[HELP] Applying transparent PNG files to normal maps

[pcgamer8888]

Hi all,

 

As the title says, can anyone with good experience with applying transparent PNG files to normal maps guide me step-by-step or point in the right direction? I am currently trying to add muscle PNG files from Halo's Overlays - Tumblr Gift 1 (http://mod.dysintropi.me/tumblr-gift-1-halos-overlays/), namely the Dovakin Abs on my current UUNP textures called thePure (https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/73853/) and have no idea how to start.

 

I don't have Photoshop or practical experience with it, but I have found that the alternative GIMP is very good and free - so I would like to use that to do this.

 

Thanks

[Alter Native]

You need the .dds plugin for GIMP to open the files.

You open both files as layers in GIMP and merge the muscle layer down to the rest of the normal map. Make yourself familiar with layers if you don't know what I am talking about. Make sure both layers have the same size in pixels.

Afterwards you export as .dds and replace your old normalmap.

 

[pcgamer8888]

Thanks for the quick reply, but could you elaborate a little further?

 

From what I gather, I open the two files in GIMP, copy the transparent PNG file over to the UUNP texture, merge the two files then export as .dds file? I just had a quick look at some short tutorials and that what it seems like

[RomeoZero]

Yes, and 1 note as a PS user maybe its the same workaround for GIMP  - dont forget to mark your transparent file (png) with little paint strokes at its 4 corners, so when you copy-paste to your normal map texture ,transparent texture will stay aligned to the corners of the 1st layer. Bcs transparent blended texture does not have pixel data at its corners and  it will be placed randomly on first layer and can be misaligned with RGB pixel data giving you shifted  normal map lighting coordinates in the game.

You can erase marks when pasted it over,also dont forget to save it as an "object space map" in texture export options.