bolts normal map texture how to ?

Support Materials and Textures
1

i’m having some problem to understand how these normal and alpha map can be use in blender

anyone can describe how to
and may be with a sample file for 2.6

fmor site
http://eat3d.com/forum/tips-tricks-and-free-videos/50-free-custom-bolts-alphas

appreciate any help on this

thanks

2

The alphas can be used with the sculpting tools in blender
Demo: http://screencast.com/t/bGu7FANKQ4Ou

Attachments

screw_sculpt.blend (283 KB)

3

is it possible to download this little video which is very interesting

and may have to review later on in futur

ok so this cannot be use as a normal texture like UV unwrap then apply this !

Alpha map ???

why is this called alpha map ?
i tough this was sort of a transparent alpha map like we use to have
but seems it’s something else don’t remember seeing this in 2.6 !

is this usefull only with sculpt mode using multres?

now how bout the normal map is it same idea to use it ?

thanks

4

YOu can use Normal Mapped bolts in UV unwrap, for that, you need to use PS or Gimp. just place the bolts Normal, where you want them. they can be used as floating geometry as well.
Alpha maps are mix of black & white. Total black not visible. Full white most visible. this invisible/visible defines their depth/height in sculpting.
check out the below file. Made using Normalmap plugin in GIMP and adding the bolt normals as layers.

5

1-
ok but with sculpt did some experiment
and seems you control size with scroll wheel !

and to use the normal map you need to UV unwrap it then UV takes care of it then locate it where you want in UV editor
or you paint it in Sculpt mode like shown in video?

2 - this alpha map is it a bump map black and white too?
and in sculpt mode how do you contrl the size here ?
may be with the brush size and or scroll wheel?

3 - now i change the camera location and looks like the texture
is ahving shadows for the alpha map
swhich means that it is more like a displacement map then a bump or normal map

is it

but still needs to subdivide the mesh quit a lot here to get nice results
so high res model but very fast to paint object anywhere on the faces !

thanks

6
  1. in sculpt mode , you can change the size of brush by pressing “F” and strength by pressing “Shift+F” , as well as on tool shelf.the size is also affected by how far or near you are from mesh.
    2.Already answered in #1.
  2. Alpha maps actually change the geometry, thats why shadows.
  3. sculpting is use to add up lots of details in models, and more multires means more details. just make your model with good topology, to ensure better sculptable mesh.
  4. You can get away with a low res model, if you add up some floating geometry to your model normals, this way, you’ll be able to add up a lot of detail, but its very tedious work, atleast for me. so sculpting a good model, then creating a low poly version through retopology is best way for me. :slight_smile:

HOpe it helps.