Problem with Normal Texture in GIMP

[Rusted]

Hi, everyone and sorry for my bad English, I'm new in the art of modification of M2TW
and I have a problem with the normal textures. I'm using GIMP to make the textures and then DXTBmp to convert but in the conversion my texture becomes black and I don't know how to resolve.

[Gigantus]

Use the normal map plug in - what are you using XTBmp for?

[Rusted]

I'm using dxtbmp for to convert .dds to .texture the normal map, and i have the normal map plugin of gimp installed

[Gigantus]

This is the setting and procedure I am using in normal map:

- normal map setting:
Sobel 3*3
0.50000
5.00000
Average RGB
Height
None
None
Wrap = tick
- filters\blur\blur
- layers\transparency\threshold alpha\255

I am then using the python converter for the DDS to TEXTURE conversion.

[Rusted]

[Tutorial] Normal Map with GIMP this is the tutorial that i'm using for to normal map

[Rusted]

photo1 is in .dds format
photo2 is in .texture format convert in DTXBmp

[Gigantus]

Do try the python conversion, requires a python version less then 2.7:

Make sure you have a Python version less then 2.7 installed, else install from the applicable download link
Windows x86 MSI Installer (2.6.6) - for 'regular' operating system
Windows X86-64 MSI Installer (2.6.6) - for 64 bit operating system

[Rusted]

can you send me a tutorial for to how use python in normal map? pls:Adoración:

[Gigantus]

The python converter only converts from DDS to TEXTURE, it does not edit the graphic file. Use it instead of DTXBmp - it may give you a better TEXTURE file.

[makanyane]

photo1 is in .dds format
photo2 is in .texture format convert in DTXBmp

Is there anything actually wrong with it if you convert the .texture back to .dds again?

your photo2 looks suspiciously like you're just viewing the effect of the alpha mask (with the mask colour set to black)

[Vladyvid]

Right, about what Makanyane pointed out, that is exactly what it looks like. I will just give my 2 cents here cause i dunno, maybe it will help a little. Im using GIMP2 with the normal map filter, but im also using Paintshop Pro. So when im prepairing a "normal" file, i do as follows:

generate the normal map with Previtt 3x3 filter using GIMP (working on tga file, saving as tga with the export function)
prepare the mask file in Paintshop Pro
still in Paintshop Pro i apply the mask to the generated normal map file, copy the normal map as a layer on top of the saved file with the masking.

Now why am i telling all this, because if i dont copy the normal map as a layer on top of the saved mask file, i get the results that look like photo2 - everything that is masked is either black or white. Thats why for me its necessary to again add a layer of the generated normal map after i have the file with the proper alpha channel map done and saved. I hope this is understandable and helps.

For DDS <-> texture conversion im using Alpaca's DDS converter.

[Rusted]

For Gigantus: I installed Python 2.6.6 but the result is the same
For Makanyane: Yes, I did it but is the same
For Vladyvid: I just know how to make in format .dds for this tutorial [Tutorial] Normal Map with GIMP also when i use .tga there isn't the option of add alpha channel and flatten image,but if is possible to make in other format i would like to learn, I use alpaca convertor the texture is the same.
I will upload my texture for more details Problem.rar

[makanyane]

@Rusted - when you're saving from DXTBmp you need to change the drop-down option to DXT5 - see the pic below - DXT1 is for textures without an alpha channel (DXTBmp is handling that badly and applying the alpha channel instead of just deleting it!)



You'll probably want to change that alpha channel though anyway to make everything except the metalic bits a lot blacker - or you'll end up with very glossy bits where you don't want them!

[Rusted]

OMG i'm felling like and idiot, i was trying this for 3 weeks and just these was the problem, Thanks it's working now