XNormal
xNormal is a free and open-source 3D mapping software used to bake high-quality normal, ambient occlusion, curvature, and other maps for texturing 3D models. It has an intuitive interface and advanced tools for automatically generating optimal maps.
normal-mapping
baking
texturing
3d-models
xNormal: Free & Open-Source 3D Mapping Software
xNormal is a free and open-source 3D mapping software used to bake high-quality normal, ambient occlusion, curvature, and other maps for texturing 3D models. It has an intuitive interface and advanced tools for automatically generating optimal maps.
What is XNormal?
xNormal is a powerful, free program for generating texture maps such as normal maps, ambient occlusion maps, curvature maps, and more to be used in texturing 3D models for games, films, and visualization. It features an easy-to-use interface with advanced mapping generation tools that can automatically calculate optimal texture maps saving artists time and hassle.
Some key features of xNormal include:
- Generates high-quality normal maps, ambient occlusion maps, curvature maps, cage maps, thickness maps, and more essential for texturing.
- Intuitive interface allows both novice and professional 3D artists to quickly generate optimal maps.
- Smart Auto-Mapping algorithms precisely calculate normals, occlusion, and other data.
- Supports models from commonly used 3D software like Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, Modo, etc.
- Extensive map editing tools to fine-tune results.
- Free and open-source for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
With its advanced auto-mapping features, customizable parameters, and compatibility with all major modeling tools, xNormal has become an indispensable texture mapping tool for 3D artists in a wide range of industries. Its ease-of-use plus powerful functionality make it a very versatile and useful program for game, animation, VFX, and other 3D production pipelines.
XNormal Features
Features
- Baking normal, ambient occlusion, curvature and other maps
- Intuitive interface
- Advanced auto-mapping tools
- Supports high-poly and low-poly models
- Can export maps in various formats
- Has cage-based baking
- Good for hard surface models
Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
Pros
Free and open source
Easy to use
Produces high quality maps
Saves time compared to manual mapping
Very customizable settings
Active community support
Cons
Limited to baking maps, not a full 3D app
Steep learning curve for advanced features
Can be slow on high-poly models
Lacks some features of paid apps
Occasional bugs/crashes
Official Links
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