Normal Map Generator

Turn a flat texture or photo into four surface maps in your browser

Intermediate
Screenshot of Normal Map Generator, Turn a flat texture or photo into four surface maps in your browser

What is Normal Map Generator?

Normal Map Generator is a design tool that turns a flat texture or photo into four surface maps in your browser. A free, privacy friendly browser tool that turns textures and photos into normal, displacement, AO and specular maps, with 2D and 3D previews and PNG export for Blender, Unity and Unreal Engine.

Normal Map Generator is a browser based tool that converts a flat texture or photograph into a normal map, then derives displacement, ambient occlusion and specular outputs from the same source image. The interface shows the original texture next to the generated result, and a 3D preview lets you rotate the mesh and move a light to confirm that bumps point the right way before you commit to a download. The workflow is deliberately narrow. You upload a PNG or JPG, adjust Strength, Level and Blur/Sharp, pick Sobel or Scharr edge detection, and flip X, Y or height if a surface reads inverted. Tabs switch between the four map types so you can inspect each one separately, and the selected map downloads as an 8-bit PNG. Preview may render at a reduced size for speed, while the download rebuilds the file at the source image's full resolution. Because processing happens in the browser, the source image is not sent to the site's servers; analytics record file type, size and dimensions but not content. It suits indie game developers, 3D artists and archviz generalists who need surface detail without modelling it. A stone wall, brick facade or fabric swatch photographed in even light becomes lighting detail for Unity, Unreal Engine or Blender, and the tool's own guidance reminds you to verify texture type and Y direction after import. The site is clear about scope: no base color, roughness or metalness maps, so a complete PBR set still requires another step. Displacement only shifts geometry when your renderer and mesh subdivision support it, and many modern shaders want roughness instead of specular. Alternatives split into two camps: full material authoring suites such as Substance or Materialize, and broader image utilities. This one sits in between as a focused converter with local processing and a usable 3D check, which matters when you want a quick first pass rather than a node graph. The free tier handles single small files; Pro raises size and batch limits.

How do you use Normal Map Generator?

  1. 1Pick a clean source image
    Choose a photo or texture with even lighting, visible surface detail and minimal glare. Avoid images with sharp cast shadows, since the converter can read those as fake height.
    Normal Map Generator — Pick a clean source image
  2. 2Upload the texture to the workspace
    Drag a PNG or JPG into the upload area. Free accounts accept files up to 5 MB, Pro up to 50 MB, and every image must be 4096 px or smaller per side.
  3. 3Tune the map settings
    Adjust Strength, Level and Blur/Sharp while watching the 2D result. Switch between Sobel and Scharr, and use the invert toggles one at a time if the surface direction looks wrong.
  4. 4Verify in the 3D preview
    Rotate the mesh and move the light in the 3D preview to confirm that joints, cracks and scratches are raised rather than recessed before you export.
  5. 5Choose a map type and download
    Open the Normal, Displacement, AO or Specular tab, check the current map, then download it as an 8-bit PNG. The download renders at the original source size.
  6. 6Set up the map in your engine
    Import the PNG into Blender, Unity or Unreal Engine, assign the correct texture type and check the green channel direction instead of assuming one invert setting works everywhere.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Processes images locally in the browser, so source textures are not uploaded to the site's serversAI
  • Generates four map types (normal, displacement, AO, specular) from a single source imageAI
  • 3D preview with movable light makes it easy to catch inverted or reversed bumpsAI
  • Adjustable Strength, Level and Blur/Sharp controls plus Sobel or Scharr edge detectionAI
  • Downloads rebuild the PNG at the source resolution even when the preview is downscaledAI

Cons

  • No base color, roughness or metalness outputs, so it is not a complete PBR texture setAI
  • Free tier is limited to 5 MB per image and one file at a time, with a 4096 px cap per sideAI
  • Displacement output only produces real relief if your renderer and mesh subdivision support itAI
  • Requires source photos with even lighting; hard cast shadows create false ridgesAI
  • No API or plugin, so each texture must be handled through the web interface by handAI

How much does Normal Map Generator cost?

Pricing

Free tier: PNG and JPG uploads up to 5 MB per image, processed one at a time. Pro: up to 50 MB per image and batches of up to 1000 files, still processed one at a time. Both tiers cap images at 4096 px per side. The homepage does not list Pro prices; the pricing page carries the plan details.

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Integrations

No plugins or API. Exported PNG maps are intended for import into Blender, Unity and Unreal Engine, where texture type and Y direction must be set manually.

Features

Converts one source image into normal, displacement, ambient occlusion and specular maps. Controls include Strength, Level, Blur/Sharp, Sobel or Scharr detection, and invert options for X, Y and height. Results are checked in a 2D view and an interactive 3D preview with a movable light, then exported as 8-bit PNGs at the source resolution.

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Frequently asked questions about Normal Map Generator

  • How much does Normal Map Generator cost?
    Free tier: PNG and JPG uploads up to 5 MB per image, processed one at a time. Pro: up to 50 MB per image and batches of up to 1000 files, still processed one at a time. Both tiers cap images at 4096 px per side. The homepage does not list Pro prices; the pricing page carries the plan details.
  • How do you use Normal Map Generator?
    The walkthrough on this page covers 6 steps: 1. Pick a clean source image 2. Upload the texture to the workspace 3. Tune the map settings 4. Verify in the 3D preview 5. Choose a map type and download 6. Set up the map in your engine.
  • What platforms does Normal Map Generator support?
    Normal Map Generator is available on Web App.
  • What does Normal Map Generator integrate with?
    No plugins or API. Exported PNG maps are intended for import into Blender, Unity and Unreal Engine, where texture type and Y direction must be set manually.
  • What are the limitations of Normal Map Generator?
    No base color, roughness or metalness outputs, so it is not a complete PBR texture set. Free tier is limited to 5 MB per image and one file at a time, with a 4096 px cap per side. Displacement output only produces real relief if your renderer and mesh subdivision support it.

Status

StatusActive
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Added11/3/2026

Platforms

Web App

Pricing

FreeFreemiumPaid