CrazyBump
 

This is one of my favorite applications to use along with 3ds max any serious 3ds animator should go out and download this application right now. Crazybump is an application that uses any normal picture and then it outputs a normal map, a specular map, and a displace map. these then can be used to make some amzing 3d models. this program has been used by many large studios to create video games, such as tthe most notable was the game Crysis.

here is the original image:

after crazybump i got

the normal map:


the specular map:


and a displace map:


After you get all them and put them on your model you get amazing textures.
Like so:

so i highly recomend that all of you go out to http://www.crazybump.com/ and download it NOW!

Re: CrazyBump
 

I use Crazybump ALL the time, get it. It's so wonderful.

Yes, it IS FREE!

Re: CrazyBump
 

thanks a lot, helped out a lot

Re: CrazyBump
 

Bah humbug! A true artist paints their own normal maps!;)

Re: CrazyBump
 

BuddyB, To tell you the truth, honestly, IMO, I don't think we can really "paint" accurate normal bump maps. :)