Uv space question

polygonfreak

Let's see if I can explain this.



So the uv's on the left are on their own separate island based on the smoothing groups 1-4 and hard edges. the uv on the right is one smoothing group, and my question is will it matter if I break the uv for my normal map? since it is on the same smoothing group?

polygonfreak

yeah, just figured that out. So much to know... so little time.

Quack!

If it is on the same uv island...make it on the same smoothing group. This means you have to plan all of your seams very carefully. I prefer to have as few islands as possible with lots of little seams. These seams would be on hard angles where a chamfer would be wasteful and the uv would stretch.

Focus all your seams on areas the player will not focus on ever. If the player will focus an area of the model either add geo to the model so the uvs can be on 1 island, or make the seam hidden from view.