Weighted Normals (Mid Poly) Workflow Clarification?

amankart

Hi all, 
I'm playing around with the mid poly workflow in maya and had a question regarding the workflow from modeling to texturing to engine as I have yet to find a proper answer on this from the different tutorials I've watched.

This is my software setup.
In case software version matters. Alot of research I've seen is from older articles, version of software, or different 3d packages entirely:
- Maya 2026
- Most recent version of Substance Painter (Jan 2026)
- Unreal 5.4.4

Here's what I have on my workflow so far:

Terminology:

• A technique to make low poly meshes look smoother, more accurately, without adding crazy additional detail

• Doesn’t alter silhouette much

• Thin, one segment bevel in selected area 

• Bigger, structural, silhouette-affecting bevels will not be weighted

Workflow:

• Model asset
• Select corresponding hard edges
• Apply 1 segment bevel (0.05, 0.01)
• Select entire mesh
• Mesh display - set to face 
• Mesh display - soften edge 
• Mesh display unlock then lock normals
• Display - polygons face normals
• Display polygons vert normals
• Create mesh decals

When to use?

• Reserved mostly for hard surface assets + architecture (both background and hero assets)

• Good for up close and medium distance assets (far away assets not need that extra detail 

• For game ready assets only

• Helps with tessellation in engine (mentioned in a video I saw)

• When you don’t want to bake a normal map but want to show extra detail

Example meshes:

• Machinery
• Vehicles
• Weapons
• Containers
• Walls
• Sci-fi equipment

I want to know if a mid poly asset requires a high poly asset to be baked or if that defeats the purpose of this workflow? And any additional gaps in my knowledge that would be helpful?

sacboi

In most use cases, mid poly modeled with appropriate detail will serve as both the source and target mesh, without the need for a conventional high to low poly bake workflow. In other words Substance Painter for example, enables the user to self-bake their mesh maps. Anyhow check out these comprehensive tutorials which should provide further extensive info and personally proved quite useful recently.

https://www.artstation.com/blogs/blacksteinn/7o3WB/midpoly-the-ultimate-guide-with-all-working-nuances

https://80.lv/articles/creating-an-assault-rifle-in-sunstance-3d-painter-and-unreal-engine-5  Mid Poly Generating Realistic Materials

Mid Poly to Substance Painter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8hbDhdGQu0

Edit:

Additionally depending on complexity, a WNs mesh may ouput high triangle counts although somewhat resolved culling hidden geometry + optimised topology.

Example: An element from a large Blender project I'm currently wrapping up:

Lookdev: Material preview:

Wires:

amankart

sacboi said:

In most use cases, mid poly modeled with appropriate detail will serve as both the source and target mesh, without the need for a conventional high to low poly bake workflow. In other words Substance Painter for example, enables the user to self-bake their mesh maps. Anyhow check out these comprehensive tutorials which should provide further extensive info and personally proved quite useful recently.

https://www.artstation.com/blogs/blacksteinn/7o3WB/midpoly-the-ultimate-guide-with-all-working-nuances

Mid Poly - Substance Painter Workflow - YT Vid 

https://80.lv/articles/creating-an-assault-rifle-in-sunstance-3d-painter-and-unreal-engine-5  Mid Poly Generating Realistic Materials

Edit:

Additionally depending on complexity, a WNs mesh may ouput high triangle counts although somewhat resolved culling hidden geometry + optimised topology.

Example: An element from a large Blender project I'm currently wrapping up:

Lookdev: Material preview:

Wires:

Thanks for the insight and sharing the links! I'll dig deeper into those articles. I'm having trouble opening the youtube link. could you please share it again here?

sacboi

Sure, re-edited my post