Squirrelly
03-28-2006, 04:10 AM
I've written up an idiot proof mini-tutorial for the Insurgency dev. team on how to get nice looking normal maps without having to go through the process of creating a map based solely off of a model, but I thought I'd might share it with you guys as well. Before I begin, I have to say you should not always use this method, as sometimes it simply will not work. This tutorial is aimed at those who do not wish for the large hassle (some may disagree), but still, I recommend learning the mainstream method.
I'm going to be using Pericolos0's texture named "peri_sewer.jpg", which can be found here:
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Pericolos0/peri_sewer.jpg
To start, open up your good ole' texture you have just created in Photoshop, and run it through a desaturation. You should have something like this:
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Squirrelly/Insurgency/Normal%20Mapping%20Tutorial/Tutorial_01.jpg
We then need to run it through the high pass filter. A setting between 5-10 should be good, depending on the texture you are working with. I used a setting of 5 and came up with this:
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Squirrelly/Insurgency/Normal%20Mapping%20Tutorial/Tutorial_02.jpg
Create a layer UNDERNEATH the base texture (you may have to create the layer, because you cannot place anything underneath the background layer, so just double-click it), and fill it with pure black. Return back to the base texture, and use the cutout filter on it (Filter > Artistic > Cutout), and use the settings: 8, 0, 3 respectively. Immediately after, fade the cutout with an opacity anywhere from 25-50. I used 40, and came up with this:
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Squirrelly/Insurgency/Normal%20Mapping%20Tutorial/Tutorial_03.jpg
Once again, re-apply the high pass filter. I used a setting of 5 again.
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Squirrelly/Insurgency/Normal%20Mapping%20Tutorial/Tutorial_04.jpg
Duplicate the base texture, and apply the gaussian filter to it with a setting of about 1, and change this layers opacity to about 20 and change the mode to "Exclusion". Change the opacity of the base texture to about 10 or so, again, depending on the texture you are working with.
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Squirrelly/Insurgency/Normal%20Mapping%20Tutorial/Tutorial_05.jpg
Finally, flatten the image and go up to the Photoshop normal map filter. Use the settings present in the following image:
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Squirrelly/Insurgency/Normal%20Mapping%20Tutorial/Tutorial_06.jpg
And voila! You have a rather nice looking normal map.
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Squirrelly/Insurgency/Normal%20Mapping%20Tutorial/Tutorial_07.jpg
Much better than sending it straight through the filter. I hope this is of some sort of assistance to you all. Also, this is just meant for those who are too lazy to try a different method. I beg of you, don't send your textures straight through the filter! It just looks awful.
REVISION: Adjusted certain settings, and added the applying of the gaussian filter to a duplicated layer.
UPDATE: Be sure to invert the image at step five as you will obtain better results.
I'm going to be using Pericolos0's texture named "peri_sewer.jpg", which can be found here:
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Pericolos0/peri_sewer.jpg
To start, open up your good ole' texture you have just created in Photoshop, and run it through a desaturation. You should have something like this:
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Squirrelly/Insurgency/Normal%20Mapping%20Tutorial/Tutorial_01.jpg
We then need to run it through the high pass filter. A setting between 5-10 should be good, depending on the texture you are working with. I used a setting of 5 and came up with this:
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Squirrelly/Insurgency/Normal%20Mapping%20Tutorial/Tutorial_02.jpg
Create a layer UNDERNEATH the base texture (you may have to create the layer, because you cannot place anything underneath the background layer, so just double-click it), and fill it with pure black. Return back to the base texture, and use the cutout filter on it (Filter > Artistic > Cutout), and use the settings: 8, 0, 3 respectively. Immediately after, fade the cutout with an opacity anywhere from 25-50. I used 40, and came up with this:
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Squirrelly/Insurgency/Normal%20Mapping%20Tutorial/Tutorial_03.jpg
Once again, re-apply the high pass filter. I used a setting of 5 again.
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Squirrelly/Insurgency/Normal%20Mapping%20Tutorial/Tutorial_04.jpg
Duplicate the base texture, and apply the gaussian filter to it with a setting of about 1, and change this layers opacity to about 20 and change the mode to "Exclusion". Change the opacity of the base texture to about 10 or so, again, depending on the texture you are working with.
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Squirrelly/Insurgency/Normal%20Mapping%20Tutorial/Tutorial_05.jpg
Finally, flatten the image and go up to the Photoshop normal map filter. Use the settings present in the following image:
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Squirrelly/Insurgency/Normal%20Mapping%20Tutorial/Tutorial_06.jpg
And voila! You have a rather nice looking normal map.
http://www.insurgencymod.net/team/upload/Users/Squirrelly/Insurgency/Normal%20Mapping%20Tutorial/Tutorial_07.jpg
Much better than sending it straight through the filter. I hope this is of some sort of assistance to you all. Also, this is just meant for those who are too lazy to try a different method. I beg of you, don't send your textures straight through the filter! It just looks awful.
REVISION: Adjusted certain settings, and added the applying of the gaussian filter to a duplicated layer.
UPDATE: Be sure to invert the image at step five as you will obtain better results.