Generating Normal Maps

[user_deleted]

I've taken to using VertexNoise.mel a lot, I find that breaking up smooth surfaces really helps realism, even when it's subtle.

This requires higher tesselation though, and I'm going to have memory problems.

So it occured to me that generating a normal map from the "crumpled", highly tesselated model would be perfect. But I've never done that. I can generate normal maps using mudbox, or crazybump, or whatever - but how do I "bake" a normal map from inside Maya, for use on a similar, but lower-resolution object?

I found this page, but this seems old (maya 6)
http://www.drone.org/tutorials/displacement\_maps.html
(this guy uses normal + displace, I don't really need displacement, as I'm not worried about silhouette really - and displacement is a bit expensive to render....)

I'm on Maya 7 (I know).
Will I be able to use normal maps with maya software renderer? I heard there are some problems, but for this application it might work?

[joojaa]

you need to use the drone org way. Tough if the uv cordinates are the same on both objects you can simply bake the maps, just assign a shader thet cacluates normals to the surface.

In 8.5 theres a easy tool you can just let do the closest point calculations with.

[user_deleted]

QUOTE
just assign a shader thet cacluates normals to the surface.

You're talking about a sampler info node right? And taking the "normal camera" output?

I imagine this wouldn't work for an approach where the lo poly and hi poly have substantial modeling differences would it? (even with same UVs)

I'm also trying the drone org way, but it's not working. He warns that baking should be really slow etc, but if I open the example file and bake, it takes a split second and I just get an image file with a black and white pattern.

[joojaa]

QUOTE(holographix @ 01/25/09, 05:43 AM) [snapback]299585[/snapback]
I imagine this wouldn't work for an approach where the lo poly and hi poly have substantial modeling differences would it? (even with same UVs)

It would as long as those modeling differences are mainly normal moves. It owuld also be able to handle splits and such.

[user_deleted]

Ok I ended up using a freeware called Xnormal which I HIGHLY recommend.

[user_deleted]

Have been using xnormal for a few weeks now with great success, it's excellent and my assets have gotten 40-60% lighter while being at least 200% more photoreal. So I'm pretty happy.

For using normal maps I ended up using the normalBump2d plugin.

But now I'd like to know how to use my normal maps in Mental Ray. Is that possible?

[joojaa]

QUOTE(holographix @ 02/26/09, 10:52 PM) [snapback]301819[/snapback]
But now I'd like to know how to use my normal maps in Mental Ray. Is that possible?

Yes, but you really really shoudl update your maya. BTW your not going to be able to upgrade pretty soon so you need to dish out the full cost.

[user_deleted]

You have no idea how much I want to upgrade. If I'm not it's not out of laziness or wanting to save money - I am in mid-production and will be until the end of this year and I will not upgrade until that production is done. I upgraded my hardware last year and lost at least 3 months of production time in the process. So it's not going to happen.

But I hear you and will upgrade after that, for sure. (Or buy a full Maya if I need to)

I'm sorry if that means I have to ask outdated questions but I have no choice.

So, if normal maps are possible under M7, with MR, can you give me a point in the right direction? Is it a plug-in or built-in?

[joojaa]

QUOTE(holographix @ 03/01/09, 08:16 PM) [snapback]301991[/snapback]
So, if normal maps are possible under M7, with MR, can you give me a point in the right direction? Is it a plug-in or built-in?

Theya are but most likely youll have to write one yourself.

Mentalray wants normals in worldspace and not camera space so the networks should work out if you can convert he normals to right space.