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MSFS20 How is everyone creating NORMAL type textures?

Misho

Misho

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Hi everyone!

I was wondering how is everyone creating NORMAL type textures... as in, converting them from grayscale heightmap to the correct format for MSFS.

Currently, I am using an NVidia plug-in which works only on a 10 or so year old PhotoShop, and not on newer versions of PhotoShop. That's the only reason I still keep that version, and it is on my "backup" computer, which is kind of annoying, because every time I need to work on normal textures, I have to switch to another computer.
 
I think Materialize is a freeware solution for PBR and texture conversion. There's some forum activity here about it.
 
Since you're using Max, why don't you use it's build in render to texture or bake to texture functionality? I mean, if you have a height map allready it's easy to drop it into the bump map slot of a physics material for instance and do the r2t thingy.
Just make sure to dissable gamma correction for your render output.
 
Misho said:
Hi everyone!

I was wondering how is everyone creating NORMAL type textures... as in, converting them from grayscale heightmap to the correct format for MSFS.

Currently, I am using an NVidia plug-in which works only on a 10 or so year old PhotoShop, and not on newer versions of PhotoShop. That's the only reason I still keep that version, and it is on my "backup" computer, which is kind of annoying, because every time I need to work on normal textures, I have to switch to another computer.
Click to expand...
Hi Misho.
I know the Nvidia plugin, I used it before, but you don't need it anymore. Photoshop has its own plugin:
photoshop_normalmap_menu.jpg


photoshop_normalmap.jpg


Otherwise, as Dick mentioned, Materialize is a free alternative. But remember to reverse the height if necessary so that it becomes a DirectX compliant normal map. I know that you can create a normal map in 3D Studio Max. But nobody has shown how to do it exactly.
 
Mathias said:
Since you're using Max, why don't you use it's build in render to texture or bake to texture functionality? I mean, if you have a height map allready it's easy to drop it into the bump map slot of a physics material for instance and do the r2t thingy.
Just make sure to dissable gamma correction for your render output.
Click to expand...
Thanks, ah yes, but I don't need normals from 3D models, but for repeating tile materials, like metal, wood, bricks, things like that.
 
Christian Bahr said:
Hi Misho.
I know the Nvidia plugin, I used it before, but you don't need it anymore. Photoshop has its own plugin:View attachment 93810

View attachment 93809

Otherwise, as Dick mentioned, Materialize is a free alternative. But remember to reverse the height if necessary so that it becomes a DirectX compliant normal map. I know that you can create a normal map in 3D Studio Max. But nobody has shown how to do it exactly.
Click to expand...
Oh wow, how did I miss that! I looked over it briefly and it seems it does everything I need! Thanks!! One question - was that normal map created from the Albedo one (your first screenshot)? Or, was it rendered from a 3D model?
 
Misho said:
Oh wow, how did I miss that! I looked over it briefly and it seems it does everything I need! Thanks!! One question - was that normal map created from the Albedo one (your first screenshot)? Or, was it rendered from a 3D model?
Click to expand...
Yes, that's the albedo texture, you can see it in the first picture. Just apply the filter and boom, the normal map is ready. But I would still like to know how to create a normal map in 3dsm, that would save you a step.
 
You have also a simple software named "NormalMap Generator" which can create your NORMAL map using a simple diffuse or albedo texture.
This software is freeware & open-source (Windows + Linux) and you have enought parameters (as a batch mode) to create a DirectX NORMAL or a inverted NORMAL for others games.
No installation needed, just an executable to store on your disk.

The link: https://github.com/Theverat/NormalmapGenerator

tabs_combined.jpg


In the "Assets" section of this link (https://github.com/Theverat/NormalmapGenerator/releases) you have a modified version which has a real-time 3D viewer (pre-released).

PS : Thank you, I just realize that my version is not up-to-date !
 
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Christian Bahr said:
...But I would still like to know how to create a normal map in 3dsm, that would save you a step.
Click to expand...
That's fairly easy.
Here you see a readily prepared and unwrapped object with a black/white height map dropped into the bump map slot:

r2t_self_1.jpg


With the object selected go to "Rendering/Bake To Texture" and make your settings, ie drop the normal map from the left to the right window, keep "projected from" to "self", select resolution, place to store etc pp and click "Bake". That's it.

r2t_self_2.jpg
 
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Now we would usually want to project the whole shadderack not onto itself but on a low poly mesh:

r2t_hi_lo_1.jpg
Hi and low poly mesh need to share the same space obviously.
Select the low poly mesh. go to the bake to texture screen again, this time in "projected from" select the high poly mesh. A projection modifier is applied which most of the time works without tweaking, sometimes needs some adjustments.
Make your settings again and hit the Bake button.

r2t_hi_lo_2.jpg
 
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The Photoshop native plugin (and the 3D options) have not been available since the 2022 version. Adobe are pushing everyone to Substance Painter for that. If you have a Creative Cloud subscription then you can download it under 'Install Previous Versions'. The Nvidia plugin (https://developer.nvidia.com/texture-tools-exporter) does work with Photoshop 2025.5 (the current version) and so does the Intel one (https://gametechdev.github.io/Intel-Texture-Works-Plugin/). 1.0.4 is the latest version.

And I've just discovered that my copy of Materialize has gone skipping over the hills with the leprechauns because it's been that long since I used it.
 
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