Nora, The Normal Map Generator Tool

It's a normal map generator / editor tool.

Get the latest version here : Nora Normal Map Editor

Takes height map information which is usually gray scale ( Height map data ) and converts that data into normal map data which then can be further edited and exported.

• Minimal and portable
• Image formats supported : PNG, JPG, BMP & TGA
• Model formats supported : OBJ & FBX
• Custom brushes can be added easily by adding them in the Resources\Brushes
• Custom themes can be added by adding custom .nort theme files in Resources\Themes
• Extensive preview capabilities:
  • Matcaps
  • PBR material display

Disclaimer : Can be used in production but look out for the rare bug here and there

Image of Nora as of version 1.2 Beta [Current version 1.4]

Different view modes are available while editing the normal map :

1. Height( Gray scale )
2. Normal
3. Lighting

Realtime preview of the texture applied on a model can be shown as well. This is a real-time preview of how the texture will look once applied on the model.

This preview mode has 4 modes:

1. Height
2. Normal, Visualize the normals in various ways with the help of Matcaps
3. Lighting, which shows PBR output with the help of Albedo, Metalness & Roughness textures

Custom theme support:

1. Create a .nort file with a certain format and add it under the Resources\Themes
2. Look at existing theme files to make your own

Save editing progress

1. You can now save your intermediate work with .nora file
2. Saves all the layer data as well the main height map information

Planned / Completed features as of version 1.4 :

• Editor Functionality:
  • Better brush drawing performance and functionality
  • Blur improvements
  • Adding more brushes in brush library
  • Display brush outline better
  • Adding layers (completed as of v1.3):
    • Creation of layers and layers groups
    • Adding blend options to interpolate normals between layers
• Preview Display:
  • Adding support for parallax map using the input height map
  • Adding PBR support along with Metalness map, Roughness map & Occlusion map ( completed as of v1.2 )
  • Custom shader display option ( Allows custom viewing of model in preview )
  • Better user interaction with preview UI (completed as of v1.2)
  • Adding more base models for preview (completed as of v1.1)
  • Adding infinite plane with shadows in Lighting / Textured view ( Which can be toggled )
  • Additional lighting options:
    • Directional light with option for colour and strength of light as well as visual indication of the directional light (completed as of v1.1)
    • Having a point light ( Only 1 ) with linear and exponential attenuation multiplier customization along with colour and strength
    • Adding IBL ( Image based lighting )
• Covering more map types ( Technically, Nora will always be a normal map editor at heart 😁 ):
  • Cavity map [Non-PBR workflow]
  • Specular map [Non-PBR workflow]
  • Ambient Occlusion map [PBR workflow]( Take height map data and normal map data to create realistic results )
  • Metalness map [PBR workflow]
  • Roughness map [PBR workflow]
• Ease of use:
  • File explorer improvements:
    • Display icon based on file type
    • Once file selected detailed information is shown:
      • File size
      • File type
      • Last modified time
      • If image file then preview shown
  • Adding preferences window (completed as of v1.1):
    • Set max resolution image that can be edited ( Larger max image resolution takes more RAM )
    • Adding max number undo steps
    • Set the default theme
    • Set the default export path
  • Add any file for models / brush textures / theme files (.nort) to application's library. These ones will get loaded up along with the base assets
  • Cover more application edge cases and report correct information to user. eg: Running out of memory, space etc
  • Export options:
    • Select export size
    • Format of image
    • Export image quality ( for formats that apply )
    • Export map grouping (examples):
      • Can export normal map data in RGB channel and height map data in Alpha channel
      • Metalness in Red channel, Roughness in Blue and AO in Green channel
      • etc...

Controls

View Controls
Up/Down/Left/Right	View panel movement
Mouse Scroll	Zoom
Ctrl+V	Reset view panel position and zoom
Ctrl+Alt+V	Clear all height map data

View Modes
Ctrl+H	Height mode
Ctrl+J	Normal mode
Ctrl+K	Lighting mode

Model Preview View Modes
Alt+H	Height mode
Alt+J	Normal mode
Alt+K	Lighting mode

Brush Controls
Shift+Up/Down	Brush scale
Shift+Left/Right	Brush offset
Shift+Ctrl+Up/Down	Brush strength

Misc
Ctrl+O	Open height map image
Ctrl+N	Open Nora file
F10	Export image
Ctrl+T	Toggle fullscreen
Shift+Ctrl+Up/Down	Brush strength
Ctrl+Z	Undo
Ctrl+Y	Redo

If you like the work being done please do support in terms of feature suggestions and bug reporting