[Tutorial] How to make normal texture file

[phoenix[illusion]]

This is a small tutorial for making a normal textures
Special thanks to Strelac who added his tip in 2nd step
Please backup your files and make sure that you have Adobe Photoshop
First of all, you have to convert texture to dds.
You have to have Nvidia plug-ins for photoshop (http://developer.nvidia.com/object/photoshop_dds_plugins.html)


1st Step - Normal Map
I used mtw2_es_greek_byzantium and mtw2_es_greek_normal as example, and all of these pitcures are from that file.
This is an example.
1.Open mtw2_es_greek_byzantium and change it in whatever you want, in by example it's a Rectangle with text Texture.
https://img76.imageshack.us/img76/8463/t1ea3.th.jpg (https://img76.imageshack.us/my.php?image=t1ea3.jpg)
When you are finished save it to mtw2_es_greek_byzantium.
2.Than select background, as it on picture, and press flaten image.
https://img76.imageshack.us/img76/5013/t2xe1.th.jpg (https://img76.imageshack.us/my.php?image=t2xe1.jpg)
3.After that go to filter > nvidia filter > Normal map
Set it as on picture.
https://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1525/t3gx4.th.jpg (https://img201.imageshack.us/my.php?image=t3gx4.jpg)
4.Than press ok, and your picture will be like this.
https://img201.imageshack.us/img201/689/t4by0.th.jpg (https://img201.imageshack.us/my.php?image=t4by0.jpg)
After that press M button and sellect whole picture, and copy it. Open mtw2_es_greek_normal, but do not close mtw2_es_greek_byzantium.
5.Paste it on mtw2_es_greek_normal, than save it (mtw2_es_greek_normal whit pasted file) as dxt5 on mtw2_es_greek_normal.
And that should be it. After that close mtw2_es_greek_byzantium and mtw2_es_greek_normal, but when it asks to overwrite files press no.

2nd Step - Alpha Channel
Still using mtw2_es_greek_byzantium.texture and mtw2_es_greek_normal.texture for example

1.Open mtw2_es_greek_byzantium.texture, press key M, and select whole texture. Copy it.
2.Open mtw2_es_greek_normal.texture, and click on channel tab, then click on Alpha 1
It should look like this:
http://aycu23.webshots.com/image/8262/2003223182860784307_th.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003223182860784307)
3.Paste copied texture, it should be gray.
4.Go to Image->Adjustments->Brightness/Contrast
Set Brightness to -93 (now it should be dark, with white parts)
Additional tip [thanks to Strelac]: Instead of using the Brightness/Contrast control, I prefer using Curve control. It allows for adjustment of light, dark and medium tones independently. This gives more realistic gloss. Also, you can manually edit the Alpha 1 to control the reflection of the objects. Use black – to – white tones to suppress the reflection or allow maximum reflection on the objects.

That's it, save it as mtw2_es_greek_normal.texture
If there is a question, just ask.
If there is something you don't understand, just ask.

[Martinaz]

first:
Where can i find it?
Second: Do i need plugins
thrird: how do i edit stuff?
fourth: This is quite an unusefull without all that.

[phoenix[illusion]]

first:
Where can i find it?
Second: Do i need plugins
thrird: how do i edit stuff?
fourth: This is quite an unusefull without all that.
First of all this is a tutorial for advanced skinners!
I think that every skinner should know where to find it, and this is an example, so it is not obligate to find this textures. And every advanced skinner should know about plug-ins. And if you don't know how to edit stuffs, that is not my problem, it's yours. So you shoud know that tis is not tutorial for making skins, this is a tutorial for making normal texture, that is bump map for every skin, and all of your questions are about making skins.

[Martinaz]

hmm..
And still i could be a bit usefull if you tell a little bit info abount finding it.
How could a newbie become pro if you make toturials for pro's?

[TIGER]

I am very beholden for your report, you helped me very much. Big thank you!
I am sorry, my english very bad...

[SHREDDER]

phoenix[illusion]

Good work!

[phoenix[illusion]]

Can somebody promote me to meber, because as junior member I can't edit my tutorial.

[AliAS]

You need post more post. After that you can edit :smash:

[Casuir]

Sorry I didnt reply to your pm phoenix I was out of the country and had no internet access. The reason your textures were appearing white was because of the alpha channels. The original texture alpha controls transparency while the one in the normal texture controls specular lighting/gloss maps (the shiny metal bits) Saving the modified original as the normal gives you a messed up alpha. Your method of copying gets around this as would copying the alpha from the normal but if you're changing metal parts of the texture to cloth or vice versa you might want to modify the alpha as well

btw theres a couple of other ways to generate normal maps, the photoshop filter is the quickest but the results arent always great as can be seen on some of the game models

[Kaesaredoardo]

First of all ...thanks Phoenix ...but i have a problem :

I did everything you have written but when i lauch the game my normal_texture is a lightning white...what can i do ?:help:

[phoenix[illusion]]

First of all ...thanks Phoenix ...but i have a problem :

The problem was alpha channel.
Tutorial updated, take a look at it now.

[phoenix[illusion]]

Tutorial updated
Added tip form Strelac

[nnnm]

Great Tutorial. Thanks :)