How to Make a Normal Map?

[AGP]

What would a normal map look like that made the right or left Superman's abs look like the middle one's? By that I mean what's the color for no distortion and what for "digging" (as opposed to "bumping")? Thanks in advance.

[EgonOlsen]

You actually can't really do a normal map by hand. You usually create them in the 3d editor from a higher polygon variant of the model. It's not really possible for a human being to draw in tangent space IMHO.

[AGP]

Huh? I can't take the original texture and draw the distortions on it? How come?

[AGP]

I mean, can't one use the original texture as a template, identify the areas of interest (in this case, the abdomen, the ribs, and the boot), and draw the distortions?

[EgonOlsen]

I never heard of somebody who did that. I don't really think that it will work well...most likely, it will look like crap that way.

[AGP]

I've seen my share of normal maps created on Z-Brush to know what you mean. But I don't see how it should be impossible to do it by hand (and, in this case, I only have the low-poly version of the model).

[Grandmaster B]

With 3D-Coat you can paint a normal map onto the body. Alternatively you can create a "height" map and run that through a normal map texture generator.
Though, the normal way is to sculpt the muscles and then bake a normal map.