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Rendering with Arnold in CINEMA 4D using the C4DtoA plug-in.
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create normal maps

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Message 1 of 11
cpz
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create normal maps

Hi, is it possible to create normal maps in Arnold using a texture shader,? I tried to load a texture map in a material tag on an object, then applied a bake tag , checked off normal, and AO as well, and it didn't work, I presume that a texture map will look more convincing with a normal and bump map, thank you

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Message 2 of 11
peter.horvath6V6K3
in reply to: cpz

You can not use an Arnold material (shader network) with the Bake tag, only a native C4D material. Baking is not supported in C4DtoA at the moment.

Message 3 of 11
cpz
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in reply to: cpz

thank you, but i was not clear, my fault, I was just using C4D/bake to create a normal map, and I was hoping to use it in Arnold. What if I have a texture that I like, say, a wood texture, can I create a normal map somehow,? it seems as if the normal map gives that "extra realism", if this is not possible, any suggestions would be helpful, and thank you !- Craig

Message 4 of 11
peter.horvath6V6K3
in reply to: cpz

Ahh, I see. You can of course use a normal texture in Arnold. We have a normal_map shader which you have to connect to the Geometry > Normal input of a standard_surface. There are also bump2d and bump3d shaders for bump mapping.

https://support.solidangle.com/display/A5AFCUG/Normal+Map

Message 5 of 11
cpz
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in reply to: cpz

Thank you for your quick response. I presume that, I load a png or tff image map, and the normal node, converts the image to a normal image,?-Craig

Message 6 of 11
peter.horvath6V6K3
in reply to: cpz

I'm not sure what you mean by "converting an image to a normal image". You have to connect your normal map (the texture with the normal data, I suppose that's the output of the Bake tag) to the the normal_map shader and it will modify the normals in the shader context accordingly.

Message 7 of 11
cpz
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in reply to: cpz

Hi Peter, thank you- you mentioned normal data from the bake tag !-yes!-that is what I meant prior, but was having difficulty in creating one-I didn't use the target model, maybe that is one reason. Based upon the page describing normal maps, from solidangle, I add an image ( that I want to use the normal with) in the image node, and that connects to the normal node, the normal node takes the info from the image and interprets it as a normal map? or do I need to use a C4D material, apply it to my model that I'd like to use the normal map on, bake a normal map to that material, then convert the C4D material to an Arnold material,? then I take that map, the normal map that is, and use that in an image node, connect that node to a normal node,?am I making sense,? thank you

Message 8 of 11
peter.horvath6V6K3
in reply to: cpz

OK, so to bake a normal map you need a C4D material assigned to the object and a Bake tag. The texture the Bake tag generates, is the normal map. That's the one you have to load in an image shader which is connected to the normal_map shader. (Imagine the normal_map shader as the Normal channel of the C4D material. You have to connect the same image to the normal_map shader as you load in the Normal channel.) Hope that makes sense and answers your question.

Message 9 of 11
cpz
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in reply to: cpz

Hi Peter, yes, I glad that I finally made sense, thanks, and sorry if I wasted your time. This is what I thought the process to be. But, one more thing if I may, when I apply a material to the object that I am using, do I, or don't I need to have the texture loaded in the color channel already in order to "bake a normal map,? I was never quite sure, but loaded the material in the color channel anyway.

Message 10 of 11
peter.horvath6V6K3
in reply to: cpz

I'm not an expert on the Bake tag, but I'd say the color channel has no effect on the normal map generation. Only the displacement and bump.

Message 11 of 11
cpz
Enthusiast
in reply to: cpz

thanks, that sounds about right, appreciate ur time, cheers

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