LODs game character

zzz7net

Does game character must have one texture for all LODs
or each LOD must have separate texture and different UV Layouts ?

For example we have three LODs, as a result we need 3 different UV-mappings and 3 diffuse textures for each LOD ?

DeadlyFreeze

Generally speaking, ya that's how it works. Getting hacky you can try and whittle down LOD 1 to retain the same UV's but probably easier to just re-bake the diffuse outright.

Andreas

Really? I would have said they just weld verts to cut down on tri counts.

Rick_D

DeadlyFreeze wrote: »

Generally speaking, ya that's how it works. Getting hacky you can try and whittle down LOD 1 to retain the same UV's but probably easier to just re-bake the diffuse outright.

character artists always take the hardest, most expensive way possible.

zzz7net

Andreas wrote: »

Really? I would have said they just weld verts to cut down on tri counts.

Yes if you have 6k polys and the next LOD gonna be 5.5k polys it will do the trick. But if your LOD is 2 times lower the shape, topology and as a result uvs would be bad enough doing this way. That is why I'm asking about well done LODs.

zzz7net

Rick_D wrote: »

character artists always take the hardest, most expensive way possible.

It's not so hard, but the question is you'll getting more textures doing the same and showing the same object. As a result the character will take extra memory space.

LoTekK

You can also blow stupid money on Simplygon (or if you're on UDK you already have access to it), which will crunch your model while doing a pretty fantastic job of respecting UV layouts (assuming a sensible unwrap, of course).

But yes, you should be trying to retain your UVs as best you can for your LODs (that way you can simply use the lower mips when you swap LOD levels).

darthwilson

Simplygon is an awesome tool which I advise trying! Like LoTeKK said a sensible unwrap it should work okay! Same with the model, if the model features good topology then it should simplify easier.

I've had problems with control however, especially with separate elements of a mesh which get nerfed completely.

zzz7net

I've heard in Unity you can't change mat throughout LOD`s
So it's gonna be one UV Layout and one textures for all (((