Normal Mapping Tutorial

Wilder4690

I was wondering if anyone has a good tutorial that they suggest for first learning normal mapping. All I have ever done is strictly modelling in maya, and I would like to start practicing the high detail high poly stuff that I see on these forums! All I currently have access to is Mudbox, as I don't have the $700 to shell out on ZBrush. (Unless they offer a student version somewhere like autodesk does?)

Anyway if anyone has advice to help me move forward it would be much appreciated

Erock

Get a program called Xnormal www.xnormal.net, it's free and is one of the best programs for creating normal maps, if not the best out there. It allows you to import both your low and high poly models for baking out normals, as well as ambient occlusion maps and every other type of map you will need. There are also a ton of tutorials out there for it, not only on their site but all across the net so a quick google search should provide you with everything you need.

SnowInChina

for modelling try sculptris
very basic stuff, but you can get nice results with some training (its free btw)

riot

If you want to learn normal mapping you should check this thread: http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81154 It has a bunch of amazing info about the most common problems related to normal mapping.
You could also get a subscription at 3dmotive.com (it's quite cheap, and there are a ton of amazing tutorials) and take a look at their videos, these two cover the normal-mapping topic quite well: baking normal maps and the briefcase.
I would suggest you to understand how they work first and what they really are, that way you will know exactly what is the source of every problem and how to avoid 'em.

SpeCter

SnowInChina wrote: »

for modelling try sculptris
very basic stuff, but you can get nice results with some training (its free btw)

Since he can use Mudbox i don´t see any reason to try scultris except for dynamic tesselation.

Wilder4690

Thanks for the tutorials and advice. As you can tell I am obviously quite new to this area, so I wasn't even sure of what I need =P I will be doing my best to educate myself over the next few days and will likely be back with more questions.