Normal Maps + Smooth Edges workflow?

[LionHeart1985]

Is there a workflow, how to combine the smooth edges funktion with normal maps?

As i want to keep my models as polylow as possible, i try to prevent creating bevel corners and work as much as possible with the vray smooth edges funktion as a bump map.

In many cases i want to add a normal/bump map to the material but as the normal/bump map channel is occupied by the smooth edges function,
need to know if there is a workflow to add an additional normal/bump map channel to the material, that the normal/bump map is also shown on the generated round corner.

If anyone has an idea how to get this done or even know if it is possible or not, i would highly appreciate that.

Thanks!

[Peter.Chaushev]

Thank you for this question! I'm sure others have stumbled upon this problem as well. The solution is relatively simple, but may be slightly unintuitive:

1. Create a material and set up its Normal mapping
2. Create a Bump material, set it to Bump Texture Channel mode and slot an Edges texture to achieve the rounded corners effect.
3. Slot the first material into the Bump material.
4. Apply the Bump material to the designated object. To make sure the UV mapping is correct, set the Bump material's binding option either to Texture Helper or to Custom (and use the Normal map).



Kind regards,
Peter

[LionHeart1985]

Allright, thanks Peter for your help!! I will try that workflow on my next project