diff --git a/examples/06-bump/bump.cpp b/examples/06-bump/bump.cpp
index 101bf8fc9..ae1753305 100644
--- a/examples/06-bump/bump.cpp
+++ b/examples/06-bump/bump.cpp
@@ -32,57 +32,32 @@ struct PosNormalTangentTexcoordVertex
 
 bgfx::VertexDecl PosNormalTangentTexcoordVertex::ms_decl;
 
-uint32_t packUint32(uint8_t _x, uint8_t _y, uint8_t _z, uint8_t _w)
-{
-	union
-	{
-		uint32_t ui32;
-		uint8_t arr[4];
-	} un;
-
-	un.arr[0] = _x;
-	un.arr[1] = _y;
-	un.arr[2] = _z;
-	un.arr[3] = _w;
-
-	return un.ui32;
-}
-
-uint32_t packF4u(float _x, float _y = 0.0f, float _z = 0.0f, float _w = 0.0f)
-{
-	const uint8_t xx = uint8_t(_x*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t yy = uint8_t(_y*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t zz = uint8_t(_z*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t ww = uint8_t(_w*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	return packUint32(xx, yy, zz, ww);
-}
-
 static PosNormalTangentTexcoordVertex s_cubeVertices[24] =
 {
-	{-1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
-	{ 1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
-	{-1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
-	{ 1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
-	{-1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
-	{ 1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
-	{-1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
-	{ 1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
-	{-1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
-	{ 1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
-	{-1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
-	{ 1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
-	{-1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
-	{ 1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
-	{-1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
-	{ 1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
-	{ 1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
-	{ 1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
-	{ 1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
-	{ 1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
-	{-1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
-	{-1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
-	{-1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
-	{-1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
+	{-1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
+	{ 1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
+	{-1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
+	{ 1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
+	{-1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
+	{ 1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
+	{-1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
+	{ 1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
+	{-1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
+	{ 1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
+	{-1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
+	{ 1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
+	{-1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
+	{ 1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
+	{-1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
+	{ 1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
+	{ 1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
+	{ 1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
+	{ 1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
+	{ 1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
+	{-1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
+	{-1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
+	{-1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
+	{-1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
 };
 
 static const uint16_t s_cubeIndices[36] =
diff --git a/examples/13-stencil/stencil.cpp b/examples/13-stencil/stencil.cpp
index b66aaa48e..f7c6b95f8 100644
--- a/examples/13-stencil/stencil.cpp
+++ b/examples/13-stencil/stencil.cpp
@@ -24,31 +24,6 @@
 
 #define MAX_NUM_LIGHTS 5
 
-uint32_t packUint32(uint8_t _x, uint8_t _y, uint8_t _z, uint8_t _w)
-{
-	union
-	{
-		uint32_t ui32;
-		uint8_t arr[4];
-	} un;
-
-	un.arr[0] = _x;
-	un.arr[1] = _y;
-	un.arr[2] = _z;
-	un.arr[3] = _w;
-
-	return un.ui32;
-}
-
-uint32_t packF4u(float _x, float _y = 0.0f, float _z = 0.0f, float _w = 0.0f)
-{
-	const uint8_t xx = uint8_t(_x*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t yy = uint8_t(_y*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t zz = uint8_t(_z*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t ww = uint8_t(_w*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	return packUint32(xx, yy, zz, ww);
-}
-
 struct PosNormalTexcoordVertex
 {
 	float    m_x;
@@ -76,46 +51,46 @@ bgfx::VertexDecl PosNormalTexcoordVertex::ms_decl;
 static const float s_texcoord = 5.0f;
 static PosNormalTexcoordVertex s_hplaneVertices[] =
 {
-	{ -1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), s_texcoord, s_texcoord },
-	{  1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), s_texcoord, 0.0f       },
-	{ -1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), 0.0f,       s_texcoord },
-	{  1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), 0.0f,       0.0f       },
+	{ -1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), s_texcoord, s_texcoord },
+	{  1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), s_texcoord, 0.0f       },
+	{ -1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), 0.0f,       s_texcoord },
+	{  1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), 0.0f,       0.0f       },
 };
 
