Using Normal Maps - Part 1

In this movie, you experiment with a scene based on the low poly column you created with the help of carefully applied normal maps. The scene has 60 such columns and a few additional models created the same way to make a full architectural structure.

In this movie, you extract normal map information through a process called Render to Texture. In doing so, you will render the high poly geometry data onto a map type that you then use to sell the illusion of high detail on low poly objects.

In this movie, you adjust the UV clusters to minimize distortion and then you pack them into the UV area.

In this movie, you unwrap the texture coordinates on the low-poly column, in preparation to extracting normal maps.

In this movie, you extract low-poly models from their respective high-poly counterparts.

In this movie, you explore the high poly components that make the various parts of the column. You also learn about Floater objects, which are meant to provide a very efficient technique to projecting normal maps.

In this tutorial, you learn to use normal maps to provide detail without adding geometry. It's a technique used mostly for gaming but can also be applied to architectural visualization or in any situation where interactive playback is required.

In this tutorial, you learn to wire TextPlus entities to objects and scene parameters to read and update values such as time, transforms and animation controllers.

In this tutorial, you learn to animate TextPlus entities globally but also by separating paragraphs, lines, words and even individual characters. You do so by applying various animation presets to test the concept.

In this tutorial, you experiment with TextPlus, which replaces the old text tool in 3ds Max. you learn some basic functionality and about the ease of use that enables you to create quick and easy text elements.