Download the tool for GIMP [http://nifelheim.dyndns.org/%7ecocidius/normalmap/ here] and install it following the instructions in the readme.
After restarting GIMP, open a copy of the texture you want to create a normal map for and click:
 
<code>Filters -> Map -> Normalmap...</code>
 
Before starting, you should click the <code>3D Preview</code> and place it next to the normalmap window. It will automatically update when you change your settings and will be a great help checking the results in GIMP. Select a shape similar to what your texture will be placed on ingame (e.g. a texture for brushes fits onto a cube whereas a modelskin might look better on a sphere). Make use of the UV scale to find a good setting.
Now focus on the <code>Normalmap</code> window again. These are the most useful settings:
[[Image:gimp_normal2.jpg|thumb|220px|The 3D Preview is used to check the settings]]
* Filter - different ways to calculate your normal map. You'll have to try out which one works best for your texture
* Minimum Z - the lowest height on your normal map
* Scale - Use this to control the height of your surface. Results change when you choose a different filter
* Conversion - Let's you choose what is used to create the normal map. Max/Min RGB or only one color channel can be very helpful sometimes
''Checkboxes:''
* Wrap - Normal map will pattern seamless. Definitely use it for map textures!
* Invert X/Y - If your normal map seems to be upside down, this will help
Check the 3D Preview from several angles, also move the light around. When you've found the best setting, hit <code>OK</code> and your texture is converted to the normal map!
 
However you may want to fine tune the result since GIMP considers RGB color #7f7fff to be flat, while Valve considers #8080ff to be flat. This means that you will have to increase every pixel in your image by 1 unit red and 1 unit green. {{todo|How on earth do you do that? Is there some way to adjust the standard flat color?}}
 
After fine tuning it, can either go with that right away or rework it by hand. For example, you could duplicate the layer and use some overlay effects (Dodge, Addition, ...) or paint on the texture yourself if you want to create a flat part. (Again, RGB #8080ff is flat according to Valve.)
[[Image:gimp_normal3.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Normal map was reworked by hand.]]<br style="clear:both">
 
 
==Normal Map from a 3D program==
*[[Normal Map Creation in XSI|XSI]]
*[[Normal Map Creation in ZBrush2|ZBrush2]]
*[[Normal Map Creation in Lightwave|Lightwave]]
*[[Normal Map Creation in 3D Studio Max|3D Studio Max]]
*[[Normal Map Creation in Maya|Maya]]
 
*[http://developer.nvidia.com/object/melody_home.html NVIDIA Melody]
*[[NormalMapper]]
 
 
===XSI===
*ver 5.0: [http://www.softimage.com/products/xsi/v5/nfvt/default.asp Ultimapper]
*ver 4.x: GPU Surface FX2 {{note|You need XSI foundation or higher to take advantage of this feature, as the Mod Tool has a resolution limit.}}
*ver 3.5: GPU surface FX
 
The name has been changing, but the basic usage is the same:
 
*Move the high resolution model over the low resolution model.
*Select the low resolution one.
*Select GPU Surface FX2 (or Ultimapper in ver 5.0) from Get>Property.
*In GPU Surface FX2 menu:
**Pick the high resolution model (or group).
**Make sure '''normal''' is checked.
**Change settings such as normal map resolution, path, sampling, as you want.
**If you are ready, click '''Regenerate''' button. XSI will make the normal map.
**To preview the result, set Preview Display and Hardware correctly and click '''Create Preview'''.
**'''Important:''' It is necessary to '''invert the green channel of the output file'''. If you don't do this, your up/down normals will appear '''inverted''' in the engine. The simplest way to do this in Photoshop is to open a channel window, (window:channel) select the green channel (which controls up/down), and press Ctrl+I.
 
 
 
==Getting the Normal Map in the Game==
 
<ol><li>Save your normal map as a [[TGA]] in the same resolution as the original texture. Give it a name that ends in _normal. Then convert it to a VTF. The _normal at the end of the name will affect how [[Vtex]] converts it. For the brick wall example, we would name the file <code>brickwall_normal.tga</code>. Place the new VTF in the same place as your original texture.</li>
<li>Add this line to the VMT somewhere between the braces:<br/>
 
<pre>"$bumpmap" "texture name"</pre>
and fill in the path and name of your normal map VTF. Here's an example VMT for a normal-mapped material:
<pre><nowiki>"LightmappedGeneric"
{
    "$basetexture" "walls/brickwall"
    "$surfaceprop" "brick"
    "$bumpmap" "walls/brickwall_normal"
}</nowiki></pre>
 
{{Note|Multiple materials can use the same normal map file.}}</li>
 
<li>When compiling your maps with vtex, Add this line to the <texture filename>.txt file in the same directory as your textures then compile with vtex.
<br/>
<pre>"nocompress" "1"
"normal" "1"</pre></li></ol>

Latest revision as of 03:48, 3 December 2008

Redirect to:

Retrieved from "https://developer.valvesoftware.com/w/index.php?title=Normal_Map_Creation&oldid=101702"