# Use of Normal Maps in Vray

**URL:** <https://forums.chaos.com/t/use-of-normal-maps-in-vray/48681>\
**Category:** Issues\
**Created:** [February 14, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/use-of-normal-maps-in-vray/48681 "2014-02-14T00:06:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DeadLift315](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@DeadLift315](https://forums.chaos.com/u/DeadLift315)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/use-of-normal-maps-in-vray/48681/1 "2014-02-14T00:06:24Z")

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Hello!

I have been searching but cannot find much information on this topic.

What is the proper procedure for using Normal Map images with Vray? My understanding is that you place a “VrayNormalMap” in the Bump slot, and then the desired map within. However the results i have been getting are not at all desirable and I get much better results with a simple black and white map in the bump slot. (see the attached images, The one rendered with normal maps has errors and in general behaves strangely)

I feel that either I am doing something incorrectly or that there is some kind of bug with normal maps.

any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

 ![Bump Slot with Black and white map.jpg](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/original/3X/6/b/6b95450200c8000fdb7a6d23d1eebfe5c832c6c4.jpeg)  
 ![Vray Normal Map With appropriate Normal Map.jpg](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/original/3X/e/7/e72a9f6b484e9c69824d373973eb3a4b9cbfc80f.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![Neilg](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/neilg/32/7044_2.png) [@Neilg](https://forums.chaos.com/u/Neilg)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/use-of-normal-maps-in-vray/48681/2 "2014-02-14T00:52:31Z")

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make sure gamma is set to override 1 where you pick the bitmap. normal maps are very picky about gamma.

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**Author:** ![DeadLift315](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@DeadLift315](https://forums.chaos.com/u/DeadLift315)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/use-of-normal-maps-in-vray/48681/3 "2014-02-14T17:10:12Z")

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That was it! Thank you so much!

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**Author:** ![Deflaminis](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/deflaminis/32/22216_2.png) [@Deflaminis](https://forums.chaos.com/u/Deflaminis)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 11:12am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/use-of-normal-maps-in-vray/48681/4 "2014-02-16T11:12:28Z")

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Also make sure the bump value is set to 100%. (That’s a max thing, not sure if vraynormal ignores it.)