Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: 8thJinx on November 16, 2017, 06:59:01 PM

Title: How do you change the _N bitmap
Post by: 8thJinx on November 16, 2017, 06:59:01 PM

I'm modifying a copy of a bitmap, and I want to remove the stipling effects and make the surface smooth.  I can open the file in an editor, but I'm not sure what to change it to in order to remove the bump effects that are present.

Thanks

Title: Re: How do you change the _N bitmap
Post by: Vraciu on November 16, 2017, 07:27:03 PM

Quote from: 8thJinx on November 16, 2017, 06:59:01 PM

I'm modifying a copy of a bitmap, and I want to remove the stipling effects and make the surface smooth.  I can open the file in an editor, but I'm not sure what to change it to in order to remove the bump effects that are present.

Thanks

Copy the background color over the bumps you want to eliminate.

Title: Re: How do you change the _N bitmap
Post by: 8thJinx on November 16, 2017, 10:50:20 PM

I'd like to eliminate them all.  I'm not sure what color corresponds to "flat".

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4574/24603235038_12fa0eb393_b.jpg)

Title: Re: How do you change the _N bitmap
Post by: 8thJinx on November 16, 2017, 10:54:32 PM

Wait, disregard.  I don't want flat.  It reflects light and looks shiny.  I'll figure something out.

Title: Re: How do you change the _N bitmap
Post by: Greebo on November 17, 2017, 04:03:58 AM

To create a normal map you first need to first create a bump map, a greyscale bmp file where lighter pixels represent higher areas and darker pixels lower and then convert this to a normal map using a special add on program. I go into this in more detail in the "AH3 Skin File Format Guide" thread stickied at the top of this forum.

Title: Re: How do you change the _N bitmap
Post by: Vraciu on November 17, 2017, 07:38:15 AM

Quote from: 8thJinx on November 16, 2017, 10:54:32 PM

Wait, disregard.  I don't want flat.  It reflects light and looks shiny.  I'll figure something out.

The normal map isn't what makes it shiny.   That's going to be the Specular map. 

Follow what Greebo said but...   If you want to start without any bumps or dimples, etc. just make the normal map one solid color.   Then you can see it without this stuff in the way and learn what makes it tick. 

A color in this range works fine. 

(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=390397.0;attach=28787)

Normal mapping as implemented has some anomalies due to compression that will eventually go away with some updating on the graphics engine side (or something like that).  Skuzzy can clarify so I don't misrepresent his words.