Normal mapping

[honzic]

Hi there,
I have a question. How use a normal map (like this attached image) in Vray material?

Honzic

[Codi]

If you are using VRay SP2, you should put a NormalBump map in the bump map channel and set the normal map image in the Normal slot. Remember to set the bitmap input gamma to 1.0 if you are using a 2.2 input gamma in max properties.
See attached image.

There is a new normal map (VRayNormalMap) channel in VRay SP3, you should be using it as it works correctly with VRayProxies too. The procedure is more or less the same.

Regards.

[tricky]

Could anyone post an image that shows the differences/advantages of normal maps against traditional bump maps?

[stevesideas]

Just take a look on the zbrush forum. Plenty of people use normal maps there. I dont know technically what the difference is so cant really help..

Plus, it may be worth searching this forum as Im sure ive read other stuff on normal maps...probably plenty of technical details/imagery on google if you search that also.

[tricky]

Yes, I was being a bit lazy there! Just done a search and they do seem to be mighty impressive ways of generating 3d geometry in a similar fashion to displacement. However, I gather you can't really generate a normal map easily without first having the actual geometry to produce it - ie its not like simply 'grayscaling' a bitmap image like I sometimes do to 'cheat' at a bump map.

[sea2stars]

Did you ever play with Crazy Bump?

[tricky]

Can't say that I have - will do a search.

<the reaon for my interest is I have just started playing with Bercon tilemaps and I don't seem to be getting the depth/quality of bump I had expected>

[Codi]

You can generate a normal map from a bump/displacement map using the Nvidia Photoshop normal map Filter:
http://developer.nvidia.com/object/p...s_plugins.html

[dlparisi]

Or just use vlado's bump2normal map...http://www.chaosgroup.com/forums/vbu...11&postcount=8

[Codi]

Or just use vlado's bump2normal map...http://www.chaosgroup.com/forums/vbu...11&postcount=8

Nice, completely missed that one. Must work very well in conjunction with BerconMaps.

Pity we cant use many plugs, maintaining a renderfarm and version compatibility gets messy fast ...

[askhamdesign]

Normal Map Files

I am taking a look at normal maps and created a few maps and objects you can test:

www.supercreative.co.uk/vray/normal_maps.zip 4.79Mb

You will need to add UVW mapping and flip the normals with the .obj files.

These were created with http://www.geocontrol2.com Demo software look quite a cool program.

[percydaman]

thanks, those look pretty darn cool! I'm going to grab those and show the boss what normal maps can do for terrain. He was asking about normal maps just the other day.

[bardo]

I am taking a look at normal maps and created a few maps and objects you can test:

www.supercreative.co.uk/vray/normal_maps.zip

You will need to add UVW mapping and flip the normals with the .obj files.

I've downloaded your .zip file but when I try to expand it....winrar give me an error.
My downloaded file is 7,6 mb.. is it right?

Anyone reported this problem??

Thanks in advance

[askhamdesign]

Just checking the file now, I know our ftp uploads have been a bit dodgy recently for some reason, will get back to you.

[percydaman]

yeah same issue here. I'd be curious to know the workflow/software used to create all those passes