Normal Map Baking Problem in 3ds Max 2017

[Anonymous]

I am following along with some beginner 3ds Max tutorials using my own assets (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfB6bKe9roA&list=PLxt9ZAGPLIpeB8TcHrpzxvEI4Ve3SfZBC&index=41&t=341s ) .  I am trying to generate a normal map of the geometry on the left and apply it as a mapped texture to the plane on the right.  The bottom plane has a simple UVW map (1 packed polygon) and a projection modifier with the two gears and the plane picked as per the video.  .

When I render to texture i get a solid purple normal map, no matter what. 

Settings attached.  

The black and white image is what I get when I hit 'render' in the RTT window, i think my default material is reflective so the preview is weird. The saved off .tiff file of the normal map however is BLANK PURPLE.  Please oh please oh please help me.  I've googled and googled, and toggled a million settings.  I'm so new to 3dsMAX and this is my first brick wall I've hit.  It's so demoralizing.  Use this link to access a we-transfer of my file: https://we.tl/t-vPzlGioDsY

Your post subject line has been edited by @hagen.deloss: Normal Map Baking Problem - Absolute beginner - PLEASE PLEASE HELP.

[hagen.deloss]

Hi @Anonymous 

Thanks for for bringing your question to the forums! Interesting, I am looking at your file now, and am not having much luck either.

I turned off the Sub-object levels check box, and collapsed your turbosmooth modifiers in the stack, but the gears aren't showing up in the normal map still.

I will continue to look at the scene tomorrow, but in the meantime, I would say follow along to this video, and also take a look at the attached scene i made in 3ds Max 2017 that i made to demo the normal map rendering process.

I think we can get to the bottom of this, it must be something about the mesh, or a setting we are overlooking.

[Anonymous]

Re: Render To Texture not working

  

I'm still struggling with this.  Part of me wants to leave it be and move on, but I just can't seem to.  I found a project file the tutorial I was following used. I have attached it. 

When I open it and RTT it works PERFECTLY.  the cage looked a little different, and he had kept the low poly object as a plane vs an editable poly.  For testing sake, I made a plane and put the UVW/projection on it and the cage looks like his file now (each cage vert is now connected to the other 3) , however this did NOTHING. The render preview window also looks great in his model and terrible in mine.  Mine left, his right.  

Part of it could be his material has a way different set of settings than mine - i can't seem to make just a basic blinn like his file.  I probably need to do a few tutorials on materials in 3ds max.  however, the stretched out render effect seems so wrong i think its more than just a reflective material. I think my problem must have something to do with why my preview looks like that.  I went through the settings and they seem all the same, but  maybe i'm missing something? 

Then I tried merging his file into mine.  when I RTT using his geometry it gives me this little gem of an error message: "system exception occured during render"

I'm going to try it out on a different machine later. 

Maybe this will give you a lead? I really appreciate your time and attention to this!  Thank youuuu 

[Anonymous]

I'm still struggling with this.  Part of me wants to leave it be and move on, but I just can't seem to.  I found a project file the tutorial I was following used. I have attached it. 

When I open it and RTT it works PERFECTLY.  the cage looked a little different, and he had kept the low poly object as a plane vs an editable poly.  For testing sake, I made a plane and put the UVW/projection on it and the cage looks like his file now (each cage vert is now connected to the other 3) , however this did NOTHING. The render preview window also looks great in his model and terrible in mine.  Mine left, his right.  

Part of it could be his material has a way different set of settings than mine - i can't seem to make just a basic blinn like his file.  I probably need to do a few tutorials on materials in 3ds max.  however, the stretched out render effect seems so wrong i think its more than just a reflective material. I think my problem must have something to do with why my preview looks like that.  I went through the settings and they seem all the same, but  maybe i'm missing something? 

Then I tried merging his file into mine.  when I RTT using his geometry it gives me this little gem of an error message: "system exception occured during render"

I'm going to try it out on a different machine later. 

Maybe this will give you a lead? I really appreciate your time and attention to this!  Thank youuuu 

[hagen.deloss · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous 

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you! I'm not sure what's going on with your scene, there are a lot of random variables that need to be aligned when getting render to texture working. I can't get it to render a normal map either. 

I would suggest following along with the video I linked above.

• The projection modifier should be above the Unwrap UV modifier.
• Make sure all elements in the scene are selected within the cage.
• Be sure that you have selected normal map under the  output within the Render to Texture dialogue.
• Leave the Target Map Slot blank.

I have attached another example scene that hopefully helps, here is a screenshot of my results with this scene (make sure to change the file output path!).

I hope this helps!

[hagen.deloss]

@Anonymous 

Any ideas or questions on my previous post? It would be helpful if you had time to give an update, that way other Community Members can benefit from your process 😄

Please select the Accept as Solution button if a post solves your issue or answers your question.