Shift Studio

Thanks for your help Carlosan. It seems I'm not going to be able to fix and modify some normal map stuff the way I'd like. Yes, I've had CrazyBump for years! Its cool. I've decided to make changes via diffuse map and create new normals using CrazyBump. So far in my testing it seems like this workflow may be okay in this case. I may be back for more - we'll see. --shift studio

Hi Carlosan & Heksagon, Yup the concept is not lost on me – I understand new geometry isn't being created by a normal map. What is lost on me is why, if a normal map can be displayed to look like any other layer's depth channel, can't it be converted to a regular 3D-Coat layer's depth channel.? And if thats not possible why can't it be baked to a higher res (much denser) mesh? You can do it with displacement map. I'm seeing this is true, but surely cloning (translation) should be possible. Right? It seems like such an obvious functionality to me. I've been finding this too - I'm surprised, seems like normal maps are just a mathematical description described by colour of normal directions. Why can't an inverse be simple to go back to a bump map or height or whatever. @ Carlosan I would like to try AwesomeBump and I came across the same description as quoted above – unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a macOS version – so if I'm not going to jump through hoops I'll be out of luck there too. Has anyone experimented with AwesomeBump that can report on it's results? Thanks Again! --Shift Studio.

@AbnRanger I can't get it to work. The imported normal map details aren't included the exported high-res mesh. And I think this is because the details are in the normal map and not a displacement map. Any ideas about this? Thanks, Shift Studio.

Like Heksagon, I would like to be able to get imported normal map details into the sculpt room. Alternatively I'd like to edit imported normal map in the paint room. Any updates in past year? --shift studio.

Hi I'm back at something similar. I'd like to convert an imported normal map to a normal/editable 3D-Coat paint layer that has (at least) a depth channel. Is it possible? And if no, why not? It seems like an obvious functionality. Thanks in advance! --Shift Studio. edit: I've changed the normal map layer to 'standard' blend and desaturated it. I can paint on it, but can't clone. Seems so strange!

This technique helped me for something similar I've been trying to do. Although I set UV Set Smoothing to 'Smooth But Keep Corners' Thanks for posting it. Don't know why 'Import Object for Per Pixel Painting' sometimes Smooths but often doesn't when Initial Subdivision is selected. --Shift Studio

that moving checkered pattern happens to me sometimes and its infuriating! Seems to me it can be fixed in the paint room by going to Freeze/Unfreeze All. Hopefully we're talking about the same thing. --shift studio.

Hi Carlosan. Thanks for that technique. I still would like to clone colour and depth info at the same time, and this doesn't allow it. And the depth I'm referring to is coming from an imported normal map. Any other ideas? --shift studio.

Thanks Carlosan. This doesn't seem to work when the depth info is coming from an imported normal map... Would love to just get that normal map into a regular 3D coat layer that contains depth info. Can that be done? Thanks, Shift Studio

I'd like to know how do two this too. please and thanks!

Hi Carlosan, I'm using v4.8.14. I tried using a different shader in the sculpt workspace and that worked! I'm surprised, but as I think about it I guess it sort of makes sense. The shader I was using was 'Skin' in the Misc. folder. Thanks, Shift Studio.

I'm having the same issue you're describing in the first post. Changing the shader seems like a strange solution. Did it work for you? Thanks, Shift Studio.

Thanks again. #2. I just tried it with 'Crazy Bump'. It worked okay, but I felt like I was fumbling around a little #3. I used Hardlight - it seems good to me... --shift studio.

Excellent Digman - thanks! I did not know the FYI (I fumble in 3D Coat as I don't use it much.) - but I guess it makes sense. Where did you do step #2? For step 3 - what blending mode in Photoshop ('overlay' or similar I guess??)? Thanks, Shift Studio.

Thanks Carlosan and Tony. I'm finding I can do an okay (not great) job mixing the two height maps using opacity. Would you guys agree that there should be some options for blending the layers of a smart material (other than masks or conditions)? -- Shift Studio.