Friday, December 31, 2004
Normal Maps - Part 1
Are you familiar with height maps, bump maps, etc.? If not, normal maps will go right over your head.
Height maps and bump maps are greyscale images used to represent different elevations in a surface. In a height map, white (255, 255, 255) is the highest point, and black (0, 0, 0) is the lowest point. To see a quick representation of this effect, create a new file in photoshop and fill it with 50% grey, open the channels, create a new one and fill it with black. Then, using a white brush paint some lines and blur some of them using the blur tool.
After this, go back to the layers, click FILTER>RENDER>LIGHTING EFFECTS and using the default settings, at the bottom select ALPHA 1 and check WHITE IS HIGH.
You should see that, on your flat surface, all the lines you drew in the alpha channel are raised and project shadows. Move the light source and you'll see that the shadows move.
Practice doing this until you're familiar with it and then come back for lesson # 2.
The banding is due to the gif being saved at a low quality.
Height maps and bump maps are greyscale images used to represent different elevations in a surface. In a height map, white (255, 255, 255) is the highest point, and black (0, 0, 0) is the lowest point. To see a quick representation of this effect, create a new file in photoshop and fill it with 50% grey, open the channels, create a new one and fill it with black. Then, using a white brush paint some lines and blur some of them using the blur tool.
After this, go back to the layers, click FILTER>RENDER>LIGHTING EFFECTS and using the default settings, at the bottom select ALPHA 1 and check WHITE IS HIGH.
You should see that, on your flat surface, all the lines you drew in the alpha channel are raised and project shadows. Move the light source and you'll see that the shadows move.
Practice doing this until you're familiar with it and then come back for lesson # 2.
The banding is due to the gif being saved at a low quality.
# posted by Fragger : 3:42 PM
