Do any of the tools for painting on 3d models (Zbrush, 3DCoat etc) allow you to paint on a model that has a normal map shader on it, so you can visualize the final look more easily and paint a diffuse map that matches the normal map and such?
Kev - mudbox 2009 and 2010 have the ability to show the normal map on the model (lowpoly) in realtime, and then you can paint diffuse and specular on it - an easier way however is to bake a cavity/ambient occlusion map an use that texture as the first layer on the diffuse, therefore using it as a guide to painting..... - i…
I just posted a 3d painting with Photoshop CS4 tutorial in this section. It supports normal mapping, but it doesn't get smooth normal interpolation across UV seams, however other than that it should do what you want.
Zbrush has a normal map material, I don't really understand what you mean, but that may be what you want... Edit: I see what you're asking now... Disregard the above statement :) I've never really got into materials in zbrush, but I think this can be done. I usually paint my high poly, then export that to texture...