Normal map questions

getrag

I have complety hard problem with normal maps. I ve watched a lot of tutorials and i dont really get it right. I hope someone can help me


Normal map from max
http://imgur.com/rEi2K1Y&ylpxPgd#0

from x Normal
http://imgur.com/rEi2K1Y&ylpxPgd#1

Some of my thoughts and questions

I ve unwraped model in max, each uv iland( or island) dont know how you call it have their own smooting group 3 island - 3 smooting groups, then projection modyfier. i make cage and pick reference mesh then exportort to xnormal as sbm(low definition mesh). High definition mesh i exported before.

1) Why i have hugh difference between normal maps from xnormal and 3ds max
xNormal-high poly mesh notming modyfied low poly mesh use cage(selected) and use exported normals. Normal map option X+ Y- Z+

2)When i try in xNormal average normals, and calculate ray distance normap map is even worse

3) Does it matter to reset xForm before exporting to xNormal? I ve Nottice just small difference.

4)And in last how Andrew Smith recieve better result with 12 side cylinder than i with 18 sides?

http://imgur.com/juyJFqh
scene from max. low poly(red)146 poly( 18 side cylinder)

original tutorial from youtube
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbgWq4QElGc"][Asset Creation] Next Gen Barrel - YouTube[/ame]

Thanks from any kind of reply, and yes ive read polycount wikipedia before posting this thread.

ponjarphy

I am not sure about this, but did you try baking your map with a cage model?
I've before experienced trouble when baking normal maps in xnormal without a cage mesh

getrag

http://imgur.com/SWC64h0

yep i tried like this, but look at the warning;

huffer

You need to convert your object to Editable Mesh not Editable Poly to get the cage export working in xNormal. From my understanding, that makes the difference between the two normal maps, if you use the cage in xNormal they should look more the same.

getrag

Thanks huffer i knew that it will be some noobish problem ;(