Support a compression format for Normal Maps that do not lose visual Quality

[GraPhiX-Guru]

This is a strange one, all other texture maps are fine but importing a normal map that as been converted to DDS (any compression level) degrades the asset quality. Here is a comparison of a PNG and DDS normal map out of MAX

now if you watch this video i swap out PNG for BC7 DDS maps all are fine except the normal map https://youtu.be/m52GwhuHn9c

it is almost as though Anti Aliasing is turned off and it becomes very pixelated.

[MonkeyFrogStudio]

Here is also a comparison of an asset (watch at full screen to see the effect):

https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/36735507/209844228-25796326-c112-4aed-8824-119826162d50.mp4

Both screen shots were taking in MAX. One uses DDS converted normals while the other uses a PNG normal. The cleaner, less jaggie version is the PNG. The jaggier version is the DDS. Both DDS and PNG are fine outside of MAX.

[MonkeyFrogStudio]

To test this in MAX:

• Import a model that uses a normal map (make sure you have both a PNG and DDS version of the same normal)
• With the model selected, go to the materials tab on the right
• Use the three dots (...) to select a different normal and switch to the DDS version and look at the model while you do it
• Use the three dots (...) to now select the PNG version of the normal and watch the model when you switch

You should see the normals change when you do this and they shouldn't.

[LeeBamberTGC]

@GraPhiX-Guru @MonkeyFrogStudio PNG is what is known as a lossless format and will preserve all your details. DDS under compression is lossy, which means the compression system loses some of the original quality in exchange for reduced video memory usage and bandwidth performance. I have retagged this as an enhancement as there are new GPU formats we can use in the future that are lossless with some of the benefits of current compressed DDS.