Thanks for your replies, I'm aware of those links, ATI also which also has a normal mapping tool. None of these tools are proper windows GUI apps and run in a DOS screen.

I was hoping somehow PS would be able to perform this task, since normalizing has much to do with rearraging RGB channels etc, etc ,blah, blah ,blah, and can save files to recognized
exisiting formats, without having to do yet another conversion from .dds to .jpg.

hey bikermouse, was that a verbal fart :)

lets see if this works:

http://img241.imageshack.us/my.php?image=normals07pd9.gif

thats simply  to simple :)

thanks again!  yes I understand about the playing around part.

I'm still struggling as try your text.

what exactly do I do with this your text now?
do I now copy and paste your text into the transformation dialog box?

or the reverse: what dialog box did you open that allowed you to copy
the text in your example above?

  sorry about the hand holding i'm expecting of you.

thank you for all your replies!

jock: I'm quite new to UF although I still have a copy Winfract or Fractint
that came of a 5 1/4" floppy attached in the back of a '92 book called "Fractals for Windows by the Waite Group.

I have attached my first UF fractal with post processing using Real Draw Pro v3.1
however its not really the direction I want to go in. As I stated on the outset
I would like to explore the type of material images which you filed under your
mechanical gallery.

I tried loading your formula into UF, see attached jpeg
but I didnt see anything but a black backround.
all I was able to do was change the backround with some .uxf files
Is it possible for you to attach a .upr file that I could learn from
or send it via email ?

thanks!