First a jam-packed tut and now a jam-packed blog post.
Thanks Andrew (and Stefan).

Good! I think I’ll try the “Smart Normal Map (Free AE Plug-in CS4+)”

Thanks for this Andrew, I think its great that you go the extra mile with this stuff!!

What about mapping in 3d compositing programs like Combustion and stuff?

You could use these tools in the future 3dsMax tutorials and show some tricks and tips when bringing the stuff in to AE. Keep up the awesome work, and can’t wait for QuickMatte!

It sounds like there are a lot of possibilities in that normality-plugin

Good post.

Thanks for the post!

not very good…

Thanks for the tuts and info!

…really very good.

I just watched the tutorial an hour ago and just want to thank you for it. I will be using normals in almost every project I do from now on because of the way it just helps to integrate the light and the element in the scene.

And thanks again for the links!
-Benjamin

Hey Andrew i want ot know if you can create a normal map out of a video is that possible? i have scene in my movie where 2 people are in a cave and are using flashlights to look around but the flashlights we had arent very strong so any help here? is it possible to make videos normal maps?

You’re the best!!!! keep going like this.
Best Regards From Colombia…

Hey Andrew,

I just finished writing a tutorial on how to render a Normal Pass out of Blender and how to tweak/fix it so it will match with Normality.

A Blend-file can also be found at the bottom of the tutorial.

Hope this will be useful.

Cheers,

TwentyFour

Hey Andrew,

what about the Shape normals – Plugin made also by
Re:vision ?
It is reacting quite nicely to one or multiple lights!
The full version is only € 89.95.
Greetings fron Berlin

Ladozs

If you’d like a free texture replacing plugin, and don’t mind a low number of features, I developed a simple one just for the task, called YY_UVmapper (CS4 only I’m afraid)

http://www.videocopilot.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=21358&p=104832#p104832

Thanks for the link to the Blender tutorial Andrew you are a life saver!

Cool post Andrew, very helpful.

You haven’y by any chance discovered a way to do it in DAZ studio have you? DAZ is the free version of Smith micro’s Poser.

@TwentyFourBecks

Thanks for that, I’ve been trying to figure this one out in Blender since I saw this tutorial!

Hm, i think another option, especially for the guys and gals into GameDevelopement, but also for everyone else looking for a quick and easy way to create (procedural) Textures for 3D / AE (of Course including NormalMaps) is MapZone, which is free in the basic Version and can be found here:

http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/

It is a nodebased, completely procedural Texture Generator (i dont know if you can Import imagefiles, but its GREAT for creating Textures on the fly, once you got used to it, especially tileable textures are generated fast and easy!) And sicne its procedural, you can basically upscale your TextureMap Resolution ANYTIME without loss of definition or blurring.

Ive seen some really cool stuff made using this application, just browse the gallery on the site!

And since the BasicVersion is free, i think its worth to check out and maybe add it to your arsenal.

WHAT? you have been sitting on this Normal Mapping thing for 2 YEARS? What have you been waiting for… ( JK )

Great stuff Andrew, can’t wait to start using some of this stuff!

To all Blender Users:

I just have declared the article on my blog as a WIP since there seem to be many ways to achieve a correct normal pass in Blender.

Every version seems to be useful, and you’ll definitely find one that suits your needs. Nonetheless, we’re still searching for a final and accurate solution.

Be sure to stay tuned. Thank you.

Cheers

@Alan:
It was a pay product back then…

You Scrooge!

Well, I would put that into Tips & Tricks, useful enough!

Thank you SO MUCH for posting links to the Normal generators, I was having difficulty finding one for Mac OSX.

something else to think about is using the OpenEXR format for exporting your normal map, ambient occlusion, and flat diffuse map. It also includes the alpha channel and dose not have the anti-aliasing problem. might be worth having an updated tutorial for using OpenEXR.

Thanks Andrew, I’ll take a look.
AK

Hi!Andrew kramer Normality is really Cool plug-in. we can make 3d Text in 3d program and create Cool realistic effect and we also create maya fluid effects in after effect now! I thing so

You´re AWESOME Andrew!!

Did you know that?

now the only thing left is talking about motion vector pass
for adding motion blur via after effects
using the very cool plugin
ReVision ReelSmart Motion Blur

Hey Andrew great post here but 2 questions though…

1. Why wanna press on normal maps when u can render them in multiply passes in ur 3d application?
2. Is it any different from MaltaAnnon’s youvilizer preset in AE?I’ve been following him and it gives cool results(makes AE a little 3D application indeed)

For generating normal maps out of images (photos, heightmaps and such) you can also use a free app called xNormal (Windows-only, though).

http://www.xnormal.net/

I personally prefer it over CrazyBump.

