2008

8 On the Output rollout, add a NormalsMap element (see Baked Texture
Elements
on page 6174 ). Assign Bump as its target map slot.
9 In the Selected Elements Unique settings group, turn on Output Into
Normal Bump.
10 Click Render.
3ds Max renders the Normals map, which stores normals data from the
high-res object. As for other kinds of texture baking, it creates a Shell
material and applies that to the low-res object, with the Normals map
assigned as the bump component.
Components of Normal Bump Mapping
In the 3ds Max interface, controls for normal bump maps appear in three
locations:
■ The Render To Texture dialog
Specifically, normal projection controls are found on the
Objects To Bake
rollout
on page 6199 and the Output rollout on page 6204 .
■ The Projection modifier on page 1556
You can apply a Projection modifier yourself, or let Render To Texture do
so automatically.
■ The
Normal Bump map type on page 5844
Render To Texture creates this automatically if you turn on Output Into
Normal Bump (step 9, above).
Viewing Normal Bump Maps
If your display driver uses DirectX 8, you can view normal maps in viewports
by using the
Metal Bump shader on page 5599 . If your graphics driver is DirectX
9, you can view normal maps in any shaded viewport. See
Direct3D Driver
Setup Dialog
on page 7592 .
If your display driver is Software or OpenGL, you can't view normal maps in
viewports. However, you can still render them and use normal mapping in
renderings.
Normal Projection with Sub-Object Selections
You can associate different sub-object selections with different high-resolution
geometry. See
Reference Geometry Rollout (Projection Modifier) on page 1560
.
Creating and Using Normal Bump Maps | 6183