Normal Map from Zbrush to XSI - How?

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3DTutorial
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Normal Map from Zbrush to XSI - How?

Post by 3DTutorial » 20 Jul 2011, 19:54

Hi,

Does anyone here know how to create a normal map in ZBrush 4 that can be imported into XSI/Softimage and will render "correctly" with mental ray?

I have asking all over the place for help in trying to find out how to create normal maps within ZBrush 4 that can be used with XSI/softimage and mental ray... the funny thing is that every single time I ask this question, I never get an answer.... all I can hear is the sound of crickets chirping in the background... LOL!!!

But honestly, does anyone know how to do this? I've seen plenty of tutorials & tips on how to get a usable ZBrush normal map out of ZBrush 4 and into Maya and have it render, but it does not seem to want to work with Softimage/XSI so something must be different.

I'm trying to get to the bottom of this, does no one ever use normal maps from ZBrush with XSI/Softimage? Someone must know the answer!

If anyone knows the correct work flow I'd be very keen to hear from you.

Cheers,

Joe
Certified Softimage Instructor & Old Timer
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Memag
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Re: Normal Map from Zbrush to XSI - How?

Post by Memag » 20 Jul 2011, 21:46

Joe, did you try XGoZ addon? XGoZ
I'll watch out for more normal map transfer info and post if I find something.

A bit OT, but I stumbled upon this nice little Photoshop normal map creation plugin called nDo. it's free.
Might come in handy some time.

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3DTutorial
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Re: Normal Map from Zbrush to XSI - How?

Post by 3DTutorial » 20 Jul 2011, 21:51

Memag wrote:Joe, did you try XGoZ addon? XGoZ
I'll watch out for more normal map transfer info and post if I find something.
Hi!

No, I've not tried that.

BTW - Thanks for the letting me know about these tools, both look really cool.

The thing is that I've been supplied with project files by someone who normally works on maya. He's done the project in ZBrush4 and exported all the maps himself. I know the maps are ok because he has already rendered them all with maya and they are perfect but I can't seem to get them working properly in XSI so I'm at a loss as to what the problem is exactly.

My research continues! :-)

Cheers,

Joe
Certified Softimage Instructor & Old Timer
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Memag
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Re: Normal Map from Zbrush to XSI - How?

Post by Memag » 20 Jul 2011, 21:58

Did you flip the maps in Y?
I think Zbrush4 does this automatically , where previous versions didn't.

You could ask Steve, he has some mileage with XSI and Zbrush?
Steve Jubinville
Last edited by Memag on 20 Jul 2011, 22:03, edited 1 time in total.

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3DTutorial
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Re: Normal Map from Zbrush to XSI - How?

Post by 3DTutorial » 20 Jul 2011, 22:00

Memag wrote:Did you flip the maps in Y?
I think Zbrush4 does this automatically , where previous versions didn't.
Yeah, I think I did... I'll have to re-check that. Thanks for the tip!

Cheers,

Joe
Certified Softimage Instructor & Old Timer
Follow me on Twitter
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3DTutorial
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Re: Normal Map from Zbrush to XSI - How?

Post by 3DTutorial » 21 Jul 2011, 02:08

SOLVED!!!

OK, the solution to my problems was really, really simple... I feel like an idiot.

For anyone who is having similar difficulties the solution that I found was to use the Bump Generator node in XSI and NOT to use the XSINormalMap3 node when trying to get normal maps created with ZBrush to render in XSI with mental ray.

The devil is always in the detail.

Hope this info can help someone else out!

Kudos to Jonathan Shelley for providing me with the solution.

Cheers,

Joe
Certified Softimage Instructor & Old Timer
Follow me on Twitter
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