Create normal map in 3D Max and import to Irrlicht

Dronchik · Post by **Dronchik** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:59 am

Hi. I saw example about PerPixelLighting. In code, i saw, so bump texture added from code:

scene::IAnimatedMesh* roomMesh = smgr->getMesh(
		"../../media/room.3ds");
	scene::ISceneNode* room = 0;

	if (roomMesh)
	{
		smgr->getMeshManipulator()->makePlanarTextureMapping(
				roomMesh->getMesh(0), 0.003f);	

		video::ITexture* colorMap = driver->getTexture("../../media/rockwall.bmp");
		video::ITexture* normalMap = driver->getTexture("../../media/rockwall_height.bmp");

		driver->makeNormalMapTexture(normalMap, 9.0f);		

		scene::IMesh* tangentMesh = smgr->getMeshManipulator()->createMeshWithTangents(
			roomMesh->getMesh(0));

		room = smgr->addMeshSceneNode(tangentMesh);
		room->setMaterialTexture(0, colorMap);
		room->setMaterialTexture(1, normalMap);

		room->getMaterial(0).SpecularColor.set(0,0,0,0);

		room->setMaterialFlag(video::EMF_FOG_ENABLE, true);
		room->setMaterialType(video::EMT_PARALLAX_MAP_SOLID);
		room->getMaterial(0).MaterialTypeParam = 0.035f; // adjust height for parallax effect

		// drop mesh because we created it with a create.. call.
		tangentMesh->drop();
	}

But I added bump texture to model in 3D Max. And How can I render bump mapping in Irrlicht if I added bump texture to model in 3d max???

Adler1337 · Post by **Adler1337** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 3:23 am

I don't understand what you are asking. If you are asking what i think you are asking, then you answered your own question with the code.

Dronchik · Post by **Dronchik** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:10 am

Ok. In perpixellighting example, bump added by code. But I'm adding bump map to model in 3D Max. But in my application, my model doesn't have bump. Why? And How I can fix it?

FuzzYspo0N · Post by **FuzzYspo0N** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:47 am

Firstly, take note of this :

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 driver->makeNormalMapTexture(normalMap, 9.0f);

This generates a "purple" normal map, from a greyscale image (its a feature being demonstrated). YOU DONT NEED THIS TO SHOW NORMAL MAPS.

Secondly, there are only 3 things needed to use a normal map on a mesh. First :

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Mesh->setMaterialType(video::EMT_NORMALMAP_SOLID)

Sounds logical, doesnt it

Secondly, The textures. textures work in "slots" on a mesh. slot 0, is the color (the diffuse texture), and slot 1 will be used as the normal map itself.

Thirdly, the tangent vertex types. Its easier to see code below.

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//Loading the mesh like this will respect slot 0 (color) only if it can find the textures
scene::IMeshSceneNode* MainMesh = smgr->addMeshSceneNode(smgr->getMesh("myMeshFile.obj));

//create the tangent EVT_TANGENTS type, so that it can render properly
scene::IMesh* tangentMesh = smgr->getMeshManipulator()->createMeshWithTangents(MainMesh->getMesh());

//Assign the vertex types into the original meshSceneNode
MainMesh->setMesh(tangentMesh);

//Note the slot 1 below (thats where the normal map needs to be)
MainMesh->setMaterialTexture(1, driver->getTexture("normalmap.jpg"));

MainMesh->setMaterialType(video::EMT_NORMAL_MAP_SOLID);

This is all thats needed to see normal maps. There are other considerations such as material specular color, shininess etc.

Also, DONT turn OFF lighting, lighting MUST be enabled, and the light must be close enough to the object to see stuff.

hybrid · Post by **hybrid** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:28 pm

3DS files (as well as .obj files) do support normal map loading from files. You have to match the proper settings, though. And be sure to use Irrlicht from SVN/trunk.

FuzzYspo0N · Post by **FuzzYspo0N** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:17 am

oh awesome, thats good to hear hybrid.

Dronchik · Post by **Dronchik** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 4:48 pm

Thanks for answer! It helped me

Hybrid, personality thnks

But I have also answer, on subj and irredit. If will I load mesh with bump to irrEdit scene, set to this model's material type properties variable "EMT_NORMALMAP_SOLID" or "EMT_PARALAXMAP_SOLID", when I loading this scene to my application, will I see normal or paralax on my model of it scene?

hybrid · Post by **hybrid** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 11:03 pm

No, you won't. Because most meshes will not load into Tangent meshes, but usual standard type. You'd have to change the vertex types, calculate tangents, and maybe also work with the texture. Well, wait, if you see the bump map effect in irrEdit it might already work immediately, though I don't know what Niko does with the meshes in between...

FuzzYspo0N · Post by **FuzzYspo0N** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:18 am

There is also a tool in the SDK folders, that is a meshConverter. You can give it a mesh and it will output one with tangents (i saw it in my svn folders). Doing this and then trying to see it in irrEdit might help