Enhancing Garment Rendering Quality: Normal Maps (+ How To: Create them in Photoshop)

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Amy Canavan

• July 24, 2018 17:05

Hello!

Looking to make your render more photo-realistic? Try adding Normal Maps to your textures! If you don't know what a Normal Map is, or how to create one in Photoshop read on...

Creating Normal Maps in Photoshop

Step 1: 

Open your texture in Photoshop, and crop it to the Texture Repeat (if it's not repeated already)

Step 2: 

Go to Filter > 3D > Generate Normal Map

 

Step 3: 

Adjust the Blur and Scale

Step 4: 

Check your work by changing the Object

Step 5: 

Save your Normal Map: File > Save as > JPG

*Normally I just save my Normal Map with the same name as the texture_NRM

Seersucker.jpg

Seersucker_NRM.jpg

 

Then, it's ready for use in CLO! Check out more info on adding the Normal Map to your Fabric HERE.

Thanks!

 

4

• danielemanassero

  • July 24, 2018 18:24

  Thanks, Amy very well explained.

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• pranavlodha

  • July 16, 2019 11:50

  Hey! Can you explain how to create normal map for Graphics? 

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• Amy Canavan

  • July 16, 2019 19:31

  Hi @pranavlodha!

  It works the exact same way:

  Open your graphic in photoshop (which should be a PNG with a transparent background), then do filter > 3D > Generate Normal Map

  In CLO you can also add normal maps to graphics

   

  

   

  

   

  IN CLO:

  First, add the graphic, then click the little icon with 4 Squares next Normal Map, and then set the intensity as you desire.

  

   

  Hope that helps! 

  Happy CLOing!

  Amy

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• Rahul Verma

  • September 07, 2019 08:09

  Hey Amy, is there a way to reflect the depth in the texture on the edge of the garment?

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• pabloquintana

  • September 10, 2019 14:38

  Hi rverma. You mean the depth of a seam line or an open edge? For both cases you can show thickness. Can you elaborate on what you need?

   

  P

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• Rahul Verma

  • November 12, 2019 13:27

  Hello pabloquintana, sorry I missed your response. I meant to ask if the uneven of the surface can appear from a tangent like a real seersucker fabric would do. If you look closely at a seersucker shirt, the silhouette would not be a straight line. I guess this is to do with the digital fabric not being flat but crumpled. 

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• pabloquintana

  • November 12, 2019 16:47

  Rverma, this posting from the beginning is about exactly adding the depth you are taking about.

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• sdiamond

  • January 13, 2022 16:53

  Hi,

  Is there a recommended solution / software to generate Normal Maps now that Adobe has officially dropped support for 3D features?

  https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/3d-faq.html#discontinued-photoshop-3d-features

   

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• CLO Designers

  • January 18, 2022 20:13

  Hi sdiamond. The website suggested above by dorelle22 is currently what we recommend our clients to use

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