LF 32k+ earth maps - normal and specular in particular

[skunkworks]

Hi folks!

I'll just use this thread to jump right in and introduce myself.
I'm Martin, ID designer from Germany, and I'm working on an animated short film in C4D for my portfolio.

I'm looking for 32k+ earth texture and maps to improve my scene.
The Nasa maps were a good starting point, but they need A LOT of work/edit.
The cloud map form their blue marble page is quite a mess - i've started working on a better 40k+ version.
I've already found a good specular map here:

http://www.celestialmatters.org/?q=node/24

The maps from motherlode look really nice but they are tiled and hence not usable for me in C4D:

http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/catalog/earthbumpspec.php

Does anyone have the un-tiled -original- versions and is willing to share them?
I'd love to give them a shot in Cinema and try some HD renderings.
I've already contacted some members @motherlode but they only have the tiled versions.
If those were originally provided by NASA is still a question mark to me.

I'm also looking for an edited version of the NASA earth surface map - something which looks more like this here from Bob @celestialmatters:

http://forum.celestialmatters.org/viewtopic.php?t=314

If you ask me what I'm doing HERE instead of a C4D related forum the answer is simple:
The issues I have with my scene is not Cinema 4D related but map/texture related
thx so much in advance for any help/hints/links - it is much appreciated!

[John Van Vliet]

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[skunkworks]

Hi John,

thank you very much for your help!
I was on holiday and haven't found the time yet to reply.

I've found this Specular map/watermask from cartrite:
http://www.celestialmatters.org/?q=node/24

so now I have a decent spec map - at least a start.

I am still looking for a normal map, because I am unable to cope with the nmtools tutorial from t00fri - I seem to lack basic knowledge.
I'll post progress...

rg

[John Van Vliet]

--- edit ---

[skunkworks]

converting the BMNG 2 topo raw( *.bin) image to a normal map ( even on windows is very easy )

in the " Miranda Bump Map" thread i just did a "down and dirty" quick chexk of the nms tool ( on windows7 64 bit) it worked "out of the box"
you just have to type in the command


as for getting the blue marble images

nasa has been moving things around
the links on the Celeatia Matters tutorial no longer all work
the mirror at the Arctic Regional Computing Center
http://mirrors.arsc.edu/nasa/

thank you again, John.
I am not stupid, but just entirely new to using the command console - that is why I'm having so much trouble.
It took me a while to figure out how to change the bloody file path.
Anyway I have successfully finished the tutorial and I am going to try the topo map tomorrow.