Try defining an axis for the tangent input with a *tangent* node: ![enter image description here][1] In other words, for the effect in your first screenshot, it should be the axis perpendicular with the flat front of the object. *Note that the tangent node uses local coordinates.* ---- It probably was working fine until you applied the scale to the objects. By default the *tangent* uses the object's local Z axis. When the scale is applied, the object's local Z was aligned with the global Z (which is not perpendicular to the "front" of your object). For example, if you rotate the object -90° in edit mode then rotate it back 90° in object mode so that the object's local Z points out from the center of the disk: ![enter image description here][2] Then it will work with the default tangent: ![enter image description here][3] [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/33Fys.png [2]: https://i.sstatic.net/oAKlt.png [3]: https://i.sstatic.net/yMo6U.png