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Can You Make a Normal Map in Photoshop?

Last updated on September 24, 2022 @ 1:20 pm

A normal map is an image that stores information about the surface normals of an object. This information can be used to create the illusion of depth on a 2D surface, such as a computer screen. Normal maps are often used in video games to improve the appearance of 3D objects.

Photoshop is a 2D image editor and therefore cannot create normal maps natively.

However, there are several plugins and workflows that allow users to generate normal maps from 2D images. These methods usually involve converting the image into a 3D model, generating normals from the 3D model, and then exporting the normals back into a 2D image file.

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While it is possible to generate normal maps in Photoshop, the process is often complicated and time-consuming. For this reason, it is often better to use specialized software that is designed specifically for creating normal maps.

Can You Make a Normal Map in Photoshop?

Normal maps can be created in Photoshop using various plugins and workflows, but the process is often complicated and time-consuming.

Madison Geldart

Madison Geldart

Cloud infrastructure engineer and tech mess solver.