Textures and normal maps: why are mine shiny?

Post » Wed Jun 20, 2012 2:01 pm

Hi there,

I'm curious as to why all my normal maps come out as giving a 'shiny' effect the the objects they are applied to.

I'm using GIMP, and have followed some of the tutorials on how to make a normal map.

However, the ones I've made for myself all come out very shiny, giving everything a gloss / wet look. How do a get a matt effect on my normal maps?

Any ideas?
User avatar
Noely Ulloa
 
Posts: 3596
Joined: Tue Jul 04, 2006 1:33 am

Post » Wed Jun 20, 2012 2:36 pm

That look comes from the alpha channel in the normal map, if you save your normal maps as DXT1 no alpha, then your textures shouldn't have a wet look to them :)
User avatar
Rusty Billiot
 
Posts: 3431
Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2007 10:22 pm

Post » Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:30 pm

There are two ways to change this.

The first way is in Gimp; Turn the Opacity of your normal map layer nearly all the way down, to like 10, then Copy Visible, Paste, create new layer from paste. Delete old normal map. Save.

The second way is to uncheck the Specular box in BSLightingShaderProperty, in the .nif You'll get a pop up message in the CK about this being an error, but it doesn't actually do anything and your object is shine-free.
User avatar
Sxc-Mary
 
Posts: 3536
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 12:53 pm

Post » Wed Jun 20, 2012 12:10 pm

Thanks for the help guys!
User avatar
Bereket Fekadu
 
Posts: 3421
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:41 pm

Post » Wed Jun 20, 2012 2:18 pm

Thanks for the help guys!

The alpha channel IS the specular map by the way, so if you want part of the mesh shiny but not the whole thing, make those parts lighter in the alpha channel.
User avatar
Johnny
 
Posts: 3390
Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2007 11:32 am


Return to V - Skyrim