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MCX MCX Toggle DirectX versus OpenGL Normals

G

GaryGB

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Hi Arno:

I recently posted a link to info cited by Google AI in response to a query I made seeking a quicker / easier way to toggle Normal types using MCX.

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/normal-map-conversion-opengl-to-directx.456523/post-940070



Regarding the linked Google search in my post cited above:

Based on what I originally saw at the time it was displayed by Google, there was a way to use MCX to toggle between DirectX and OpenGL Normals.


Unfortunately, it seems Google AI appeared to change the reply it generated (is it for each query and/or shortly after it generates its replies ?)


'Silly me' to momentarily trust info Google AI asserted so 'authoritatively' (...like a certain FSDEV forum participant who no longer posts here.
:redflag:
)


Anyway, Dick has asserted in a DM that my original post linked above (which he edited) ...involved a "falsehood". :stirthepo

It is not my intent to do such a thing, and as Dick alternates brevity / detail at FSDEV, a question is raised IIUC, about Google's AI info.


Those who read my posts see I 'tend' to have little / no confidence in any AI; but lately I have seen 'some' reliability in Google AI replies.


Recently I observed Google AI may be 'waffling' ...after links are generated / disseminated / responses arise ...as a result of Google AI.



AFAIK, MSFS Scenery developers go online to find- and use- "Normal" files as mapped MSFS Texture Materials to save work creating them.


IIRC, Google's reply regarding what I call MCX and Normal 'toggling' ...may have had a basis in fact:

Page 52 of 169 in the latest MCX PDF Manual says

https://www.scenerydesign.org/latest-release/ModelConverterX.pdf

"
• The Normal map context menu option allows you to convert a texture between the normal
map layout that is used by different simulator versions."


Would you please state for the record, if MCX can- or cannot- toggle mapped Normal texture Material attributes between DirectX / OpenGL ?



I subsequently found a number of additional posts on this topic and would greatly appreciate a further explanation of your statement here:

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/normal-maps.450817/post-870171

arno said:
I don't think there is an OpenGL and DirectX normal map. For some reason the FSX developers have chosen to not follow the normal convention and use their own layout. Not sure why they did that, hopefully they had a good reason :)
Click to expand...

Perhaps just as importantly, does MCX automatically utilize a "DirectX normal map" configuration when it is set to export MSFS scenery ?

Thanks in advance for your genuinely authoritative reply on this matter involving MCX. :)

GaryGB
 
Last edited:
Hi Gary,

If you right click on a texture in the material editor texture tab, you will see possible normal map conversions there. MSFS packed is DirectX convention and MSFS source is OpenGL convention, so that will allow you to do that conversion.

It is the MSFS package tool that will update normal maps to DirectX convention, as input glTF models use OpenGL convention normally.
 
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