Create Bump Map Node

Create Bump Map takes a 2D image and computes the local gradient of the gray levels to generate the 3 RGB channels of a normal map. These normals perturb the lighting during the 3D render, giving the illusion of relief without changing the mesh geometry.

It is the gateway to procedural shading in Fusion: combine a Fast Noise or a texture with a Create Bump Map, connect it to the Bump of a Blinn = a surface with instant micro-geometric detail.

• Effects Library: Tools > Filter > Create Bump Map
• Quick add: right-click in the Node Editor → Add Tool > Filter > Create Bump Map

Bump map (source)

Grayscale image. Light = raised areas, dark = recessed areas. A compact format but ambiguous to interpret (the direction of the slopes is unknown).

Normal map (result)

An RGB image that encodes the direction of the local normal (X in R, Y in G, Z in B). It holds the slopes in every direction. Typically bluish colors (Z dominant).

Create Bump Map does the conversion: grayscale bump map → RGB normal map. Connect the output to the Bump of a 3D shader.

• Input (yellow) - the grayscale image used as height. Accepts any image; only the luminance is used for the computation.
• Effect Mask (blue) - optional. Limits the generation to an area.

Fast Noise → Create Bump Map → Blinn (Bump input)
                                        ↓
Image Plane 3D ────────────────────→ Blinn (Material)
                                        ↓
                                    Renderer 3D → MediaOut

Or with a real texture:
MediaIn (brick texture) → Desaturate → Create Bump Map → Bump input

Filter Size

Size of the convolution kernel used to compute the gradient. Higher = smoother normals. 3×3 (default) = fine detail, sensitive to noise. 5×5 / 7×7 = softer gradient, less sensitive to pixel-level noise.

Height Scale

Amplifies the relative "height". The equivalent of adjusting the Bump Channel Depth in the material. Higher = stronger relief; too high = artifacts that break the illusion. (default: 1.0)

Source Channel

Channel used for the height: Red, Green, Blue, Alpha, Luminance. Luminance by default (weighted average of RGB) - fits most cases.

Filter Type

Gradient algorithm: Sobel (standard, quality/speed compromise), Prewitt (simpler), Scharr (more precise on fine edges).

Wrap X / Y

Enables wrapping for tiled textures. Essential if the source texture tiles cleanly (otherwise you see a seam at the edge).

• Procedural relief - Fast Noise + Create Bump Map → Bump of a Blinn = an organic bumpy surface on a 3D plane.
• Partial PBR textures - when you only have a color map, Create Bump Map generates an approximate normal map (desaturate first to avoid fake bumps caused by color).
• Bricks / stones / bark - grayscale texture → Create Bump → 3D shader = a detailed render for a stylized architectural scene.
• Stylizing abstract materials - mix several Fast Noises at different Scales + Merge → Create Bump = a realistic multi-frequency surface.
• Relief on 3D text - an animated patchwork texture → Create Bump → Text 3D Material Bump = living text with moving micro-relief.
• Fake normals from a photo - a lit photo → Desaturate → high Contrast → Create Bump = approximate normals for light relief (a useful but imperfect hack).

• Desaturate the source before a Create Bump Map on a color texture. Otherwise, chromatic variations create fake relief.
• Subtle Height Scale - start at 1 and raise it only if the relief is invisible in the render. Above 3, the normals break (pixels with extreme values).
• Combine two Create Bumps - one on a large-scale texture + one on a fine noise → Blend the two → Bump input = multi-scale detail (big relief + micro-surface).
• Wrap X/Y for tiled textures - forgetting this setting leaves a visible seam in the 3D render.
• Filter Size 5×5 for a noisy source - keeps the normal map from looking "grainy".
• For pro PBR, prefer real normal maps (scanned, Substance, Poly Haven). Create Bump is a shortcut, not a substitute. Useful for prototyping or non-realistic needs.