Normal Map Seam Issue

Nhoefer146

I've been battling seams like this one on multiple static meshes now, and I decided to come to the community to help me out. I put together a picture showing what I am having problems with.



1. Here is the seam on the mesh that I'm working on.

2. Here is the UVW map that I laid out, but if you notice, I split the spirals in half to optimize texture space.

3. This is the rendered normal map without any editing. One thing I point out is that I don't even have anything in that texture space but the seams are still there!

I am just wondering why this is happening and if I can fix this with the spiral's uvs remaining split.

Thanks!

Ben Apuna

In this particular case I think it would be a better idea to use a non-square texture so that you don't have to split the UVs in those places.

Ace-Angel

I don't see the fuss, you don't have any details on those parts of the models, so just unwrap them normally and even at a small scale, it will be fine.

Unless you plan on something different.

Shogun3d

It's honestly a pretty bad place to put a uv seam unless it's not seen. Have you tried baking that section as a single smoothing group?

SsSandu_C

you might think I am trolling but...

"you don't have any" normal "details on those parts of the models," make "that section as a single smoothing group" <

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Solution

Nhoefer146

The reason I put a uv seam there was to optimize my layout, and thats why I am so confused, there is not any "normal" details in that area, but even with a single smoothing group, the seam still remains there.

Fortunately, Ben Apune recently thought of a simple solution. Leave the spiral uv's connected, but use a 1024x512 layout instead of the typical 1024x1024. Then I'll use the entire space efficiently! Thanks!

knak47

hear is a seam It doesnt show up in Max with the 3point shader, the lightmap UVs are fine but its showing up when I bake lighting. I can really see it when I turn on only detailed lighting (alt+5).