Working with normal maps in digital content creation (DCC) tools and game engines often involves some quirks. One common issue? Game engines frequently ignore the blue (Z) channel of normal maps, reconstructing it dynamically during runtime to save memory. While this approach works seamlessly in the game engine, exporting the same texture for use in a DCC program can lead to problems—especially if the blue channel was packed with other data.
That’s where Normal Map Z Reconstruction v2.0 comes in. This simple Windows application is designed to help artists and developers reconstruct the blue channel of normal maps when only the red (X) and green (Y) channels are available.
Why Do You Need Z Reconstruction?
When normal maps are created, many workflows—especially in game development—sacrifice the blue channel to save memory. Artists might repurpose the channel to store unrelated data like roughness or specular. While this is efficient for the engine, it creates issues when exporting the normal map to a program like Blender, Maya, or Photoshop. Without a correct Z channel, the lighting or surface details in the texture might appear inaccurate.
Normal Map Z Reconstruction v2.0 solves this problem by recalculating the Z channel from the available X (red) and Y (green) channels, creating a fully functional normal map compatible with any DCC tool or engine.
What’s New in Version 2.0?
Batch Processing Mode
Effortlessly process multiple normal maps at once. Whether you’re fixing a single map or an entire library, the batch mode saves time and simplifies your workflow.
Support for Linear/sRGB Images
Added an alternate reconstruction algorithm tailored for linearsRGB images, such as those from high-quality texture libraries like Texturing.xyz’s vFace maps. This ensures greater accuracy and compatibility with advanced materials.
Key Features
Easy Reconstruction: Derive the blue channel from existing red and green channels with a single click.
Batch Processing: Process entire directories of normal maps to save time.
Flexible Input/Output: Load and save textures in widely supported formats.
Alternate Algorithm: Handle both traditional and linear/sRGB images for maximum accuracy.
Key Features
Easy Reconstruction: Derive the blue channel from existing red and green channels with a single click.
Batch Processing: Process entire directories of normal maps to save time.
Flexible Input/Output: Load and save textures in widely supported formats.
Alternate Algorithm: Handle both traditional and linear/sRGB images for maximum accuracy.
It's FREEEE!