I am really interested in setting something up in Houdini to handle normal maps, given mantra can render micropolies and all.

I am interested in importing normal mapping information with say a lower rez version of a high-rez model and having houdini apply the high rez normal map to the low rez geo at render time.

Any thought? I was thinking this is something VOPs could handle, and if so some input as to where to start would be great.

thanks

http://www.sidefx.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2189&highlight=normal+maps [sidefx.com]

If you look in this thread you'll see Simon posted a hip with a nice foundation for doing this in Houdini. If you are using Apprentice, your texture size will be limited though. If you need larger textures, use the ati normal mapper I posted a link to in the above thread, or use Melody from Nvidia. Both are free and work fine with Apprentice.

Melody link

http://developer.nvidia.com/object/melody_home.html [developer.nvidia.com]

Make sure you read the Melody documentation as it has many more features than the ATI mapper.