---
title: "NormalTools"
docs: "Phaser v4.1.0"
url: https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-normaltools
site: Phaser - https://phaser.io
---

> This page is about the open-source Phaser framework, for writing a game's code by hand. To make a game with AI, use Phaser AE (https://phaser.io/): the desk's tools work with Web MCP, and the CLI works with your own coding agent. See "For AI agents: Phaser AE" at the end of this page.

# NormalTools

The NormalTools Filter Controller.

This filter controller manages the NormalTools effect for a Camera.

NormalTools is a filter for manipulating the normals of a normal map. It has several functions:

- Rotate or reorient the normal map.

- Change how strongly the normals face the camera.

- Output a grayscale texture showing how strongly the normals face the camera, or some other vector.

The output can be used for various purposes, such as:

- Editing a normal map for special applications.

- Altering the apparent visual depth of a normal map by manipulating the facing power.

- Creating a base for other effects, such as a mask for a gradient or other effect.

You can even use the output as a normal map for regular lighting. Ordinarily, normal maps are loaded alongside the main texture, but you can override this.

```js
// Given a dynamic texture `dyn` where the filter output is drawn,
// and a texture `spiderTex` with lighting enabled,
// we can inject the WebGL texture straight into the scene lighting as a normal map.
spiderTex.setDataSource(dyn.getWebGLTexture());
```

A NormalTools effect is added to a Camera via the FilterList component:

```js
const camera = this.cameras.main;
camera.filters.internal.addNormalTools({
    rotation: 0,
    facingPower: 1,
    outputRatio: false,
    ratioVector: [ 0, 0, 1 ],
    ratioRadius: 1
});
camera.filters.external.addNormalTools({});
```

**Constructor**

`new NormalTools(camera, [config])`

**Parameters**
| name | type | optional | description |
| ---- | ---- | -------- | ----------- |
| camera | [Phaser.Cameras.Scene2D.Camera](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/cameras-scene2d-camera.md) | No | The camera that owns this filter. |
| config | [Phaser.Types.Filters.NormalToolsConfig](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/typedef/types-filters.md#NormalToolsConfig) | Yes | The configuration object for the NormalTools effect. |

---


**Scope**: static


**Extends**

> [Phaser.Filters.Controller](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-controller.md)  



> Source: [src/filters/NormalTools.js#L12](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v4.1.0/src/filters/NormalTools.js#L12)  
Since: 4.0.0

## Inherited Members


**From [Phaser.Filters.Controller](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-controller.md):**


 - [active](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-controller.md#active)
 - [allowBaseDraw](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-controller.md#allowbasedraw)
 - [camera](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-controller.md#camera)
 - [currentPadding](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-controller.md#currentpadding)
 - [ignoreDestroy](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-controller.md#ignoredestroy)
 - [paddingOverride](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-controller.md#paddingoverride)
 - [renderNode](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-controller.md#rendernode)




---

## Public Members

### facingPower

#### facingPower: number


**Description:**

The power of the facing effect. Higher values bend normals toward the camera; lower values bend them away. This can be useful for suggesting depth in a 2D scene.


> Source: [src/filters/NormalTools.js#L113](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v4.1.0/src/filters/NormalTools.js#L113)  
Since: 4.0.0


---

### outputRatio

#### outputRatio: boolean


**Description:**

Whether to output the ratio of the normal map. If true, the output will be a grayscale texture, with the white area being the areas where the normals are facing the camera, fading to black when they're orthogonal. You can manipulate this ratio with `ratioVector` and `ratioRadius`. This can be useful as a base for other effects.


> Source: [src/filters/NormalTools.js#L125](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v4.1.0/src/filters/NormalTools.js#L125)  
Since: 4.0.0


---

### ratioRadius

#### ratioRadius: number


**Description:**

How much of a hemisphere to consider for the ratio output. At 1, the ratio will be calculated for the entire hemisphere. At 0, the ratio will be calculated for a single point. This uses the same algorithm as `PanoramaBlur.radius`.

This is only used if outputRatio is true.


