High poly diffuse map on low poly model

3Des

Hello. It's possible to bake high poly diffuse map and then use this map on low poly model? 

Nowhere can I find information about this.

cryrid

Most baking programs will let you bake diffuse textures just as easily as normal/ao/etc maps. What program are you using to bake? 

3Des

SP2, quixel, 3ds max for id map. I don't know how move high poly ID map for low poly. Can you explain me? 

FlyingWright

As long as your UVWs are projection mapped properly, or your UVWs are matched manually (however your personally do them) any texture can be used for a normal, diffuse, or specular map.

In fact, baking detail to materials from a high poly model to a low poly is how 'good' texture work is done.

3Des

Ok, I understood, but how i can do that? I done UVWs personally.

huffer

Yes, it's easy, you can use Render to Texture, just like you would do a NormalMap, with you highres as source (with a material with 100 Self-Illumination to avoid shadows and highlights) but choosing DiffuseMap or CompleteMap. Here's an article explaining some things you can do with Render to Texture (not related to baking your map, but a good read).

FlyingWright

Build your high poly model, and bake an "ambient occlusion" map  as well as a normal map for details that will be lost when you convert to low poly. Bake your diffuse at this time as well too.

3Des

Ok. I have one more question. What way is better : creating first high poly model then reduce number of polygons, or creating first low poly, then copy model and creating high poly model?