Retopology OR decimation?

KeelyNoodle · Mar 2019

Hi, so I'm creating an environment for my final year college project, ancient ruins, so I've decided to sculpt details then bake them onto a low poly, as I'd like to import the models into Unreal. But I'm having trouble with retop and baking. This is one of the sculpts in ZBrush:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/74/ulh6qj12bgy6.png

And I've made two attempts at retop (Maya) and baking (Substance Painter):
ATTEMPT 1:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/09/p1g9x2br0ke5.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/vw/f7ex6can7i6l.png

ATTEMPT 2:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/3f/u6ktmnpqcqg3.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/vp/fkhs62ob86zy.png

I have played with the Max Frontal Distance and Max Rear Distance (0.05 being the best possible outcome) but no value seems to bake correctly. Therefore I would like to know if I have retopologised incorrectly, or should I instead decimate the mesh in ZBrush and use that as a low poly, after all I want to follow the practices used in the games industry.

Thank you very much

Noors · Mar 2019

You obviously didnt unwrap correctly your objects. For such static environnement objects, you could totally go with a decimated object. But either method can be used (or a mix) and can produce a correct result. Attempt 1 is better than the 2 btw.But imo it should be 1 continous object. Use geometry to define the silhouette. Triangles must have a role in defining the shape, else they are useless.

KeelyNoodle · Mar 2019

You know, I completely forgot you had to UV first, I'm such a plonker. Right, I will keep trying and take your advice, cheers.

musashidan · Mar 2019

KeelyNoodle said:

You know, I completely forgot you had to UV first, I'm such a plonker. Right, I will keep trying and take your advice, cheers.

I'm sorry, but this was a coffee spitting moment....

kanga · Mar 2019

Retopology OR decimation?

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