> Source: [src/filters/NormalTools.js#L158](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v4.1.0/src/filters/NormalTools.js#L158)  
Since: 4.0.0


---

### ratioVector

#### ratioVector: [Phaser.Math.Vector3](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/math-vector3.md)


**Description:**

The vector to use for the ratio output. This is the direction in which the ratio will be calculated. The default is the camera's forward direction. Manipulate this to highlight parts of the map which are facing in a specific direction.

This is only used if outputRatio is true.


> Source: [src/filters/NormalTools.js#L140](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v4.1.0/src/filters/NormalTools.js#L140)  
Since: 4.0.0


---

### rotationSource

#### rotationSource: [Phaser.GameObjects.GameObject](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/gameobjects-gameobject.md), [Phaser.Types.Filters.NormalToolsSourceCallback](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/typedef/types-filters.md#NormalToolsSourceCallback), null


**Description:**

The source of the rotation. If a function, it will be called to get the rotation. If a GameObject, it will be used to get the rotation from the GameObject's world transform. If null, the rotation will not be updated by the filter.


> Source: [src/filters/NormalTools.js#L101](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v4.1.0/src/filters/NormalTools.js#L101)  
Since: 4.0.0


---

### viewMatrix

#### viewMatrix: [Phaser.Math.Matrix4](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/math-matrix4.md)


**Description:**

The view matrix used for the NormalTools effect. This controls the orientation of the normal map. Use this to control 3D rotation of the normal map. Ordinarily, you would just use `setRotation` for 2D rotation.


> Source: [src/filters/NormalTools.js#L87](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v4.1.0/src/filters/NormalTools.js#L87)  
Since: 4.0.0


---

## Inherited Methods


**From [Phaser.Filters.Controller](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-controller.md):**


 - [destroy](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-controller.md#destroy)
 - [getPadding](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-controller.md#getpadding)
 - [getPaddingCeil](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-controller.md#getpaddingceil)
 - [setActive](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-controller.md#setactive)
 - [setPaddingOverride](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-controller.md#setpaddingoverride)




---

## Public Methods

### getRotation

#### \<instance> getRotation()


**Description:**

Gets the 2D rotation of the normal map, as set by `setRotation` or the `rotationSource`.

This value is not accurate if the `viewMatrix` is manipulated directly, e.g. for 3D rotation. There is no single value which can accurately represent 3D rotation.


**Returns:** number - The rotation in radians.


> Source: [src/filters/NormalTools.js#L174](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v4.1.0/src/filters/NormalTools.js#L174)  
Since: 4.0.0


---

### setRotation

#### \<instance> setRotation(rotation)


**Description:**

Sets the rotation of the normal map. This sets the `viewMatrix` to a rotation around the Z axis, suitable for 2D rotation. For more advanced controls, manipulate the filter's `viewMatrix` to control 3D rotation.

**Parameters:**
| name | type | optional | description |
| ---- | ---- | -------- | ----------- |
| rotation | number | No | The rotation in radians. |


**Returns:** [Phaser.Filters.NormalTools](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-normaltools.md) - This NormalTools instance.


> Source: [src/filters/NormalTools.js#L204](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v4.1.0/src/filters/NormalTools.js#L204)  
Since: 4.0.0


---

### updateRotation

#### \<instance> updateRotation()


**Description:**

Updates the rotation of the normal map from the rotationSource, if it is set. This is called automatically during rendering.


**Returns:** [Phaser.Filters.NormalTools](https://phaser.io/oss/docs/api-documentation/class/filters-normaltools.md) - This NormalTools instance.


> Source: [src/filters/NormalTools.js#L223](https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser/blob/v4.1.0/src/filters/NormalTools.js#L223)  
Since: 4.0.0


---

---

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Read any page of this site as Markdown by adding `.md` to its URL (the home page is https://phaser.io/index.md), or by asking for `text/markdown`. The index for agents is https://phaser.io/llms.txt. On the site's pages, the browser's Web MCP also offers `phaser_ae_guide`, `read_page_as_markdown` and `open_phaser_ae`.