Normal maps / Depth maps how to use them?

#1
  1. is Zborn Toy a still valid pluging for use in AEcs5?
  2. request for tutorial on how to use Normal maps, or Depth maps in AEcs5
  3. what bit depth should they be, 32bit, 16bit EXR?
    is there a practical use, or some cool VFX use?
#2

Using a normal pass, you can basicly relight your shot. Depth maps are for depth of feild and distance haze.

Normals can also be used for post reflections, I used them for almost all the eye reflections on legend of the guardians.

You probably want to look into something like nuke to really take advatnage of this stuff, im not to savvy on ae these days.

#3

Thanks for the reply.
…this sounds interesting.

Normals can also be used for post reflections

How are the normal maps applied in post?[b]

Zbrush (to create the normal maps) to AEcs5 for post
is the only option for me right now. And I have been trying to figure out practical ways to utilize the Depth map and Normal maps in AEcs5.[/b]
Zborn Toy is a cool plugin, but unable to get an answer from the dev if it’s currently supported, or if it’s even necessary because AEcs5 has 3D lights, camera etc.

#4

AE can take advantage of all this stuff just fine. :slight_smile:

This tutorial can give you a great idea of what normal relighting can do.
http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/scene_re-lighting/

It looks like Frischluft has updated ZBornToy, but not Normalize. Normalize is there free shading/relighting tool that uses a normal pass.
http://www.frischluft.com/download/index.php

While you’re at the Frischluft site, check out Lenscare. While AE does have built-in support for lens blurring using a z-depth pass, most people still use Lenscare as their DOF solution.
http://www.frischluft.com/lenscare/index.php

This tutorial will show you how to use the z-depth pass in AE. It’s near the end.
http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorial/growing_3d_vines/

Hope that all helps.

#5

Thank You!

#6

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