2009-11-06 snapshot (updated again and again...)

[ddmx]

Correct yahama. I'm currently working on, and I'm sorry for using this word out of respect, but legit normal maps for the fox v3 and v2 rider model.

[Yahama7]

What exactly do you mean by legit?
Are you going to model the rider/helmet high poly then render a normal map and then reduce the polys of the model?

[marlonfr]

Possible to add to wheels?

[ddmx]

Well, I'm rendering the normal map in 3ds max instead of using a photoshop plugin. That outputs the best possible normal map. For the rider model I'm displacing a high poly model with the shading template, then baking the normal off of that. For the helmet, I'm just baking a normal map as is.

[Duckstream]

Should someone put up a new topic for this? like NEW NORMAL MAPPING TOPIC.
There would gather all the normal maps, and stuff that is involved.
cuz many people realy wont read 5 pages of this snapshot and then download them by chance...

[Wes Wamsley]

[quote=\"ddmx488\"]Well, I\'m rendering the normal map in 3ds max instead of using a photoshop plugin. That outputs the best possible normal map. For the rider model I\'m displacing a high poly model with the shading template, then baking the normal off of that. For the helmet, I\'m just baking a normal map as is.[/quote]
its my understanding that you need shading to make the map? like on the v3 that yahama showed. Tell me if thats true cause I have another question.

[tyskorn]

I'm sorry guys,but I tried to add a skin to Brent's normal map .png and it didn't work.Help please,I don't understand this.And please don't get all "Jones" on me for this.

[ddmx]

its my understanding that you need shading to make the map? like on the v3 that yahama showed. Tell me if thats true cause I have another question.

Yes, you may need the shading in a special case. For instance, something isn't modeled but yet you want it to be included on the normal map, I personally would use the shading and a displace modifier within max to apply that shading to the model itself. This is how I'm approaching the rider model, since I don't want to sculp the shadows on it in zBrush.

[Garasaki]

Well, I'm rendering the normal map in 3ds max instead of using a photoshop plugin. That outputs the best possible normal map. For the rider model I'm displacing a high poly model with the shading template, then baking the normal off of that. For the helmet, I'm just baking a normal map as is.

Which shading template???

[ddmx]

Well, I've only tried with yahama's as of now, but making a map for different shading templates is as easy as loading a different shading tex. I'll make sure I make a normal map rendition for all the different shading templates I can get my hands on.

[yzmxer608]

I'm sorry guys,but I tried to add a skin to Brent's normal map .png and it didn't work.Help please,I don't understand this.And please don't get all "Jones" on me for this.

You don't add skins on top of normal maps. Just get the filename of the skin you want the map on, rename Brent's normal map to your skin's name and add _norm at the end (before .png).

[raglandmx831]

whenever i try do run this is says it cant find game data? how do i get it to work?

[tyskorn]

So,do you mean like this?
rider_body-ddmxv2 tyskorn_norm.png

[yzmxer608]

Try not to use spaces, but yeah that should work.

[tyskorn]

Is it still supposed to be just the blue skin thing.