Sanded Aluminum Normal Mapping In Cycles?

Support Materials and Textures
1

I know next to nothing about normal mapping, but I’m trying to make a model with a sanded aluminum texture with Cycles. I’d like to be able to make a normal map to enhance the realism of the model, as the sanded minuscule cuts in aluminum have a certain reflectivity about them that I don’t think I can replicate without a normal map.

Basically, I believe that my sanded aluminum texture could work as a normal map but I don’t know how to setup my nodes to do this. Can anyone help me out or point me in a direction to do this? I’ve searched the forum but couldn’t come up with any concise information that seemed to help me.

Here is a basic test model with my current texture and material.

Sanded Aluminum.blend (775 KB)

2

but for sanded look you might simply add a small noise texture on mat
it could all that is needed to get the look!

happy cycles

3

This is exactly what I was looking for, thanks!