3DS max, Symmetry, and Normal maps.

whiketan

Google has failed me yet another time. The sadness of poorly documented problems.

Anyways! I am having some real issues with normal maps in 3ds max 2011. I've been using the symmetry modifier to preserve some UV space, and I'm getting all sorts of issues such as overly visible seams and normals on one side of the model not facing the right direction:


Edit: image appears broke, here's a link: http://s1343.photobucket.com/user/beng128/media/hydraliskissue_zps17a369d7.png.html

dis make me sad.

I am aware of the thing where you move one set of Uvs over one space to make it work, but I tried it and I dont think its working, also I'm fairly certain that the engine I'm exporting wont support it.

I call upon the combined human intelligence that is the internet! Thanks in advance for any advice.

whiketan

bump ba dum bumb. Help please? With a cherry?

Psyk0

Apply symmetry first, offset UV's and then bake, usually works for me.

Edit: what EQ said, i forgot to mention i keep my stack empty (collapse everything and throw on a reset xform) whenever i bake.

whiketan

anything else besides the offset?

cptSwing

Looks like you could use some padding as well.

Noors

Post screens of your shaded mesh with no texture, your uvs, your normal map. If you did things in the right order, it should be fine.
Not sure if max default shader displays it correctly. What's your engine ? Anyway, this isn't really a matter of engine, but shader and mesh exporter/importer as it has to keep the same tangents and binormals as max.

EarthQuake

Probably going to be best to collapse the symmetry modifier and weld the center verts. Not sure exact how your mesh will be constructed if you don't, probably not in a friendly way(ie: two sides not actually connected).