NOrmalmap & premultiply problem

[klingspor]

Hi learning3D, I'm the developer of the relighting plug-in you intend to use. ;)

That said, I'm not sure what the problem is; I don't use mental ray, but I don't see why it should have a problem rendering normal maps.
The problem you're seeing, is it visible in the actual normal maps or only after applying the plug-in?

[learning3D]

hi steffan,
thanks for prompt reply :-) cool to have "the developer" as contact person here...

ok, MR seems to premultiply the edges of the normal map with white.
so your ae plugin (lighting suite) cant proper lighting those edges because it only can read (rgb for xyz). i hope this is the right presumption?

problem solving:
- maybe there is a other way to get a normal map out of maya, so i can test it again..?
- or how can i render non-premulitplied normal maps with MR
- last but not least: i handle your plugin false...???

thanks, for any advice...
learning3d

[klingspor]

Are you sure you're loading the files correctly? In AE you have to explicitly check that you want it to use pre-multiplied images, it often assumes straight alpha.

Could you upload an image perhaps?

[learning3D]

hi stefan,
yes i have all checked, with my ae settings...strange!

here are the iff files (diffuse & normal)
maybe you can get it to work in ae.

diffuse iff
http://www.mediafire.com/?4xhsudtnu3j

normal iff
http://www.mediafire.com/?0gfx1195ixl

thx, learning3d

[klingspor]

The normal map has a white background. That's definitely going to cause trouble. The beauty pass looks fine to me.

It must be a problem with the preset I guess... try to create a normal pass from scratch, that should take care of it.

Or try setting AE to premultiplied, but change the color to white. That might fix it, too...

[learning3D]

yes your right, the default preset makes the camera bg to white,
that forces MR to produce false non-premultiplied renderings...

i will test it again, at home later. i will give you answer if it works...

thanks stefan!!!
learning3d

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