I successfully added a normal map to a top, with the normal map shown leftmost in the attached image. It is saved as DXT5 ARGB, with exactly the same bitmap in RGB and in Alpha channel, then imported in TSRW.

The result (shown in two different angles in the image) doesn't have any raised/sunken look rather than beeing inverted...

Can anybody please explain what I'm missing ?

I wrote here a guide for a correct normal map:

http://www.ts3wiki.com/index.php?title=Normal_Map

I was following your guide already, teko, and learnd that I have to copy the greyscale map to the alpha channel too.
Nevertheless the effect in the image above is not what I was expecting =)
Anyway, thanks for your answer...

The image attached shows the original afTopShirtTurtleNeck, which comes with a normalmap.
To me there is no 3D detail visible, this looks flat painted.

The normal map is usually only rendered ingame.

It matters what greyscale image you copy into the alpha channel. Having generated a normal map in Photoshop you need to copy the Red Channel to the Alpha Channel. And the Green Channel needs to be copied into the Red and Blue Channel. Just as explained on this picture:

http://www.ts3wiki.com/index.php?ti...ap-Channels.jpg

This is quite important otherwise the visual result in the game will be odd.

In a greyscale image the three color channels are identically, thats why its grey =) So copying any to the alpha channel should be fine...
I'll check the stuff ingame, maybe CTU's rendering isn't appropriate.

That is where you are making the mistake. You first need to convert the greyscale image to a normal map, which will make it something in the range of blue/purple, then you have to copy the channels in the right order.

Hmmmm....

Maybe I'm terrible wrong, but as far as my understanding of normalmaps goes a simple greyscale image (put in the proper channels) should render the lighter colored areas raised, and the darker colored areas sunken.

For the attached image (the upper left corner is a screenshot from photoshop, all channels shown), the main part shows the ingame rendering with every graphic option set to maxium.

For testing the "4"s are placed in different channels:
The left "4" is in all 3 RGB channels.
The middle "4" is in all 3 RGB channels AND in the alpha channel.
The right "4" is only in the alpha channel.

In my opinion the middle "4" looks ok at first glance, but sadly it has no 3D-effect, zip ZERO NADA 3D.

I really would appreciate if anybody could post an ingame screenshot of a plain clothing (no drawn multiplier or reflection maps) with a noticable 3D-effect.