Normal Map Generator
Turn a height, bump, photo, or texture into a tangent-space normal map. Processing stays in your browser.
Upload and preview without signing in. Sign in to download 256px and 512px PNGs. Mapper+ unlocks 1K, 2K, original-resolution export, and all six non-albedo PBR maps in one workspace.
Source image to Normal map preview
Upload and preview a tangent-space normal map without signing in, set strength and Y orientation, then sign in to export a 256px or 512px PNG.
Privacy: image decoding, pixel processing, preview, and PNG download run locally in the browser.
How does an image-to-normal-map generator work?
A normal map generator measures brightness changes around each source pixel, converts the horizontal and vertical gradients into X and Y surface directions, adds a positive Z direction, and normalizes the resulting vector. Strength changes the slope without changing the image dimensions. OpenGL and DirectX output differ in the sign stored in the green channel.
- Output
- Tangent-space RGB normal
- OpenGL
- Y+ / green up
- DirectX
- Y- / green down
- Processing
- Local browser pixels
How to use the Normal Map Generator
Upload a useful source
Use a height or bump image when depth is known. A photo can work as an estimate, but photographed brightness is not measured height.
Set the slope
Raise strength for steeper lighting changes. Use detail and blur to control high-frequency noise before export.
Choose Y orientation
Select OpenGL Y+ or DirectX Y- for the destination renderer. The choice changes the green channel.
Preview and download
Inspect the RGB output and the lit-sphere response, then download a lossless 256px or 512px PNG. Mapper+ also supports 1K, 2K, and original resolution.
Which normal-map setting should you choose?
The destination renderer decides orientation. Source quality and surface scale decide strength and filtering.
| Setting | Use it when | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| OpenGL (Y+) | The destination expects green-up tangent normals, including glTF and common Blender workflows. | A DirectX-only material will show inverted vertical relief. |
| DirectX (Y-) | The destination expects green-down tangent normals, including common Unreal workflows. | Do not flip the whole image; orientation is stored in green values. |
| Higher strength | The source represents steep, readable relief at the final material scale. | Excess strength creates harsh grazing-angle lighting. |
| Blur or lower detail | Compression, pores, or camera noise are becoming false surface relief. | Too much filtering removes real edges and bevels. |
Normal Map Generator FAQ
Can I make a normal map from a photo?
Yes, but the result is an estimate. A photo mixes material height with color, lighting, glare, and shadows, so a controlled grayscale height source produces more defensible relief.
What is the flat tangent-space normal color?
A flat positive-Z tangent normal is approximately RGB 128, 128, 255. Small encoding and rounding differences are normal.
Should a normal map be imported as sRGB?
No. A normal map stores numeric vector data and should normally be sampled as linear or normal-map data in the destination engine.
Does this generator upload my image?
No. Image decoding, pixel processing, preview, and PNG export run in the browser on the current device.
Is the Normal Map Generator free?
Yes. As of August 26, 2026, the Normal Map Generator is free after sign-in. Free accounts can process images in the browser and export 256px or 512px PNG files.
Which Normal Map Generator export sizes require Mapper?
Exports above 512px require Mapper or a higher plan. Mapper+ unlocks 1K, 2K, and original-resolution export in the standalone tool, plus the full PBR Map Generator for creating normal, height, roughness, metallic, ambient occlusion, and emission maps together.