'Normal Maps' Confusion!

[Mungee]

I would appreciate some help/guidance on this.

 

Many of my Planes>(Aircraft Name)> Textures folders contain TWO files eg

- Bf109G6; and

- Bf109G6_B

 

The file with the "_B" is always (I think) the bigger file - presumably, the 4K texture?

 

Does that mean that the smaller file is the ORIGINAL file (normal map)?

 

If I'm correct in this, should both files be in that folder or should I remove (and keep!) the smaller file?

 

Many thanks.

[BOO]

In short yes for the thoughts on files. The smaller 5.33MB file is the original, the larger 16MB file is the 4K version. The games reads the version ending _B as the one it needs. If you are using 4K skins reverting back to the original may have undesirable effects - for one the textures will be less dense and refined and secondly the normal map may not match the 4K template the skin was created with. 

[Mungee]

Many thanks, BOO.

[56RAF_Roblex]

1 hour ago, BOO said:

The smaller 5.33MB file is the original, the larger 16MB file is the 4K version.

 

Are you sure you are not getting confused?   The 'Normal Map' is the Alpha layer used to produce all the little variations due to bumps etc (it is a kind of bump map).  Also the differences in  'shinyness' so you can have  a shiny paint job with dull tyres.   Open it up on its own and if you get strange grey version of your skins with some bit faded and some bits solid then you should not delete it.  OTOH most skins already have the Normal Map integrated into them and the separate file is just there so you can amend it yourself so if you will never alter the skin maybe it wont matter.

Edited April 28, 2018 by 56RAF_Roblex

[BOO]

35 minutes ago, 56RAF_Roblex said:

 

Are you sure you are not getting confused?   The 'Normal Map' is the Alpha layer used to produce all the little variations due to bumps etc (it is a kind of bump map).  Also the differences in  'shinyness' so you can have  a shiny paint job with dull tyres.   Open it up on its own and if you get strange grey version of your skins with some bit faded and some bits solid then you should not delete it.  OTOH most skins already have the Normal Map integrated into them and the separate file is just there so you can amend it yourself so if you will never alter the skin maybe it wont matter.

No. The confusion is on your part I think. The alpha mask is the layer you merge with the skins to alter reflectiveness, matte etc before you compress it into a dds file. This is this is the grey scale . The Normal map is Purple, Blues and pinks. This control the depth and highlights. It also starts out as a greyscale but is then converted using a normal map filter plug in when its baked.  

 

The normal map is not integrated into the skins. The Alpha mask is. The Normal map is separate and kept in the "Planes Folder" along with the default skin (which you cant see unless to gtp it).  

 

2K maps are 5.33 MB with mimimaps. 4K dds files, regardless of what they are will be either 21Mb or 16Mb dependent on whether they come with or without mini maps.

[Raptorattacker]

2 hours ago, Mungee said:

Does that mean that the smaller file is the ORIGINAL file (normal map)?

As long as the .n file that is 4k (4096x4096px) is the one with the B in its name then you can use 4k skins. It doesn't matter that the original 2k .n map is in there because the program is only looking for the one with the B in it's name. It's good practice to keep the original in there just in case it's needed at a later date. Better safe than sorry... it don't do any harm just sitting there.

[56RAF_Roblex]

2 hours ago, BOO said:

No. The confusion is on your part I think. The alpha mask is the layer you merge with the skins to alter reflectiveness, matte etc before you compress it into a dds file. This is this is the grey scale . The Normal map is Purple, Blues and pinks. This control the depth and highlights. It also starts out as a greyscale but is then converted using a normal map filter plug in when its baked.  

 

OK. I stand corrected.     I knew it was not just another name for 'Original Skin' though.

 

[Mungee]

Thanks, guys!