::Modular Asset(s) Shading Problem::

CT007

I need to make a set of modular tunnels & caves that are totally seamless(no vertex normal seams, no texture seams) for UDK/UT3. Anyone have a tutorial(=pix) or know how? I have no idea how to fix the vertex normals, or what the proper setup for using tiling texture(s) is on something like this. Thanks...

Example of modular tunnel failure, with obvious vert normal seams:
Lighting only/Unlit/Lit:

DarthNater

Looks like you have the light too close to the meshes. Try moving it and increasing its overal influence (make its range bigger). Issues like this happen to me all the time. Just try moving the lights around and messing with the brightness and the range...

MoP

Can you export custom vertex normals out with static meshes from your modelling application? Or does Unreal always average them and regenerate the vertex normals?

It looks like, since the curved sections start straight into the curve, the vertex normals there are not "straight out" on the corners - instead they're pointing inward a bit. While the vertex normals on the flat wall sections are pointing straight out. Therefore they don't match up.

If you can't export or use custom normals, then the next solution would be just to have single poly at the end of each curved section which is perfectly straight (ie. aligned with the flat walls) - that way it will appear continuous since the vertex normals will match.

I don't know Unreal Engine much but I don't think that's a problem with the light.

Edit: Here's a quick and dirty image, might help to explain what I'm talking about:

breakneck

i just posted in the udk thread about a similar problem. however its happening on completely flat planes, http://boards.polycount.net/showthread.php?t=67290&page=9
i'll go into max and check my normals though. . .

cryrid

however its happening on completely flat planes,

http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/LightingReference.html#Lightmaps

Scroll down to the part about Lighting Subdivisions?

breakneck

cryrid: fortunate for me, my problem was as simple as upping the quality of the lighting build. the lighting subdivisions didn't seem to have an effect on the issue.

cryrid

cryrid: fortunate for me, my problem was as simple as upping the quality of the lighting build. the lighting subdivisions didn't seem to have an effect on the issue.

Isn't that what the lighting subdivisions section says? (lower the resolution to fix the problem and maintain the shadow)

breakneck

no, i'm speaking of when I build the lights. i was testing at a preview setting. switching to production light build is what fixed my problems.

cryrid

Ahh, gotchya

CT007

MoP, you're right; it's the vert normals. I messed around in Maya trying to get it right, but the best I could get was to average normals. I'm not techy enough to use the vertex normal tool or whatever it is, not that I know it would fix the problem. I combined the pieces into main sections; a 3-way, a 4-way, a bend, and a hallway section, which helps a lot, but seams are still visible with less light(only where each mesh connects, not on any mesh individually).

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I'm totally stumped here as to how to make an entirely seamless modular tunnel set. Anyone got a tutorial? Preferably with tiling textures, UDK. Thx a mill-