What's the right way to make a bump map for a character?
I'm confused about the right way to do a bump map in Photoshop for a character.
I've learned two methods, one from Digital Tutors and the other form an independent source/tutor online :
1)Take the diffuse map and turn it to Grayscale image and adjust accordingly with knowledge that white means bump while dark areas mean depth.
2)Take the diffuse map and desaturate it, then run a High Pass filter in Photoshop and set the percentage accordingly which provides bump information.
I don't know if there is another/better method. I understand Normal maps are best for game engines, but let's say we're creating the CG cutscene content and want to use Bump maps instead of Normal maps, what's the best way to make them?
I've learned two methods, one from Digital Tutors and the other form an independent source/tutor online :
1)Take the diffuse map and turn it to Grayscale image and adjust accordingly with knowledge that white means bump while dark areas mean depth.
2)Take the diffuse map and desaturate it, then run a High Pass filter in Photoshop and set the percentage accordingly which provides bump information.
I don't know if there is another/better method. I understand Normal maps are best for game engines, but let's say we're creating the CG cutscene content and want to use Bump maps instead of Normal maps, what's the best way to make them?
Replies
For quick and simple models, there's tools like crazybump that automatically generate normal maps and displacements maps. You can also manually create your own height maps like how you were describing in your post.
But for best results, you want to model or sculpt a high poly model.
http://wiki.polycount.com/CategoryCharacter
Just stick with normal maps mate, bake them from a highpoly, or use tools like ndo2 and crazybump.