How to create Normal Maps ?

Hello everyone,

I recently heard about the (useful) 2D Dynamic Lighting Effect created by Pode :

I was like "Oh great this is exactly what I need" BUT : I don't know how to create a Normal Map.

Here's the sprite used in Pode's example :

Now, the concerned Normal Map :

And then there's me and this atrocity :

I thought using Paint.NET witht the NormalMapPlus plugin could be enough, but it seems to be wrong as hell. I didn't really understand how to make these normal Maps, how to deal with blue green and red according to the shadows you want and stuff...could someone explain it to me ? I really want to use this effect, it could add so much in the game's atmosphere !

Yeah that's not an easy one :/

Up ? :/

Can you not convert the image to grey scale, work the high and low parts then convert that to the Normal map?

The plug would work but you need to blur the image first.

They aren't meant to work with pixel art.

Traditional plugs work using a nearest neighbor formula to find where pixels differ.

Thanks guys, it works, I can now generate the Normal Maps I want ^^