View source for Tutorials:Creating Bumpmaps (Normal Maps) for TS3

__NOTOC__
{|style="border-spacing:8px;margin:0px -8px"
|-
{|style="border-spacing:8px;margin:0px -8px"
|style="width:50%;border:1px solid #cef2e0;background-color:#f5fffa;vertical-align:top;color:#000"|
{|class="MainPageBG" width="100%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="5" style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#f5fffa"
! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cef2e0;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3bfb1;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Overview</h2>
|-
|style="color:#000"|
[[File:Pic1.png|left]]Bump Maps (or Normal Maps) are a graphic effect that '''creates a visual illusion of bumps and dents''' on the mesh without adding actual details to it. If a bump map is done properly, it can '''add more realism''' to even the most low polygon mesh. 

However, some objects in Sims 3 can look good without a bump map, so use it only if needed as it can heavily affect the package size.<br clear="all">
====Difficulty====
* This tutorial is written for '''beginners''', however, some '''basic knowledge''' on how to use your imaging program is needed. Also, you'll need to be fairly familiar/comfortable with '''key commands''' (i.e. ctrl + c) and other necessary functions.
|}
|class="MainPageBG" style="width:50%;border:1px solid #cef2e0;background-color:#f5fffa;vertical-align:top;color:#000"|
{| width="100%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="5" style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#f5faff"
! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Programs Needed</h2>
|-
|style="color:#000"|
====Paint Programs (Pick One)====
*'''GIMP''' is a - free - program that can be used to edit Sims 3 texture files. Find it [http://www.gimp.org/ here]. 
*'''Photoshop''' is, perhaps, the most used paint program. However, it can be very '''expensive'''. The bright-side is, a lot of schools/universities/jobs offer '''free''' or '''discounted''' versions of Photoshop to their students/employees.

====Normal Map Plug-Ins====
*'''[http://code.google.com/p/gimp-normalmap/ GIMP]''' (free - Windows/OS X)
*'''[http://cs.elderscrolls.com/index.php/DDS_Tools NVIDIA Normal Map Filter for Photoshop]''' (free - Windows Only)
*'''[http://www.quixel.se/ nDo2 for Photoshop]''' (paid - Windows/OS X)
*'''[http://eat3d.com/blog/metalliandy/ndo-normal-map-creation-script-photoshop nDo for Photoshop]''' (free - Windows/OS X)
''This version is no longer supported by the developer.''

=====Programs Demonstrated=====
This tutorial was executed using '''Photoshop CS4 Extended (11.0)''' and the '''NVIDIA Texture Tools''' to demonstrate steps through out the tutorial. This means that '''screenshots''' (and possibly some keystrokes) '''might differ''' from what you see, however the '''concepts are the same'''.

=====Credits=====
This tutorial was originally written by [http://www.modthesims.info/member.php?u=499665 Elexis] from ModTheSims.
|}
|-
{| width="100%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="5" style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#f5faff"
! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">The Tutorial</h2>
|-
|style="color:#000"| Click '''[[Tutorials:Creating Bumpmaps (Normal Maps) for TS3 - Main| HERE]]''' to get started.
|}
|}

[[Category:Sims 3 CAS Tutorials]]
[[Category:Tutorials by Elexis]]