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Problem with normal maps

RicoRico Posts: 11
in Daz Studio Discussion

Hello, I am experiencing problems when I create the normal maps for fantasy skins (blue, purple colors ...). The problem is that the seams of the skins are excessively marked. I create the normal maps in Photoshop and have never had a problem with realistic skins ("human" skins), but every time I create normal maps for fantasy skins the error appears. Does anyone know why this happens and how can I solve it?

(In the maps created the edges of the map are very marked (with "human" skins this does not happen)

 

 

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Comments

  • lilweeplilweep Posts: 2,550
    edited October 2020
    Rico said:

    Hello, I am experiencing problems when I create the normal maps for fantasy skins (blue, purple colors ...). The problem is that the seams of the skins are excessively marked. I create the normal maps in Photoshop and have never had a problem with realistic skins ("human" skins), but every time I create normal maps for fantasy skins the error appears. Does anyone know why this happens and how can I solve it?

    (In the maps created the edges of the map are very marked (with "human" skins this does not happen)

     

     

    your method of creating the maps is obviously wrong or incomplete (a method which you did not really describe in your post).

    Maybe just remove the edges of the map in photoshop by painting the default normal map purple over them or clonestamping other parts of the map.

    Post edited by lilweep on
  • RicoRico Posts: 11
    lilweep said:
    Rico said:

    Hello, I am experiencing problems when I create the normal maps for fantasy skins (blue, purple colors ...). The problem is that the seams of the skins are excessively marked. I create the normal maps in Photoshop and have never had a problem with realistic skins ("human" skins), but every time I create normal maps for fantasy skins the error appears. Does anyone know why this happens and how can I solve it?

    (In the maps created the edges of the map are very marked (with "human" skins this does not happen)

     

     

    your method of creating the maps is obviously wrong or incomplete (a method which you did not really describe in your post).

    Maybe just remove the edges of the map in photoshop by painting the default normal map purple over them or clonestamping other parts of the map.

    Thanks for answering. My method to create the maps is very simple since my knowledge is very basic: In Photoshop I go to Filter / 3D / Generate Normal map, and I use the default value for everything, I don't change anything. For normal skin everything works perfectly and I don't have this problem, the renders are perfect; but with special (fantasy) skins this problem appears. I had thought of using a normal map (a map that is fine), and cut the edges to paste them on the maps that are bad, although I'm not very good at Photoshop ... Anyway, two examples of the same method, the first with a human skin (no problem), the second a fantasy skin (problem):

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  • skinklizzardskinklizzard Posts: 218

    make sure that the background colour you're using is the same or close to the colour of the skin otherwise photoshop assumes that the skin is raised above based on the colour/intensity difference

  • RicoRico Posts: 11
    lilweep said:
    Rico said:

    Hello, I am experiencing problems when I create the normal maps for fantasy skins (blue, purple colors ...). The problem is that the seams of the skins are excessively marked. I create the normal maps in Photoshop and have never had a problem with realistic skins ("human" skins), but every time I create normal maps for fantasy skins the error appears. Does anyone know why this happens and how can I solve it?

    (In the maps created the edges of the map are very marked (with "human" skins this does not happen)

     

    Rico said:

     

     

    your method of creating the maps is obviously wrong or incomplete (a method which you did not really describe in your post).

    Maybe just remove the edges of the map in photoshop by painting the default normal map purple over them or clonestamping other parts of the map.

    Thanks for answering. My method to create the maps is very simple since my knowledge is very basic: In Photoshop I go to Filter / 3D / Generate Normal map, and I use the default value for everything, I don't change anything. For normal skin everything works perfectly and I don't have this problem, the renders are perfect; but with special (fantasy) skins this problem appears. I had thought of using a normal map (a map that is fine), and cut the edges to paste them on the maps that are bad, although I'm not very good at Photoshop ... Anyway, two examples of the same method, the first with a human skin (no problem), the second a fantasy skin (problem):

    skinklizzard said:

    make sure that the background colour you're using is the same or close to the colour of the skin otherwise photoshop assumes that the skin is raised above based on the colour/intensity difference

    Very interesting. I didn't know that the background color was so important. I have tried changing it to a similar color and it works much better, but it is still not perfect, I guess I will have to try different shades of the color to get better results. Thank you very much for your help :))

  • lilweeplilweep Posts: 2,550
    edited October 2020

     

    Rico said:
    lilweep said:
    Rico said:

    Hello, I am experiencing problems when I create the normal maps for fantasy skins (blue, purple colors ...). The problem is that the seams of the skins are excessively marked. I create the normal maps in Photoshop and have never had a problem with realistic skins ("human" skins), but every time I create normal maps for fantasy skins the error appears. Does anyone know why this happens and how can I solve it?

    (In the maps created the edges of the map are very marked (with "human" skins this does not happen)

     

     

    your method of creating the maps is obviously wrong or incomplete (a method which you did not really describe in your post).

    Maybe just remove the edges of the map in photoshop by painting the default normal map purple over them or clonestamping other parts of the map.

    Thanks for answering. My method to create the maps is very simple since my knowledge is very basic: In Photoshop I go to Filter / 3D / Generate Normal map, and I use the default value for everything, I don't change anything. For normal skin everything works perfectly and I don't have this problem, the renders are perfect; but with special (fantasy) skins this problem appears. I had thought of using a normal map (a map that is fine), and cut the edges to paste them on the maps that are bad, although I'm not very good at Photoshop ... Anyway, two examples of the same method, the first with a human skin (no problem), the second a fantasy skin (problem):

    To me, the human skin looks worse because there is an overlapping of the border of the normal map from one UV Island into another UV Island. (see attached).

    i think the problem is inherent to the method you are using when Photoshop is auto-generating these Normal Maps based on what it believes are edges.  It thinks the edge of the UV island is a physical edge.  You can see this in both the human and the fantasy skin ones, which you do not want because then your skin will be curving at the seams of the texture. You are observing that more prominently when you create the auto-generated Normal Map for the fantasy skin but it's still present in the human skin one too.

    I dont know what would be best, but if it was me i would clone-stamp some of the skin texture within the UV Islands around the borders to remove those harsh edges.

     

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    Post edited by lilweep on
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