3ds Max Normal Map Seams

FadesEdge

Hello everyone,

-Low and high poly head model
-Projection modifier to extract the normal map
-Everything is working perfectly except...
-On UV seams I am having an issue where the normal map red channel is inverted on each side of a seam.
-I have looked through every solution thread etc and I can't work out how to have the red channel line up perfectly on UV seams?

I would really appreciate any help. I can provide images if needed.

Dethling

Which programm do you used for baking?
Do you used a cage for the bake?
Do you assigned smoothing groups to the low poly?

Can you post a screen of the actual problem? Map and Model?

Rumkugel

Have you tried the old trick using a zeroed box attach to the object and then re-bake?
reset xForm?

FadesEdge

I will try the box thing now

Sculpt in Mudbox Bake in Max 2011
Using a cage
I have 1 smoothing group applied to the low poly model

Rumkugel

Split mesh along seamline into different smoothing groups.
then do a box attach
then rebake.

FadesEdge

No joy with the smoothing group/ box idea still a seam in the red channel

Rumkugel

pics please

FadesEdge

From left to right

-Normal on low poly in Unity
-Normal map
-Red Channel (red shows where the map meets and shows the inversions issue)

From what I understand the UV seam is cutting the model behind the scenes and therefore the seam is appearing as a result... The question I suppose I have is whether or not there's a workaround for that?

Sequisha

I would test the map on your mesh in a game or rendering engine, this may be a max viewport bug. I see it all the time with abrupt seams in Max then it reads perfectly in a game engine.