Links to Additional Information There is a lot of information on the web about generating normal maps using lots of different techniques and different software packages. I've compiled a list of the links that I found the most useful. Creating Normal Maps: http://developer.nvidia.com/object/nv_texture_tools.html Nvidia’s DDS plugin for Photoshop. This plugin converts bump maps into normal maps http://www.pixolator.com/zbc-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=011260&p= A forum thread with lots of information about creating normal maps using ZBrush. http://www.drone.org/tutorials/normal_maps.html A technique for generating normal maps in Maya. http://www.pinwire.com/article82.html A very cool method for creating normal maps for flat surfaces in just about any 3D program. http://www.blender.org/development/release-logs/blender-236/normal-maps/ A technique for creating normal maps using Blender. http://members.shaw.ca/jimht03/normal.html Creating normal maps using Cinema 4D. http://developer.amd.com/gpu/normalmapper/Pages/default.aspx NormalMapper - ATi's normal map generator program http://www.xnormal.net/1.aspx xNormal - A very full featured program for creating normal maps and previewing the results. http://www.mankua.com/kaldera.php A commercial plug-in for max that creates normal maps. http://be3d.republika.pl/howto_d3_normalmap.html A tutorial that explains how to generate and display normal maps in SoftImage XSI. http://amber.rc.arizona.edu/lw/normalmaps.html A plugin and tutorial for generating normal maps in Lightwave http://www.zarria.net/nrmphoto/nrmphoto.html Ryan Clark as created a clever way of creating normal maps from real world surfaces! http://www.poopinmymouth.com/tutorial/normal_workflow.htm A very thorough work flow tutorial by Ben Mathis on creating normal maps in Max 7. http://www.codeproject.com/cs/media/NormalMapCompressor.asp A tool for converting regular normal maps to DXT5 swizzled compressed normal maps. It will even do batch converts! Very cool. http://www.crazybump.com/ Ryan Clark's masterpiece! A program that creates great normal maps (and specular maps, and ambient occlusion maps) from photographs. Displaying and Viewing Normal Maps in Per-Pixel Lighting http://developer.nvidia.com/object/IO_3dsmaxCgFXPlugin.html http://developer.nvidia.com/object/MayaCgPlugin.html Nvidia’s Cg plug-in for Max or Maya. This plugin displays real-time shaders (including those that use normal maps) in the real-time viewport of 3DS Max or Maya. http://be3d.republika.pl/howto_d3_normalmap.html A tutorial that explains how to generate and display normal maps in SoftImage XSI. http://www.drone.org/tutorials/normal_maps.html This tutorial also shows how to display normal maps in Maya. http://developer.amd.com/gpu/normalmapper/Pages/default.aspx ATi's NormalMapper program also comes with a simple viewer for displaying your models with the normal map applied. http://developer.nvidia.com/object/nv_texture_tools.html Nvidia’s DDS plugin for Photoshop displays a real-time preview of a flat surface with your normal map applied. http://www.maxplugins.de/max5.php?search=gnormal A plugin for 3DS Max that allows you to put your normal map in the bump map channel of a material and see the results using max's renderer. If you've found any additional information about generating, using, and displaying normal maps, send me a link and I'll add it to the list. Back Page 1: Introduction Page 2: Enter the Normal Map Page 3: What You'll Need Page 4: Using Normal Maps for Bump Maps Page 5: Normal Maps for High Poly Detail Page 6: Applying Normal Maps to Your Model Page 7: Additional Tips and Tricks Page 8: Links to Additional Information