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View normal maps on a model

Previewing an extracted normal map on your low resolution model lets you determine whether or not the normal map extraction is correct before exporting it to another 3D application.

You can assign and preview extracted normal maps on your models by importing the extracted image as a bump paint layer using the Layers window and then setting the model’s bump property to display the bump channel as a normal map.

Extracting a normal map

1. Extract the normal map for your model. For more information on this process, see Extract a normal or displacement map and Extract Texture Maps properties.
   TipRecord the Compatibility and Coordinate Space properties you set in the Normal Map Output section of the Extract Texture Maps window. These settings are required when you set the normal map properties in the material later on.

Assigning a normal map to a bump paint layer

The default Mudbox Material provides a bump channel and the necessary attribute to preview a normal map. To assign the normal map to the bump channel on the material you create a bump paint layer and then import the extracted normal map onto it

1. Assign the Mudbox Material to your model (This is the default material and may already be assigned to your model). For more information, see Create and apply materials.
2. In the Layers window, ensure the layers display button is set to Paint, then create a new layer ensuring that you set the Channel option to Bump Value. For more information, see Create a new paint layer.
3. With the Bump Value layer selected, do either of the following:
   - From the Layers window menu ( ), select Import Layer.
   - Right click in the Layers window and select Import Layer from the menu that appears. For more information, see Import a paint layer.

     The Open browser window appears.

4. Select the extracted image map and click Open.

   The normal map loads into the Bump Value channel of the Layers window. The normal map won’t appear correctly on the model until you select a few properties in the material’s property window. For more information, see Setting the material properties to display normal maps.

Preparing the target model for the bump map

To see how the normal map appears on the target model (whether it’s a lower resolution version of the same model or an arbitrary model), set the subdivision level appropriately so the normal map preview accurately reflects how it will appear when applied. Failing to do so will cause the model to appear with both the high resolution sculpting and the normal map effects which may not be desirable.

1. Press the Page Up or Page Down key until you display the appropriate subdivision level on the target model that will use the normal map.

   For example, you can apply the normal map to the base level of the target model so it represents the sculpting on higher subdivision levels. Another workflow may require that the model be subdivided once or twice before sculpting and require the normal map to be applied at a subdivision level other than the base level.

Setting the material properties to display normal maps

To display a normal map on a model you set the display of the bump channel to display normal maps instead.

NoteBefore previewing your normal map turn off the visibility for any other existing bump layers on the material.

1. Display the properties for the model’s material using any of the techniques described in Edit a material’s properties.
2. In the material’s properties window, do the following to turn on the display of the normal map:
   - Turn on Display Bump as Normal Map.
   - Set the Coordinate Space property to match the same output settings as when the normal map was originally extracted.
   - Set the Compatibility property to match the same output settings as when the normal map was originally extracted.
   NoteIf the shading of the normal map appears incorrect, you can experiment with the Coordinate Space and Compatibility settings until the shading appears as you expect.

Related topics

Normal maps overview

Texture extraction overview

Troubleshoot texture extraction

Extract Texture Maps properties