Trying to create a normal map directly without a generator will be very difficult to do as it isn't just a purple version of the gray multi-layer image that is used to create it. The split image below shows before and after conversion screenshots of the RH side of the P-38's fuselage pod. The lighter areas on the pre-conversion gray image show as raised areas in the game and the dark panel lines and fasteners show as sunken areas. Now compare this to the purple post-conversion normal map. Here the effect is of a light source shining across the map from its top right corner, for example the raised wing fairing has its top and RH edges lit and its bottom and LH edges shaded. This is actually just what the normal map does to the surface of the skin in the game, except that the lighting source used is the in-game sun.
I'm not sure exactly what you are doing to make a normal map without a converter but if it involves just turning the layered gray image purple then its not going to work properly, the map needs to have this corner-lit 3D effect for the game to read the file correctly.
My normal map won't work with your skin either as the panel lines, fasteners and other details on it won't match the positions of the ones on your skin's other maps. The effect would look terrible, with bumps and dips showing where there was nothing visible on the diffuse map to generate them.
Really you need to get a normal map generator to do this properly. What ones have you tried and why haven't they worked for you?
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Yeah, I've done some pixel by pixel work on my Normal Maps because the generator I've used didn't do what I liked. Which one are you using? Maybe I'll try it.
I won't use your map directly for the reasons you cited--plus I need to figure out how to make them reliably. I've tried some of the free online generators but that didn't do much. I wound up deleting most of what they produced and tweaking mine by hand.
Great explanation. Much appreciated.
