normal maps not loading

[darksmaster923]

hey guys, i have a problem with actor studio. i am trying to add extra materials for my bump map in actor studio, but for some reason it does not add them. is there something i have to do?

[Jay]

These three bump map textures must have the following prefixes:

dot3:
BN0_ (base texture - that's a zero, not an "O")
BNB_ (normal map texture)
BNS_ (specular map) //not always needed i think

I think you had to add the BN0_ and BNB_ textures in the modelling application(The 'BN0_' and 'BNB_' prefixes must be at the names of the materials not just the texture file names). Just to be sure. I heard adding materials with actor studio is somehow buggy.

[darksmaster923]

that did it. Thanks jay!

[darksmaster923]

hmm... the normal map makes the left side of the pawn black

[paradoxnj]

Where is the light source relative to the pawn?

[Jay]

I don't think RF looks for the light source. I heard it uses only one light for the normal map, and that always comes from the west. (I think that's also the default light that always appears on the actors if they are not lit by other light sources.) If it would at least look for the direction of the sunlight-entity it would help alot...

[paradoxnj]

Tangents are generated based on the direction of the light. That is how normal mapping is done. You cannot have normal mapping without a light source.

[darksmaster923]

its really close to the pawn, on his right side. i tried putting a light in front of him but he still looks the same

[paradoxnj]

As Jay stated, do you have sunlight?

[darksmaster923]

yeah its coming thru a window on his left side. hes in a building, but his right side is kinda lit.

[paradoxnj]

What happens when he is outside the building? Is it correct?

[darksmaster923]

no he looks the same as he was inside the building

[paradoxnj]

I think you should post this as a bug. Normal mapping should be using the nearest light(s) to the player, not the global sunlight entity. That is how you will achieve the most desired effect.

[Jay]

Just like i said. (Actually it does not even use the sunlight, it uses a vector like (-1,-1,-1))

[paradoxnj]

Yep...I looked at the code. Wxb1 did a nice job getting it in, but it looks unfinished. It looks to be a simple fix. I will check it out. Seems like a function that grabs the nearest light to the player position is in order here. Then after you get that light, you generate the tangents based on that light.