<p>Based on the article, it seems like, when it adds &quot;directional lighting information&quot;, the program tries to infer a location of a light source and base the normals on the colors with the added information of the directional lighting from the pixel to the inferred light source. I feel like I'm making no sense right now, so here's an example using their pictures:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/YFApT.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/YFApT.png" alt="Sample image" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/kLyJQ.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/kLyJQ.png" alt="Normal map with shape recognition" /></a></p>
<p>As you can see, on the far right of the normal map, it's very pink, just like how the sample image is completely white. I would assume this is the case because the inferred light is directly on top of it, with all the normals (in sort of a curved fashion, resulting in the gradient) pointing right at it. In contrast...</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/o56xq.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/o56xq.png" alt="Normal map without shape recognition" /></a></p>
<p>This normal map isn't trying to figure out a light source, and instead just kind of uses the sample texture as a heightmap of sorts.</p>
<p>Late reply, but hope this helps! :)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-03T18:12:39.307Z
This is a very late reply haha, but thanks for the intuitive explanation. Especially the second paragraph, that helped it click in my head :)
Daniel Kareh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-03T18:04:30.033Z
2021-05-03T18:04:30.033Z
EthanKim8683
<p>I've recently been using <strong>CrazyBump</strong>, and I think I'm starting to understand how it works. But I'm confused about what it calls <strong>Shape Recognition</strong>. According to <a href="https://iamsparky.wordpress.com/crazybump/" rel="noreferrer">this</a> website, that feature attempts to add directional lighting information, but what exactly does that mean?</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/pyg06.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/pyg06.png" alt="Test Texture"></a><br>
Here's my test texture. It's simple, just so I can understand what's going on.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/MwYMx.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MwYMx.png" alt="Shape Recognition Off"></a><br>
Here's the generated normal map, before Shape Recognition.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/YPgMf.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/YPgMf.png" alt="Shape  Recognition On"></a><br>
Here's the generated normal map, after Shape Recognition.</p>

<texture><image-processing>
CrazyBump Shape Recognition
Daniel Kareh
# CrazyBump Shape Recognition

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-06-25)

I've recently been using **CrazyBump**, and I think I'm starting to understand how it works. But I'm confused about what it calls **Shape Recognition**. According to [this](https://iamsparky.wordpress.com/crazybump/) website, that feature attempts to add directional lighting information, but what exactly does that mean?

[![Test Texture](https://i.sstatic.net/pyg06.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/pyg06.png)  
Here's my test texture. It's simple, just so I can understand what's going on.

[![Shape Recognition Off](https://i.sstatic.net/MwYMx.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/MwYMx.png)  
Here's the generated normal map, before Shape Recognition.

[![Shape  Recognition On](https://i.sstatic.net/YPgMf.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/YPgMf.png)  
Here's the generated normal map, after Shape Recognition.

**Tags:** texture, image-processing


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-05-03. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Based on the article, it seems like, when it adds "directional lighting information", the program tries to infer a location of a light source and base the normals on the colors with the added information of the directional lighting from the pixel to the inferred light source. I feel like I'm making no sense right now, so here's an example using their pictures:

[![Sample image](https://i.sstatic.net/YFApT.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/YFApT.png)

[![Normal map with shape recognition](https://i.sstatic.net/kLyJQ.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/kLyJQ.png)

As you can see, on the far right of the normal map, it's very pink, just like how the sample image is completely white. I would assume this is the case because the inferred light is directly on top of it, with all the normals (in sort of a curved fashion, resulting in the gradient) pointing right at it. In contrast...

[![Normal map without shape recognition](https://i.sstatic.net/o56xq.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/o56xq.png)

This normal map isn't trying to figure out a light source, and instead just kind of uses the sample texture as a heightmap of sorts.

Late reply, but hope this helps! :)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: This is a very late reply haha, but thanks for the intuitive explanation. Especially the second paragraph, that helped it click in my head :)  

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