 static PosNormalTexcoordVertex s_vplaneVertices[] =
 {
-	{ -1.0f,  1.0f, 0.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
-	{  1.0f,  1.0f, 0.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
-	{ -1.0f, -1.0f, 0.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
-	{  1.0f, -1.0f, 0.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
+	{ -1.0f,  1.0f, 0.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
+	{  1.0f,  1.0f, 0.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
+	{ -1.0f, -1.0f, 0.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
+	{  1.0f, -1.0f, 0.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
 };
 
 static const PosNormalTexcoordVertex s_cubeVertices[] =
 {
-	{ -1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
-	{  1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
-	{ -1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
-	{  1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
-	{ -1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
-	{  1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
-	{ -1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
-	{  1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
-	{  1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
-	{  1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
-	{ -1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
-	{ -1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
-	{  1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
-	{  1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
-	{ -1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
-	{ -1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
-	{  1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
-	{  1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
-	{  1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
-	{  1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
-	{ -1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
-	{ -1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
-	{ -1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
-	{ -1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
+	{ -1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
+	{  1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
+	{ -1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
+	{  1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
+	{ -1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
+	{  1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
+	{ -1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
+	{  1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
+	{  1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
+	{  1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
+	{ -1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
+	{ -1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
+	{  1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
+	{  1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
+	{ -1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
+	{ -1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
+	{  1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
+	{  1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
+	{  1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
+	{  1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
+	{ -1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
+	{ -1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
+	{ -1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
+	{ -1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
 };
 
 static const uint16_t s_cubeIndices[] =
diff --git a/examples/14-shadowvolumes/shadowvolumes.cpp b/examples/14-shadowvolumes/shadowvolumes.cpp
index 5149e79e3..f39e8b9ad 100644
--- a/examples/14-shadowvolumes/shadowvolumes.cpp
+++ b/examples/14-shadowvolumes/shadowvolumes.cpp
@@ -33,31 +33,6 @@ namespace stl = tinystl;
 #define VIEWID_RANGE15_PASS2    3
 #define VIEWID_RANGE1_PASS3    20
 
-uint32_t packUint32(uint8_t _x, uint8_t _y, uint8_t _z, uint8_t _w)
-{
-	union
-	{
-		uint32_t ui32;
-		uint8_t arr[4];
-	} un;
-
-	un.arr[0] = _x;
-	un.arr[1] = _y;
-	un.arr[2] = _z;
-	un.arr[3] = _w;
-
-	return un.ui32;
-}
-
-uint32_t packF4u(float _x, float _y = 0.0f, float _z = 0.0f, float _w = 0.0f)
-{
-	const uint8_t xx = uint8_t(_x*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t yy = uint8_t(_y*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t zz = uint8_t(_z*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t ww = uint8_t(_w*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	return packUint32(xx, yy, zz, ww);
-}
-
 struct PosNormalTexcoordVertex
 {
 	float    m_x;
@@ -85,18 +60,18 @@ bgfx::VertexDecl PosNormalTexcoordVertex::ms_decl;
 static const float s_texcoord = 50.0f;
 static PosNormalTexcoordVertex s_hplaneVertices[] =
 {
-	{ -1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), s_texcoord, s_texcoord },
-	{  1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), s_texcoord, 0.0f       },
-	{ -1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), 0.0f,       s_texcoord },
-	{  1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), 0.0f,       0.0f       },
+	{ -1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), s_texcoord, s_texcoord },
+	{  1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), s_texcoord, 0.0f       },
+	{ -1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), 0.0f,       s_texcoord },
+	{  1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), 0.0f,       0.0f       },
 };
 
 static PosNormalTexcoordVertex s_vplaneVertices[] =
 {
-	{ -1.0f,  1.0f, 0.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
-	{  1.0f,  1.0f, 0.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
-	{ -1.0f, -1.0f, 0.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
-	{  1.0f, -1.0f, 0.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
+	{ -1.0f,  1.0f, 0.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
+	{  1.0f,  1.0f, 0.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
+	{ -1.0f, -1.0f, 0.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
+	{  1.0f, -1.0f, 0.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
 };
 
 static const uint16_t s_planeIndices[] =
diff --git a/examples/15-shadowmaps-simple/shadowmaps_simple.cpp b/examples/15-shadowmaps-simple/shadowmaps_simple.cpp
index ae125ea98..e19479930 100644
--- a/examples/15-shadowmaps-simple/shadowmaps_simple.cpp
+++ b/examples/15-shadowmaps-simple/shadowmaps_simple.cpp
@@ -19,31 +19,6 @@
 #define RENDER_SHADOW_PASS_ID 0
 #define RENDER_SCENE_PASS_ID  1
 
