Making normal maps for your decals

MX181
Posts: 809
Joined: Tue Dec 25, 2012 12:45 am
Location: STRAYA

Making normal maps for your decals

Post by MX181 »

have seen a few people wondering how to do this. this is also how to make it so your track has terrain shaders.

step 1: open your decal in photoshop not to sure about other programs. gimp i think works abit like this

Image

step 2: duplicate the layer (your decal)

Image

Step 3: now make a new layer and put the layer in the middle of the two decals

Image

your layers should look something like this

Step 4: paint the blank layer entirely a grey colour

Image

Step 5: Select your decal and press ctrl+shift+u and your decal will turn a shade of grey

Image

step 6: merge the now grey decal with the solid grey layer

Image

this will be the result

step 7: apply this normal filter to the layer (the normal filter can be downloaded here: https://developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-tex ... -photoshop , to get to this filter you go filter > NVIDIA tools > NormalMapFilter)

Image

up will come a new tab change your setting to this

Step 8: Now press OK

Step 9: to make the normal map more intense, duplicate the norm and go to were it say normal click so the drop down bar goes down a select overlay so that it makes on of the norms and overlay (you will know as the norm map will suddenly get much more intense) continue this till you are happy with the out come.

Image

where you go to change it to normal

before the overlay

Image

after

Image

(you dont have to make it this intense or you can make it more intense, this was just for tutorial sake)

Step 10: Save it in the same place as the decal you are using for your track but name it "decal name"_tnorm
another thing that will needed to be changed is your lighting file. 'dynamic_lighting 1' will need to be added to the end of your lighting file for oyur norms to work.



i hope this helps someone, this works for me may not be how others do it but it works. you can comment if you think something may improve the norm.

also a big part of having a awessome decal is the spec. but that is for another day and time.
Last edited by MX181 on Wed Apr 23, 2014 11:14 am, edited 2 times in total.
137
Posts: 2632
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 1:31 am
Team: LCQ Studios / rF

Re: Making normal maps for your decals

Post by 137 »

FINALLY.! Thank you.!
If you enjoy what I make, donate to the cause 8) It's very much appreciated!!
Image
dionhuybers
Posts: 692
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2012 6:42 pm
Team: AMJ Graphixx
Location: The Netherlands

Re: Making normal maps for your decals

Post by dionhuybers »

Thanks yeah! was waiting for this tutorial for so long! but you lost me at this part:
step 7: apply this normal filter to the layer (the normal filter can be downloaded here: https://developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-tex ... -photoshop , to get to this filter you go filter > NVIDIA tools > NormalMapFilter)

Image

I dont really can find the way to the download thing button or something :oops:
Image
yzmxer608
Posts: 15352
Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2008 4:30 am
Team: SYS
Location: Wisconsin, U.S.A

Re: Making normal maps for your decals

Post by yzmxer608 »

Image
TeamHavocRacing wrote:If I had a nickel for every time someone asked for this, I would have a whole shitload of nickels.
dionhuybers
Posts: 692
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2012 6:42 pm
Team: AMJ Graphixx
Location: The Netherlands

Re: Making normal maps for your decals

Post by dionhuybers »

woow thanks! i didnt know i was that stupid :shock:
Image
760Liam
Posts: 1404
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2011 5:33 pm
Location: California

Re: Making normal maps for your decals

Post by 760Liam »

Image
MX181
Posts: 809
Joined: Tue Dec 25, 2012 12:45 am
Location: STRAYA

Re: Making normal maps for your decals

Post by MX181 »

Like I said there would be many ways this is just how I do it. Only did it as I had this trouble when I was learning and as I have seen many other people questioning and wondering
Boblob801
Posts: 3998
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:59 am
Team: <3 Andy
Location: New Zealand
Contact:

Re: Making normal maps for your decals

Post by Boblob801 »

Not to be the biggest dick munch but you really should have alpha-ed the edges or overlapping textures will look terrible.
Hi
MX181
Posts: 809
Joined: Tue Dec 25, 2012 12:45 am
Location: STRAYA

Re: Making normal maps for your decals

Post by MX181 »

yer i probably should have added this into the tutorial but i only did the basics, sorry bob :(
waynesim
Posts: 519
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2011 4:48 am
Team: Privateer
Location: Nelson,New Zealand

Re: Making normal maps for your decals

Post by waynesim »

Boblob801 wrote:Not to be the biggest dick munch but you really should have alpha-ed the edges or overlapping textures will look terrible.
Could you please explain that part to us please,would appreciate the help :)
Image
waynesim
Posts: 519
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2011 4:48 am
Team: Privateer
Location: Nelson,New Zealand

Re: Making normal maps for your decals

Post by waynesim »

DP.....Sorry,big thanks to MX181 for the tutorial :)
Image
MX181
Posts: 809
Joined: Tue Dec 25, 2012 12:45 am
Location: STRAYA

Re: Making normal maps for your decals

Post by MX181 »

i will add a part 2 to this when i get some more time :)
yfz22
Posts: 426
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 2:00 am
Team: Privateer
Location: Uptight NY

Re: Making normal maps for your decals

Post by yfz22 »

Thanks so much.

But for alpha-ing the edges or whatever, wouldn't I just check the box that's says "Alpha Blending", or is there something else to it?
Image
SMR 510RR
Posts: 2526
Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2012 6:36 am
Team: Privateer

Re: Making normal maps for your decals

Post by SMR 510RR »

You can also make them more "intense" by making the number in the scale box larger. I also use image>adjust>levels to make sure I have almost full white and full black and put it on a black layer so it will be more intense.
Jamie T
Posts: 48
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2010 10:45 pm
Team: Privateer
Location: England
Contact:

Re: Making normal maps for your decals

Post by Jamie T »

For some reason, this hasn't worked for me...

You mention specular maps as well... Is there any "offical" documentation from JLV on this? I'm having trouble finding anything on the subject of normal and specular maps.

I have got the base game, and updated it with the latest snapshot. Is there anything else I need?
Post Reply