Normal mapping problems

Luke_Starkie

Hey guys, i don't know if this has already been answered but i always seem to have a problem when normal mapping. Every time try creating a normal map for a Low poly model from the high poly, the normal map never creates properly ( I'm using x normal by the way), i really don't know what i am doing wrong, the the low poly geometry need to float above the high poly or the other way around?

Help would be great, thanks a lot!

ghaztehschmexeh

pictures of your meshes would help a lot

Luke_Starkie

Its not happening with this mesh, i haven't UV'd this one yet, I'd just like a heads up I'm after I'm not sure if i am doing the low poly correctly?

kwshipman

There are any number of ways for normals to go wrong. without seeing models/normal maps that you have had problems with, it is hard to guess why it "never creates properly."

Also, are you using a cage in xNormal, or just the low/high poly?

Olli.

If you use 3ds max to model, i suggest you try learn baking the maps in 3ds max as well. I've found 3ds max's render to texture tool to be less buggy than xnormal

ghaztehschmexeh

In my experience normal map baking is harder than it first seems, to get a good result anyway. Watch some tutorials, and then try it with simple models. You'll pick up what effects the bake.

Luke_Starkie

I'm mainly just confused about the two models, i made the high poly first, then built a low from the high, i don't know if the low poly Geometry needs to float over the top of the high poly or underneath?

Kurt Russell Fan Club

They should be in roughly the same place. It's common for the low and high to go over the top in parts and underneath in parts because of course the low poly is mostly straight lines and the HP is all bumpy. But you shouldn't be trying to make sure one of them is slightly smaller/larger - just make them the same size and make the high poly more detailed.

Don't let it scare you, just try it and post any problems you have.

EarthQuake

Luke_Starkie wrote: »

I'm mainly just confused about the two models, i made the high poly first, then built a low from the high, i don't know if the low poly Geometry needs to float over the top of the high poly or underneath?

Match as closely as possible, too large or too small will give you errors in some situations so just try to keep the low as flush as possible.

Adjust your cage/ray length settings so that the low projection mesh encompasses the high, but the actual lowpoly should be as close as possible.

Luke_Starkie

Ah right, I'll give it a shot then. Cheers guys!

Luke_Starkie

Sorry about the massive bump, but this is really bothering me. This is what i was talking about before, as you can see Ive decimated my high poly for use in max, but the high poly is showing through the low poly, does the low poly have to sit perfectly above until the high poly does not go over the surface or does it not matter? Help would be greatly appreciated.

Luke_Starkie

Ah yeah i get what you mean, thanks a lot man! Its really been bugging me