When normal mapping assets what is better ?

snap.crackle.pop

Question from a newbie

Should i build an highpoly model first or should i start with a lowpoly and then refine everything and convert to a normal map ? im asking because im stuck at just thinking about it and i cant really makeup my mind around creating a N.M

I think i got the normal map virgin syndrome, can someone point me out in the good direction ?

Thanks

rooster

99.9% of people will tell you to make the high poly first, myself included. then you can make the low poly using the hi as a guide

Rhinokey

i think you should just keep doing what you are doing now, its all art and thats all that matters! in fact i bet a lot of people don't know as much about normal mapping as you do, so that pretty much makes you skilled by default


Good Job!

aniceto

[ QUOTE ]
99.9% of people will tell you to make the high poly first, myself included. then you can make the low poly using the hi as a guide

[/ QUOTE ]

And you can make things easy for yourself by reusing some parts of the high poly base mesh in the low poly, after optimising of course

Steve Schulze

One thing I've wondered is how do you build a low poly model around your high poly if you're working with millions of polys? If if you go down a few levels and export a version to build from you usually still wind up with a seriously laggy modelling package.

Mongrelman

Level 2 or 3 from zbrush is pretty much as high as you'd need for a base high detail model to work around. Since you're aiming at keeping the silhouette close to the high poly model, the silhoutte on level 2 or 3 is pretty much exactly what it will be on the highest level, it's just missing the micro detail.

If you have lag problems then you can break up the high res mesh into parts and stick them in different layers, so you only need to have one bit shown at a time.

sprunghunt

I also tend to save copies of my hipoly model early on in the modeling process. Before I've added smaller details. I can then use this to make the lowpoly.