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Normal Map Generator

GPU-friendly browser workflow — created by Aethvion Labs

Create physically convincing surface detail from any flat texture. This browser-based workflow is perfect for game devs, environment artists, and technical designers who need fast iteration without installing desktop software.

Generate a Normal Map in Your Browser

Drop a height map (grayscale) or any texture into the panel below, tweak the sliders, and export production-ready normal maps in seconds. The full conversion happens locally, so your source images never leave the browser.

Select source image (PNG, JPG, TIFF)

Strength: 2.0

Z Balance: 1.0

Invert X

Invert Y

Filename: Filename will be set automatically from source image

Load an image to begin.

Source Height / Texture

Generated Normal Map

Quick Workflow

Prepare a height map or a set of four directional-lit photos with consistent resolution.
Drag and drop the files into the NormalMap-Online interface or use the file selectors.
Adjust Strength, Blur/Sharp, and Z Range to dial in the surface response.
Toggle the preview lighting, rotate the model, and validate the normal map before exporting.
Download the normal map along with optional displacement, ambient occlusion, and specular textures.

Tips for Better Results

Use power-of-two image sizes (256×256, 512×512, 1024×1024, etc.) to keep assets game-engine friendly.
For photo-based baking, keep your camera fixed (tripod recommended) and move the light source to capture top, bottom, left, and right illumination.
Toggle the Invert options if your surface appears recessed instead of raised.
Pair the generated normal map with displacement for parallax or tessellation-heavy targets, and keep only the normal for lightweight mobile builds.

Output Formats

Download the generated normal map as PNG with full alpha support. For additional conversions (JPG, TIFF) simply open the PNG result in your preferred editor.

Compatibility

The tool runs best on Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave) but also works in Firefox and Safari. Processing happens locally in optimized JavaScript, so mid-range hardware can handle 2K textures comfortably.