Quote - It is a very unexpected result. Thanks JoePublic. In games the models are low poly with details in the normal map for high LOD because it renders faster in real time on the graphics cards.

Clearly Firefly (using non-realtime and not hardware rendering) is architected differently. Maybe Stewer can comment on this?

 

Don't confuse normal maps with displacement maps. Normal maps do not alter the shape of an object at render time. The model must have a silhouette that accomodates whatever detail the normal map is trying to achieve or the illusion is broken. A well used Normal map is one saved for interrior detail. 

Displacement mapping alters the geometry at render time, changing the shape based on the map provided. 

 

This behaviour is the same in Firefly.