Hipoly road to low poly

Menechu

I'm used to high poly modeling but I sure do have this weak spot when it comes to making high poly models with the intention of baking them onto a low poly cage.

So for example. if I have this type of model prepared. Taken from the last post that inspired my question.




So with something as complex as this I circled these specific areas that I thought about.

Is this whole model completely connected vert to vert for all edges. This is one model? or A bunch of pieces stuck together?

What is the best way to prepare a low poly mesh for this? Retopology with deraster? Are there any programs out there that may help develop a cage for something this complex?

Thanks!

aniceto

yes he would have used separate/floating/intersecting geometry(unless he's crazy, I don't know:D).
whether it's "one" model or not is irrelevant.
just look at earthquake's post history cause he rants about this issue all the time :<

as for making the low poly; this mesh isn't that complicated if you break it down. it's a few cylinders connected to some boxes, basically. the lowpoly would be easy peasy.
optimising the subd base mesh is one way to start the lowpoly.

DInusty

model high. in pieces ur just trying to get the look right. then make low polys for all the parts u want. u can separate it out how ever u want as long as it looks how it should in the end.

then separate all the parts out like if u explode a car from its parts. bake each low poly part the its highpoly counterpart then reassemble.

hope that helps

commander_keen

that high res model is probably 100's of separate objects. The low res model should probably be a single element.