Edge Smoothing Decals

Carlbot

Hello everyone - Does anybody know if there is a way to use decals strips which only contain normal information to smooth the edges of a mesh beneath it - so you would achieve the same results as face weighted normals without the mesh being chamfered but relying on the decal strips to provide the normal information for those had edges? 

This approach would also be used as per the Star Citizen approach of floating decals to add normal information to an otherwise flat surface.

I will be looking to use this in Cryengine.

I would really appreciate some help with this if anyone could shed some light on implementing this

Carlbot

There could be a pizza in it for the person to find my solution - that's how much I want it!

Sajeet

Have you read this thread? http://polycount.com/discussion/155894/decal-technique-from-star-citizen/p1
Not sure if cryengine is discussed, maybe its a start for you..

Scruples

@Carlbot Check out this pdf for Sunset Overdrive, http://twvideo01.ubm-us.net/o1/vault/gdc2015/presentations/Olsen_Morten_TheUltimateTrim.pdf
and this thread where some polycounters try it (and have varying amount of success)
http://polycount.com/discussion/160794/the-ultimate-trim-technique-from-sunset-overdrive

Carlbot

I have indeed read the Star Citizen post - Sadly I couldn't find anything regarding the use of it in Cryengine. I will give that pdf a look Scruples!

Carlbot

Interesting approach however I was looking for something more like so.


Included both views - I only import the floating mesh with a Normal map attached - the left image is only there to show what the floating geo is displaying.

Not sure if there is a way to have only the Normal map display over the top of the underlying mesh in Cryengine. So you are aware; the Normal references a separate map with a horizontally tiling 90 degree normal over two smoothing groups.

Carlbot

Seeing as this has slipped back - I am shamefully bumping to see if anyone else is able to shed some light on my problem. Obviously if bumping is not allowed then delete my thread.

m4dcow

I think the problem would be showing only normal information. You could create a decal strip, with an alpha, that has it's own albedo/normal/gloss, which works great on chipped rock and stuff where the edge would be different than the main material. But for something like wooden steps, you would be better off chamfering these edges, even if the edge decals could work you would spend less geometry not to mention less draw calls from not having the decal material.

Carlbot

I was going to chamfer but was hoping there would be some delightful trickery that I wasn't aware of. It would have been nice to get it working as I'd be able to easily get nice variations in the edge normals at great resolution. Maybe I am hoping for too much!

GlowingPotato

I'am looking for something similar. I have a lot of wood pieces that together, becomes a wooden house.
So i'am looking for a way to use a texture trim, and have beveled edges on all wooden pieces.  I managed to get the "Ultimate trim" from sunset overdrive working. But is a pain in the a** to match the UV to the normal map without any scripting. 

Basicaly, What I want to achieve, is to each piece of wood looks like it have its own texture (not color), but actually, I'am using one texture set for everything. Am I thinking too high ?
So back to lab again....