Talk:Normal map

This page doesn't show up in a search for "normal map", I don't think articles like this should be plural; Normal Maps should redirect to Normal Map. Throttlekitty (talk) 14:41, 7 August 2014 (EDT)

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Fixed it.

1. "Normal map" was auto redirecting to "Normal Maps" for some reason, so I had to click on the "redirected from Normal map" link at top.
2. Then I edited that redirect to point to Normal Map. Which fixed the problem.
3. I deleted "Normal map", now a search goes right to Normal Map where the content is.
4. Then I moved "Normal Map" to "Normal map".

EricChadwick (talk) 11:18, 8 August 2014 (EDT)

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To do:

• Update the page to incorporate the latest info. Remove the inaccuracies. Move extra info to new pages.
• Make it concise. Should be quick for newbs to find the best workflow.
• Add data from these threads:
  • Understanding averaged normals and ray projection/Who put waviness in my normal map?
  • You're making me hard. Making sense of hard edges, uvs, normal maps and vertex counts
  • Official handplane support thread - Now freeware!!
  • The best kind of beveling ?
  • RNM Normal Map Combiner, by James "Farfarer" O'Hare
  • Combine Normal, by "Vincentt" Callebaut, Combine normal maps script for Photoshop Polycount Forum thread.
  • Earthquake on separating smoothing groups in the UV
  • JedTheKrampus on offsetting Mirrored UVs
  • Of Bit Depths, Banding and Normal Maps
  • Skew you buddy! Making sense of skewed normal map details.
  • A Practical Guide On Normal Mapping For Games
  • Skewmesh Tutorial
  • Future Xoliulshader support = why Xoliulshader doesn't work properly in 3ds Max 2013/2014.

- EricChadwick (talk) 12:36, 9 May 2015 (EDT)

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Page organization ideas:

What is a Normal Map?

Summary.

Breakout pages: Normal Map Technical Details

• Tangent-Space vs. Object-Space
• Converting Between Spaces
• Tangent Basis
• RGB Channels
• Common Swizzle Coordinates
• Normal Map Compression

Texture Baking

• Synched Workflow
• UV Coordinates
• Triangulation
• Reset Transforms
• Cages
• Intersections
• Edge Padding
• Anti-Aliasing
• Wavy Lines
• Pixel Artifacts
• Transparency
• High Poly Materials

2D Workflow

Summary.

• 2D Normal Map Tools:
  • Nvidia Photoshop Filter
  • Crazy Bump
  • NDO
  • DDO
  • Substance Designer
• Flat Color
• Blending Normal Maps Together
• Pre-Created Templates
• Re-Normalizing
• Ambient Occlusion into a Normal Map
• Back Lighting

3D Workflow

Summary.

Breakout pages: Normal Map Modeling

• High-Poly Modeling Tricks
  • Sloped Extrusions
  • Edge Thickness
  • mental ray Round Corners Bump
  • Floating Geometry
• Beveling
• Smoothing Groups & Hard Edges
• Mirroring
• LODs

Tutorials

Warning about prevalence of misinformation.

• Tutorials
• Related Pages
• 3D Tools
• 2D Tools
• Discussion

- EricChadwick (talk) 10:55, 12 May 2015 (EDT)