Author Topic: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;) (Read 7370 times)

jr2 · **on:** October 03, 2007, 01:30:35 am

And, after they see these, all the SW fans will want it, too. So, I'll get what I want! Because it's what you want, too! I'm EVIL! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Quote from: DaBrain on September 30, 2007, 08:01:04 pm

A new SoL model!

Bridge model in the old city (new one is still wip).

Quote from: DaBrain on October 02, 2007, 11:29:02 am

Looks like it wasn't obvious enough...

Quote from: DaBrain on October 02, 2007, 02:51:15 pm

Yeah.

It's no secret that taylor has been working on it.

I've been working on a lot of normal maps for the MV pack, to cover at least a few ships.
Same goes for VasudanAdmiral.

Edit:

chief1983 · **Reply #1 on:** October 03, 2007, 01:40:43 am

Could ya maybe just link to the posts next time? This is the SW forum after all. And, as far as normal maps go, if taylor builds it, we will come.

jr2 · **Reply #2 on:** October 03, 2007, 01:42:24 am

Obviously, taylor has built it. Get your butts in gear and hurry up and. . . What?

That DSII isn't even operational! Wait, no!!!!!

EDIT: And, I was trying to save you the trip to the Celebration of FreeSpace thread... and, I wanted discussion as to how this related to the SWC, which isn't on-topic for that thread. *shrugs*

brandx0 · **Reply #3 on:** October 03, 2007, 03:46:49 am

Oh boy, I'm gonna have some fun with this... hehehe

jr2 · **Reply #4 on:** October 03, 2007, 09:50:09 am

Quote from: brandx0 on October 03, 2007, 03:46:49 am

Oh boy, I'm gonna have some fun with this... hehehe

Quote from: DaBrain on October 03, 2007, 07:24:01 am

I think I wrote a tutorial like... two years ago...
Around the time when I wanted normal mapping for FS2 and tried to achive a similar effect with shine maps... (which of course didnt work, and looked horrible. lol )

You'll get acess to the SoL internal, where we've discussed that a bit already.
Generally I can say: Use Crazybump!
http://www.crazybump.com/

It gives you some nice options, which will help you to create a rather decent normal map, even if your bump/heigh-map isn't great.

chief1983 · **Reply #5 on:** October 03, 2007, 11:53:29 am

Too bad it won't be free software once it's done with beta.

jr2 · **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2007, 01:51:39 am

... Just keep using the last available beta version.

Unless they have expirations...

chief1983 · **Reply #7 on:** October 04, 2007, 02:03:27 am

Usually it's not a good practice to use beta software to create stable software. With a texture generator, maybe that's not such a big issue. Hopefully we can find something that will continue to be supported. I have a feeling there's free normal map generation progs out there somewhere, that are past beta stage.

jr2 · **Reply #8 on:** October 04, 2007, 04:38:19 pm

Quote from: DaBrain on October 04, 2007, 03:59:16 pm

Quote from: jr2 on October 03, 2007, 10:00:07 am
@DAB: What other programs do you use? To create normal maps, I mean. What would a person familiar with producing regular models need to add normal maps to his stuff? I want to give the SWC folks the info...

I'm going the 2d way, so you'd need Photoshop, Gimp, Paint.net or what ever else you'd like.
You'll have to create a bumpmap, which is just a greyscale map where the high parts are brighter and the lower parts are darker.

You should take a look at this:
http://www.bencloward.com/tutorials_normal_maps4.shtml

But keep in mind that FS2 is using DXT5_NM maps.

In a few rare cases you can even use the diffuse map as bump map. (slightly changed contrast though)

Crazybump preview:

Quote from: MetalDestroyer on October 04, 2007, 04:15:42 pm

Once we have the normal map, what should I do with it ? ^^ I mean where to save it and how to name it ? Should I name name it the same ways as the shinemaps ? like my_texture_model-shine.dds but instead og shine, I put normal ? Does it work with jpg output format ?

Quote from: DaBrain on October 04, 2007, 04:29:02 pm

It's yourfile-normal.dds. It has to be DDS cause it needs to be DXT5_NM.

Edit: Time for a thread split...

brandx0 · **Reply #9 on:** October 04, 2007, 04:42:47 pm

You can also use NVidia's Photoshop plugin to create normal maps from bump maps as well.

Herra Tohtori · **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2007, 09:18:08 pm

Or nvDXT batch converter?

At least it does have a -norm commandline option, I suppose that's what you're looking for.

chief1983 · **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2007, 10:05:24 pm

Yeah if we can have a good process that avoids any expensive software (besides Max) we'd be good.

Turambar · **Reply #12 on:** October 06, 2007, 07:32:12 am

so i heard we can use parallax mapping as well.

we should be sure to utilize these technologies to their fullest.

chief1983 · **Reply #13 on:** October 06, 2007, 04:52:34 pm

Assuming that using them is better than some other means of acheiving the same effect, like just using higher polys and eliminating a texture.

Titan · **Reply #14 on:** October 22, 2007, 08:27:43 am

how do you get those upgraded ullyeses and lokis?

nvsblmnc · **Reply #15 on:** October 22, 2007, 08:59:31 am

Now that is what Freespace is supposed to look like.

That Perseus is so beautiful it brings a tear to the eye

.

chief1983 · **Reply #16 on:** October 22, 2007, 09:02:36 am

It may just be me, but the effect seems lost on the Orion because the texture is so busy. Anyone else notice that?

Shade · **Reply #17 on:** October 22, 2007, 09:09:17 am

It does, but then it's a static picture. When moving around one, I'm sure the lighting changes will emphasize it.

chief1983 · **Reply #18 on:** October 22, 2007, 09:11:58 am

Damn. I'm half tempted to throw my Ti4200 back in my box just to use the GLSL build. Stupid ATI.

Jeff Vader · **Reply #19 on:** October 22, 2007, 09:23:29 am

Quote from: Titan on October 22, 2007, 08:27:43 am

how do you get those upgraded ullyeses and lokis?

Correct me if I'm wrong but the Ulysses looks just like the standard Ulysses, but with normal maps. As for the Loki, the Useful stuff link in my sig.

News:

Author Topic: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;) (Read 7370 times)

Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;)

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;)

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;)

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;)

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;)

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;)

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;)

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;)

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;)

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;)

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;

Re: Just when you thought you were done with your SW models.... I wants this. ;