[SOLVED]Normal Intensity For Mantra Surface?

[Atom]

Hi All,

 

I am surprised to discover that the Mantra Surface has no intensity value for a normal map. I have tried adding in a multiply node in the VEX Builder but it seems to have no effect. How do I pull back the intensity of the normal map?

Edited September 14, 2015 by Atom

[MENOZ]

I haven't checked mantra surface, but (tangent) normal maps represent an offset from the surface normal, so in the end they represent a new direction of the surface.

The intensity you are looking for would be how much your normal is shifted in that other direction, so you might want to blend the normal map between its value and  a neutral one.

http://wiki.polycount.com/wiki/Normal_map

if you look at Flat Color, it tells you that 

The color (128,128,255) creates normals that are completely perpendicular to the polygon, as long as the vertex normals are also perpendicula

 so If you try to blend your normal map values back to (0.5, 0.5, 1) you should have no offset and no "intensity"

 

I would try that 

[Guest tar]

Does the 'Color Map Intensity' on the 'normalColor' node work for you.

 

To find this node easily, dive into the mantra surface and search, '/' key for 'normalColor'

[Atom]

Thanks Marty, I think that is the parameter I was looking for. I simply promoted it and then used the Edit Parameter interface to locate under the Bump&Normmal tab. Also the '/' tip is nice too!