[Tutorial] Object-space normal maps (skin-rainbow-like normal textures)

[b3lisario]

WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE

Create or edit normal textures for body meshes

Add detail to your body / face / hands textures: scars, wounds, veins, muscles ...

 

WARNING

I am doing this tutorial mostly to share the info I collected and to provide a start to anyone who wants to take time in this.

I want to learn more about this subject, and I pretend to upgrade this post as I learn new stuff.

I am pretty noob in the use of all this programs, didn't know anything of this some months ago, and I have zero skill/experience in anything related to art.

And my English is sad

 

Any advice, suggestion, link, correction, any kind of info, will be welcomed.

 

KNOWLEDGE NEEDED

That's the stuff I don't want to explain. If you want to mess with texture and models, chances are you already know some of this

- Basic modding knowledge: where to look for body meshes and body texture files, how to use NifSkope

- Usage of 3d editor (3ds max, Blender, etc): import / export body meshes, create basic shapes

- Usage of image editor (gimp, photoshop, etc): import / export dds files

 

TOOLS I USE

- gimp2 + gimp dds plugin

- NifSkope

- 3ds Max | Autodesk Education Community + nif plugin

- xNormal

[spoiler=Alternatives]

More tools that I don't know how to use, but they will do the trick

- photoshop + dds plugin

- blender, maya

- nvidia texture tools

- zbrush

 

 

CREATE A SCAR, STEP BY STEP

Here we'll learn how to create a scar, and a normal texture file from a skyrim body mesh. I used the UNPB mesh

We need a lowpoly model and a highpoly model

 

1. Lowpoly model

Our lowpoly model is femalebody_1.nif file. We need to convert it to an extension xNormal understands (I choosed .obj)

So load femalebody_1.nif with NifSkope and File -> Export the entire scene. Save it as low.obj

 

2. Highpoly model

Here we need to edit the femalebody_1.nif model with 3ds max.

In order to make a scar I made a cylinder and shaped it to the body. Attach the body and cylinder meshes and export it as high.nif

[spoiler=3ds max]

 

Then in NifSkope, load it and export the entire scene as high.obj

3ds max can export .obj files, but I don't know what the export options are

 

3. xNormal usage

- add higpoly model

[spoiler=high.obj]

 

- add lowpoly model

[spoiler=low.obj]

 

- bake options

A lot of stuff to pay attention. I was changing settings until it worked.

[spoiler=options]

 

- generate maps

[spoiler=go!]

 

[spoiler=New texture]

 

 

4. Compress texture

Import it with gimp and export it as femalebody_1_msn.dds

[spoiler=gimp export options]

 

 

5. Result INGAME

Ok time to test it ingame. Place femalebody_1_msn.dds in the right location:

[spoiler=texture ingame]

 

 

MORE INFO

http://www.bencloward.com/tutorials_normal_maps9.shtml

http://www.3dkingdoms.com/tutorial.htm

http://www.surlybird.com/tutorials/TangentSpace/index.html

http://http.developer.nvidia.com/GPUGems/gpugems_ch35.html