Just a copy of my post on the away3d list for this new technique. I’m sure you won’t believe me when i say that the turtle reference is simply a coincidence, but there you go…
First ever implementation of dot3 normal mapping in Flash
There is a lot of possibility with importing normal maps into away3d. However, normal maps themselves can be complex to get right, so this demo combines the advantages of a normal map render pipe with the simplicity of a bumpmapped texture, allowing the model to have extra detail without all that fiddly high-poly/low-poly nonsense. Much easier to get right, plus you have the advantage of using a normal map if you would prefer. People with faster machines can set the default quality to high for a fantastic smoothed shading experience… – looks great but it’s also heavy on the old processor.
I cannot tell you how soon i want to try this with a proper normal map…
Rob