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Participant
October 3, 2021
Answered

Generating Normal Maps and bump maps are being discontinued

  • October 3, 2021
  • 6 replies
  • 17511 views

Just read that you are going to start to phase out the photoshop 3D workspace... please leave generating bump maps and normal maps.

Correct answer jane-e

@Jignesh22475626mz16 

 

Adobe recommends using Photoshop version 22.2 (from February 2021) if you need more stable performance with Photoshop’s 3D features.

 

Details here:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/3d-faq.html#using-latest-and-discontinued-features

 

Jane

6 replies

Participating Frequently
February 8, 2025

It is insane for PS to remove normal maps.  

jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
February 8, 2025

@ECB123 

 

See the reply from Dave on October 6, 2021

 

Jane

 

Participant
June 9, 2024

Its such a small feature important feature. I dont understand why they are removing it from photoshop. Its completely disrupted my workflow. Please build it back into photoshops next update. 

davescm
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 9, 2024

@defaultg2ukjsjzx9qc  Did you read the link to the Adobe article, provided by Jane above, which explains why 3D functions are being removed from Photoshop?

Dave

Participant
August 14, 2024

The post is not about the depreciation of functionality but its impact. Pointing out the 'whys' is not helpful to any user whose workflow is affected by Adobe's increasing disregard for long-time users. I, like many others, need solutions, not excuses. 


...from Adobe.

Participant
April 16, 2024

Ya, it's shame. Now we search for other software to create Normal and Bump map, Day by day photoshop become useless older version are more powerful then latest version. don't tell about AI everyone don't need AI

 

jane-e
Community Expert
jane-eCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
April 16, 2024

@Jignesh22475626mz16 

 

Adobe recommends using Photoshop version 22.2 (from February 2021) if you need more stable performance with Photoshop’s 3D features.

 

Details here:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/3d-faq.html#using-latest-and-discontinued-features

 

Jane

Participant
April 26, 2024

That is such a waste of time and drive space, let alone that I usually have a bunch of software open so having two different versions of photoshop just to have access to both generative AI and normal maps is a terrible design. I hope we at least get a replacement in the future and not having to use substance or other competitor software just for simple tasks, this is very frustrating.

Participant
December 8, 2023

If u want to work with material composition assets with Photoshop, do it mannualy because Adobe will not support u! U need a Substance subscription to make simple tasks like this. I miss the time when Photoshop had all we need to solve digital image problems. Please, Adobe, charge me for extra specific niche features, but stop asking for me to install 300000 different softwares in my SSD! Thanks.

davescm
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 6, 2021

Generating 3D bump and normal maps uses the Open GL 3D engine that is being removed (after the deprecation of OpenGL/CL) , so that feature will go with the discontinuation of 3D in Photoshop.

If you need it , make sure you keep an older version alongside the future major version update.

 

Dave

Participant
December 13, 2023

I guess there should be another way to create normal maps than just OpenGL library. It is a HUGE SHAME that we depend on other (quite often open source) tools to create normal maps leaving expensive adobe software useless just because the developers are too lazy to take care about user needs. What to say? I know a lot of people who already switched for competititon like Affinity.
Don't take it personally but OpenGL is nothing that very poor excuse.

 

Participant
October 27, 2024

I use normal maps in a lot of my automatic painting actions FOR 2D PAINTING.    it's a great way to boost shadows and make highlight masks.  It needs to be added back in.  it's not a 3D only feature

 

Kukurykus
Legend
October 3, 2021
Participant
October 6, 2021

Great reply..

 

Oh sorry that actually is a good thread. Thanks for this.

Kukurykus
Legend
October 6, 2021

Actually not a thread. I meant the linked article you find in a post I linked.