‘Your the best around…
nothings gonna ever keep down’.

Mudbox 2010 has a plugin by 3d guy Wayne Robson that automates the process of all passes needed into Afterfx for use with normality.

waiting for your quickmatte tutorial….

Not very Good!

very useful information thanks

My blog has been updated and the final Blend files are up!

Be sure to check out my Blog if you’re using Blender (click on my nickname)

@Andrew:

you might want to have a look at the result too

It’s quick and easy.

Very cool. We can use this in the “85. The Ring” kind of logo treatments and enhance it I guess.

Also, is this what is called as 2.5D lighting as they do in Nuke ?

Hey Andrew. I was wonder if there are any alternatives to Normality for people using After Effects 7? Unfortunately we’re not all able to purchase new software. I understand CS3 isn’t that new, but you know what I mean. I’m poor damn it!

Haha. Great tutorial though. I loved it so much I felt like asking the above question!

can you apply the normal relighting to keyed footage? Like a person?

thanks a lot! i never thought about normal maps, because i didn’t know how to use them. i have so many great ideas now based on the “water blob family”.

keep it up.

btw, are you still working on this action essentials test movie ??

cheers

it would be crazy if a hollywood camera can actually generate the real life normals while filming so that the scene can be relit in AE…that would be just CRAZY MIND BLOWING

@However:

I think this link here might be interesting to you, because its about what you just said: http://gl.ict.usc.edu/Research/PFPR/

I did a couple tests using Smart Normal Map and Normality on some video footage. Looks pretty cool as an fx. I will play around with it some more and upload a sample to my website.

this is my first post,i thank you for your work.really inspirational.
i have one question. can you take a pseudo normalmap of sam by lighting him with colored sources , you now.
top green difuce ligth,side red ,camera blue.
my regards
joselo

sorry me again.
what i mean was is that a possible way of capturing normal maps of an actor?

ps
not very good. awesome really.

joselo

@joselo: That’s certainly possible, but I haven’t heard or seen it done on a large scale outside the academic field.

You might want to check this out: http://www.zarria.net/nrmphoto/nrmphoto.html

stefan.
yes thats where i take the idea,the colored ligths is an oversimlification ,so an actor can be recorded .
joselo

Hi Andrew

I am french so i am sorry for my english
Thanks for sharing with us awesome tips & tricks on AE.

You said : “Also, if you know of some applications or tutorials for working with Normals or related stuff, please share them, I’ll update the list if I think it’s good! ”

So, I use this amazing plugins to create quickly an ICE EFFECT : http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/7626/testmbd.jpg

Like I said it was made quickly, and i post this idea for people who want to experiment the plugin.

I’ll probably make a tutorial on this idea on my website, but if you want to do it, of course I will let you do and I am sure you’ll find how make this idea better with more cool, fun and amazing

You can get normal maps and z-depth maps from Carrara 7 Pro by simply adding them in the Multi-pass box in the Output tab when rendering.

Hey Andrew, I was using the NRM program for Mac OS X and whenever I save the image comes out scrunched towards the bottom of the image file. Is there another Mac OS X normal map generator that you know of?

wow~Andew,It’s so cool!

Do you know this plugin ZbornToy?

Check it out:

http://www.taronites.com

“The ZbornToy has the ability to extract a maximum of information out of simple depth images and allows you to not only light and texture them, but to refract backgrounds, cast caustic reflection back onto the background and a whole lot more.”

It seams to be cool.

What if there was a way to colorize the film footage to make it look like a normal map and then use that as a reference for the plug in? Similar to making it look negative but instead using values that turn it into a Normal map?

Andrew, can you please open up your own Post Production College so we can learn from the genius himself… he he he. You are too much!

Hey Andrew, I already used Normality few months ago together with RLA format for re-lighting extensive 3D scene in music video I created. http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/3885/pjshot.png
Scene was created in 3D Max and postprocess was done in AE where I added timelapse like lighting and jerky flashes. Whole movie could be seen on youtube (sorry for the quality) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4Zon4_L9jA

The image gets distorted in NMG on osx.. weaksauce

andrew what’s up?

listen, I get a free trial of after effects cs4 and i dont know how turn it on it’s stupid Im going to my computer’s technician because that an awesome program ( i had AE7) and i want to buy it but if it isn’t working i will pay for nothing?

halp me andrew!!! ( i not from usa so excuse me if there is some write problams)

you’re rocks!

ey Andrew i wanted to download Normality but when i try it says download dose not exist! pls help

I created a free normal map generator for Pixel Bender here:
http://www.videocopilot.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=31613