What's Normal?

        So in computer graphics there is a texturing method of adding lighting geometry detail with a texture. This is called a normal map.

       Now I've tried creating these maps before using a lot of different methods but thanks to a wonderful little tip that I found over at CG Textures which has some great tutorials along with being a fantastic texture resource. Using this new layering technique I've been able to create much higher quality normal maps for my textures. This was my first test trying out this new method.

       Also this test was done inside After Effects using the fantastic plugin Normality which is totally available for free and allows normal based lighting in After Effects.