Source And Normal Maps
SpaceJesus
Join Date: 2004-07-02 Member: 29683Banned
Join Date: 2004-07-02 Member: 29683Banned
<div class="IPBDescription">Weapon View Models??</div> I want a final word on this by someone who knows what they'rte talking about - preferably BAshh/Chrono/Kaine.
Are normal maps worth bothering with on Source weapon view models?
Yes/No ??
I've heard that they look crap on view models - can anyonecategorically confirm/deny this ??
Are normal maps worth bothering with on Source weapon view models?
Yes/No ??
I've heard that they look crap on view models - can anyonecategorically confirm/deny this ??
Comments
<img src='http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/9831/player4pa.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
It adds weird bumpy textures, rocks on player models though. I dont know if thats just done badly or what, Bashh would be the best to know.
<a href='http://bai.elixant.com/bashh_enfield.rar' target='_blank'>http://bai.elixant.com/bashh_enfield.rar</a>
there's my enfield, you can see the normal maps on it are almost too much, but it shows nicks and scratches that would otherwise be flat. Yes they're worth bothering with, but it's not even really a bother, throw the texture into photoshop, and apply NVidia's normal map filter, and viola.
<a href='http://bai.elixant.com/bashh_enfield.rar' target='_blank'>http://bai.elixant.com/bashh_enfield.rar</a>
there's my enfield, you can see the normal maps on it are almost too much, but it shows nicks and scratches that would otherwise be flat. Yes they're worth bothering with, but it's not even really a bother, throw the texture into photoshop, and apply NVidia's normal map filter, and viola. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yea, but for the best effect you should make a uber-high-poly model then lower the polycount and use the normal map from the high poly to create a sexy look to it, the skin-generated ones might look good but are not as detailed as you might want. Normal maps are really good, but ONLY if their done right. Making them too strong makes your gun look like chrome instead of bumps. You dont notice them too much untill you walk past a light source, then you think: wow
they're very worth it provided they are done tastefully. the example given there by **grizzly is an extremely crappily done example. too much contrast in the map gives it that "overdone" look, toned down it would probably be ok.
another problem is that people often only use them to highlight parts of the skin that shouldn't even be there in the first place. i'd rather see a clean, new looking weapon with a few wear marks (NOT huge scratches or rust etc) with a minmal normal map than something that's got ridiculous amounts of useless "detail" when any real weapon thats taken a beating like some people think is cool would've been taken out of service and/or thrown away.
end rant.
yes they're good, but they're abused too often by idiots.