Normal Map baking problems with Cage

Benshes

Hey guys, I could really use some help here.

I've recently started working with normal maps and already spent quite some time with the whole normal map baking topic. Today I found out about cages and how to use them, but this is where my problem comes in. The edges of my low poly object (with the normal map applied) look better with the cage used, but it also somehow hides some details of the high poly mesh. When I don't use the cage the edges don't really look very polished, but all the details are noticeable.

Low Poly Mesh:



High Poly Mesh:



Low poly mesh with Normal Map applied (no cage used):



Low poly mesh with Normal Map applied (cage used):



I've tried baking both in xNormal and directly in Blender, but I get the same problem in both of them. The cage I use is just a slightly bigger version of the low poly mesh.

Thank you in advance.

Benshes

Ok, I think i figured it out on my own after all. My cage was just too small and increasing the distance at the places where it didn't look right solved the problem for me.

Shrike

Spend the 100$ on marmoset, you'll don't need to make a cage, see the cage in real time and can paint some offsets (maybe in Knald also?), makes the whole process so much easier. Haven't made a custom cage in some time.

musashidan

You don't even need a cage with mikkt baking. It's been years since I've used one.

ant1fact

Looks like a big doorway you have there. I think it's a bit of a waste to bake this onto a unique texture. Might be better to bake a sheet of those details first, and then place them on your mesh where you want them with UVs and then use face weighted normals a nice rounded look on the edges.