Golden Yak
09-08-2007, 12:27 AM
I've gotten into ZBrush recently for the purpose of generating complex normal maps for low-poly 3DStudio Max models. I've picked up the basics and I've completed a fairly detailed hi-poly model from a low-poly Max mesh, but I've run into the following problem.
After importing the hi-poly model back into max, I went through Ben Mathis' normal map workflow tutorial (located here: http://www.poopinmymouth.com/tutorial/normal_workflow.htm (http://www.poopinmymouth.com/tutorial/normal_workflow.htm))
I've gotten some normal maps out of it, but I'm less than happy with the results.
I put the normal maps into a regular texture's Bump Map at 100 and applied it to the model. Here's how it worked out:
http://goldenyak.com/images/threedee/normalmapproblems.jpg
http://goldenyak.com/images/threedee/normalmapproblems2.jpg
Hi-poly model on the left, low-poly model in the middle, low-poly with normal maps on the right. The low-poly model should be almost identical to the hi-poly model, but not much of the detail is transfering over.
Here are the normal maps I generated using the above tutorial.
http://goldenyak.com/images/threedee/normalmap01.jpg
http://goldenyak.com/images/threedee/normalmap02.jpg
Have I applied the normal maps to the models improperly? Should I use another method to generate normal maps?
After importing the hi-poly model back into max, I went through Ben Mathis' normal map workflow tutorial (located here: http://www.poopinmymouth.com/tutorial/normal_workflow.htm (http://www.poopinmymouth.com/tutorial/normal_workflow.htm))
I've gotten some normal maps out of it, but I'm less than happy with the results.
I put the normal maps into a regular texture's Bump Map at 100 and applied it to the model. Here's how it worked out:
http://goldenyak.com/images/threedee/normalmapproblems.jpg
http://goldenyak.com/images/threedee/normalmapproblems2.jpg
Hi-poly model on the left, low-poly model in the middle, low-poly with normal maps on the right. The low-poly model should be almost identical to the hi-poly model, but not much of the detail is transfering over.
Here are the normal maps I generated using the above tutorial.
http://goldenyak.com/images/threedee/normalmap01.jpg
http://goldenyak.com/images/threedee/normalmap02.jpg
Have I applied the normal maps to the models improperly? Should I use another method to generate normal maps?