-uint32_t packUint32(uint8_t _x, uint8_t _y, uint8_t _z, uint8_t _w)
-{
-	union
-	{
-		uint32_t ui32;
-		uint8_t arr[4];
-	} un;
-
-	un.arr[0] = _x;
-	un.arr[1] = _y;
-	un.arr[2] = _z;
-	un.arr[3] = _w;
-
-	return un.ui32;
-}
-
-uint32_t packF4u(float _x, float _y = 0.0f, float _z = 0.0f, float _w = 0.0f)
-{
-	const uint8_t xx = uint8_t(_x*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t yy = uint8_t(_y*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t zz = uint8_t(_z*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t ww = uint8_t(_w*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	return packUint32(xx, yy, zz, ww);
-}
-
 struct PosNormalVertex
 {
 	float    m_x;
@@ -54,10 +29,10 @@ struct PosNormalVertex
 
 static PosNormalVertex s_hplaneVertices[] =
 {
-	{ -1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f) },
-	{  1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f) },
-	{ -1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f) },
-	{  1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f) },
+	{ -1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f) },
+	{  1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f) },
+	{ -1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f) },
+	{  1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f) },
 };
 
 static const uint16_t s_planeIndices[] =
diff --git a/examples/16-shadowmaps/shadowmaps.cpp b/examples/16-shadowmaps/shadowmaps.cpp
index 191a3426d..6c576b5dc 100644
--- a/examples/16-shadowmaps/shadowmaps.cpp
+++ b/examples/16-shadowmaps/shadowmaps.cpp
@@ -38,31 +38,6 @@
 #define RENDERVIEW_DRAWDEPTH_2_ID 18
 #define RENDERVIEW_DRAWDEPTH_3_ID 19
 
-uint32_t packUint32(uint8_t _x, uint8_t _y, uint8_t _z, uint8_t _w)
-{
-	union
-	{
-		uint32_t ui32;
-		uint8_t arr[4];
-	} un;
-
-	un.arr[0] = _x;
-	un.arr[1] = _y;
-	un.arr[2] = _z;
-	un.arr[3] = _w;
-
-	return un.ui32;
-}
-
-uint32_t packF4u(float _x, float _y = 0.0f, float _z = 0.0f, float _w = 0.0f)
-{
-	const uint8_t xx = uint8_t(_x*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t yy = uint8_t(_y*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t zz = uint8_t(_z*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t ww = uint8_t(_w*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	return packUint32(xx, yy, zz, ww);
-}
-
 struct LightType
 {
 	enum Enum
@@ -200,18 +175,18 @@ struct PosNormalTexcoordVertex
 static const float s_texcoord = 5.0f;
 static PosNormalTexcoordVertex s_hplaneVertices[] =
 {
-	{ -1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), s_texcoord, s_texcoord },
-	{  1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), s_texcoord, 0.0f       },
-	{ -1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), 0.0f,       s_texcoord },
-	{  1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), 0.0f,       0.0f       },
+	{ -1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), s_texcoord, s_texcoord },
+	{  1.0f, 0.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), s_texcoord, 0.0f       },
+	{ -1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), 0.0f,       s_texcoord },
+	{  1.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f), 0.0f,       0.0f       },
 };
 
 static PosNormalTexcoordVertex s_vplaneVertices[] =
 {
-	{ -1.0f,  1.0f, 0.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
-	{  1.0f,  1.0f, 0.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
-	{ -1.0f, -1.0f, 0.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
-	{  1.0f, -1.0f, 0.0f, packF4u(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
+	{ -1.0f,  1.0f, 0.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 1.0f },
+	{  1.0f,  1.0f, 0.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 1.0f, 0.0f },
+	{ -1.0f, -1.0f, 0.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 1.0f },
+	{  1.0f, -1.0f, 0.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(0.0f, 0.0f, -1.0f), 0.0f, 0.0f },
 };
 
 static const uint16_t s_planeIndices[] =
diff --git a/examples/21-deferred/deferred.cpp b/examples/21-deferred/deferred.cpp
index de37b19f8..c7c687cce 100644
--- a/examples/21-deferred/deferred.cpp
+++ b/examples/21-deferred/deferred.cpp
@@ -86,57 +86,32 @@ struct DebugVertex
 
 bgfx::VertexDecl DebugVertex::ms_decl;
 
-uint32_t packUint32(uint8_t _x, uint8_t _y, uint8_t _z, uint8_t _w)
-{
-	union
-	{
-		uint32_t ui32;
-		uint8_t arr[4];
-	} un;
-
-	un.arr[0] = _x;
-	un.arr[1] = _y;
-	un.arr[2] = _z;
-	un.arr[3] = _w;
-
-	return un.ui32;
-}
-
-uint32_t packF4u(float _x, float _y = 0.0f, float _z = 0.0f, float _w = 0.0f)
-{
-	const uint8_t xx = uint8_t(_x*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t yy = uint8_t(_y*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t zz = uint8_t(_z*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	const uint8_t ww = uint8_t(_w*127.0f + 128.0f);
-	return packUint32(xx, yy, zz, ww);
-}
-
 static PosNormalTangentTexcoordVertex s_cubeVertices[24] =
 {
-	{-1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
-	{ 1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
-	{-1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
-	{ 1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
-	{-1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
-	{ 1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
-	{-1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
-	{ 1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
-	{-1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
-	{ 1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
-	{-1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
-	{ 1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
-	{-1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
-	{ 1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
-	{-1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
-	{ 1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
-	{ 1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
-	{ 1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
-	{ 1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
-	{ 1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
-	{-1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
-	{-1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, packF4u(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
-	{-1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
-	{-1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, packF4u(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
+	{-1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
+	{ 1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
+	{-1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
+	{ 1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f,  1.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
+	{-1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
+	{ 1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
+	{-1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
+	{ 1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  0.0f, -1.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
+	{-1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
+	{ 1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
+	{-1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
+	{ 1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f,  1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
+	{-1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
+	{ 1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
+	{-1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
+	{ 1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 0.0f, -1.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
+	{ 1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
+	{ 1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
+	{ 1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
+	{ 1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8( 1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
+	{-1.0f, -1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0,      0 },
+	{-1.0f,  1.0f,  1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff,      0 },
+	{-1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0,      0, 0x7fff },
+	{-1.0f,  1.0f, -1.0f, encodeNormalRgba8(-1.0f,  0.0f,  0.0f), 0, 0x7fff, 0x7fff },
 };
 
 static const uint16_t s_cubeIndices[36] =
diff --git a/examples/common/bgfx_utils.h b/examples/common/bgfx_utils.h
index f948d1bfa..d2dde337d 100644
--- a/examples/common/bgfx_utils.h
+++ b/examples/common/bgfx_utils.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #ifndef BGFX_UTILS_H_HEADER_GUARD
 #define BGFX_UTILS_H_HEADER_GUARD
 
+#include <bx/pixelformat.h>
 #include <bgfx/bgfx.h>
 #include "image.h"
 
@@ -44,6 +45,21 @@ inline bool checkAvailTransientBuffers(uint32_t _numVertices, const bgfx::Vertex
 		;
 }
 
+///
+inline uint32_t encodeNormalRgba8(float _x, float _y = 0.0f, float _z = 0.0f, float _w = 0.0f)
+{
+	const float src[] =
+	{
+		_x * 0.5f + 0.5f,
+		_y * 0.5f + 0.5f,
+		_z * 0.5f + 0.5f,
+		_w * 0.5f + 0.5f,
+	};
+	uint32_t dst;
+	bx::packRgba8(&dst, src);
+	return dst;
+}
+
 ///
 struct MeshState
 {