Normal Mapping Bevels
Beginner level information design to show basic differences in normal map generation.
Here are three models used to create a normal map. From left to right, the first is the most basic bevel one could build, second is the same as the first, with it's edges split and the third is smoothed several times keeping hard edges, then once without.
The normal maps generate appear mostly the same, with increasing levels of smoothness. This also reveals the five main colors of the normal maps. This comes in handy as a color palette if ever painting normal maps.
Here the normal maps are being rendered on flat polygons. The basic bevel on the left shows the least amount of lighting information, and requires the right lighting direction to be effective. The others have more angles for lights to pick up.
This is the same as above, with a couple of lights in the scene. From a distance, each of these bevels appears to be the same.
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