Normal Mapping Hard Surfaces

TheSlooth

ok, so I understand the concept of normal mapping and when it comes to organic objects my normal maps all seem to work very well. This all changes, however, when I try to create a normal map for a hard surface, especially things that have to have straight edges (pieces of a robot, binoculars, gun barrels etc.) all my straight edges come out warped and the normal map looks like garbage. I feel like modeling straight edges in Mudbox or Zbrush is an exercise in futility so I tried modeling both the high and low resolution models in Maya. This is when I get the most warping in my Maps. Is there any way to get out of this pit of hard surface frustration?

Nosslak

I have never really used normal maps for any real project but I've heard that if you make something face 90 degrees to the face that you normal map on that has 90 degrees details pointing out from it on the highpoly then it's just not going to work. If you make the angles 80-85 degrees to the normal or bevel them then it should probably work better.

I know my explanation ain't good but it's hard to describe.

alexk

post some pics, will probably give you a better suggestion on solving your problems.. what Nosslak is very true, in a addition, check out http://www.acetylenegames.com/artbymasa/tuts/tut-modeling_for_next-gen_games.jpg which has some nice tips for hard surfaces

Mark Dygert

The distortion you see in the normal map, is more then likely distortion in the UV's? But its hard to say for sure without seeing pics.

Eric Chadwick

Some info here
http://wiki.polycount.net/Normal_Map#SmoothingGroupsAndHardEdges