Creating Normal Maps with Crazy Bump

What is a Normal Map?

Taken from Wikipedia

Normal mapping used to re-detail simplified meshes. In 3D computer graphics, normal mapping, or "Dot3 bump mapping", is a technique used for faking the lighting of bumps and dents – an implementation of bump mapping. It is used to add details without using more polygons.

DIFFUSE MAP NORMAL MAP

Downloading Textures

You’ll need a good clean texture to start off.

Something bumpy with clearly defined areas of

high and low points

Check out http://cgtextures.com for textures like these

Now open up CrazyBump and select the Open folder(Mac version being used here)

CrazyBump is Available for Windows and Mac

http://www.crazybump.com/

Select “Open photograph from file”

Then select the texture that you want to use

The black portions represent the lowest portions (like crevices) while the white portions represent the highest areas (tops of tiles)

Select the image that best represents the “highs and lows” of your texture the best

I picked this one but either would be fine in this case

Once you’ve selected the shape you’ll come to the mixer settings for our normal map

along with a preview of normal map

Normal Map Mixer

*Note each tab represents a different type of map. Normals is selected by default

Play with the slider settings to get something you like

Often times the default settings look good

The preview settings allow you to select a box, sphere and

column

To save your normal map select the Save button at the bottom

Select Save normals to file

Map Settings and Saving to File

Click to change 3d Preview model

You should now have a Normal Map file saved in your folder

You can use this normal map to create realistic texturing of objects with no added geometry to 3d objects which will result in increased performance. You can combine

this with a number of maps like specular, height, and diffuse maps for even more realism.

Watch this video Crazy Bump Normal Maps in Unity

Want to learn how to use Crazy Bump with Unity?

Find more Game Development Tutorials at Xenosmash Games

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial!