python not accessing normals rotation

Question

for the past few weeks I've been trying to write a python script that accesses the rotation of the custom split normals on my object. I then want it to transfer the x,y and z rotation of the custom split normals to the coordinates of separate uv maps. I've managed to access the split normals using calc_normals_split but now I'm having trouble isolating and transferring the xyz coordinates to the uv maps.Here is the python script I'm using.

import bpy
import numpy as np
context = bpy.context
ob = context.object
me = ob.data
calc split normals
me.calc_normals_split()
normal = Loop.normal
ob.data.uv_layers["xy"].data[loop.normal].uv = (normal.x, normal.y)
ob.data.uv_layers["z"].data[loop.normal].uv = (normal.z, 0)

I need to transfer the normal x,y, and z coordinates to separate uv maps because uv maps are 2 dimensional.

Answer 1

The code from your last question was closer. All you needed was to calc_normal_split and to use the loop.normal instead of the vertex.normal.

import bpy
ob = bpy.context.object
ob.data.calc_normals_split()
for loop in ob.data.loops:
    normal = loop.normal
    ob.data.uv_layers["XY"].data[loop.index].uv = (normal.x, normal.y)
    ob.data.uv_layers["ZW"].data[loop.index].uv = (normal.z, 0)

Note that this calculates and stores the normals of the mesh as it looks in edit mode, ie. before any modifiers. Your armature modifier for example will change the normals.

You can swap out the reconstructed normal for the actual normal in the shader to see that it works.