Unwrap question

Schrodinger's Backface

First off, I realize these unwraps are shitty. They were kind of just thrown together for the example

So other than having a nice presentation, what's wrong with doing A? As in, overlapping all of these (wooden boards). There isn't going to be any normals baked with projection. Why do I so often see unwraps spread out.. is that for individual detail? (Like

If I overlap them like in A, wouldn't my textures have a better resolution?

Still new to this stuff, I guess I just need this cleared up.

Schrodinger's Backface

Also, a few more details: It is supposed to be exported as an FBX into UDK if that makes any difference.

Ott

A = No real ability to bake normals, no unique AO, no unique texture, higher texture resolution

B = Ability to bake normals, unique AO, unique texturing, lower resolution texture.

As an artist, you have to decide which one you want. BOTH methods are acceptable and used by artists, but you are the one who has to weigh the pros and cons for the specific case.

ZacD

You can bake normal maps that are overlapping and mirrored, you just have to do it the right ways.

ivanzu

I would use:
A-if its was for a game because some engines can bake AO inside the engine.But you cant get unique texture and normals maps cant be baked from H-poly model.
B-Said above

Schrodinger's Backface

Awesome! Thanks for the help. I think I get it now

tristamus

In most cases, the better option is B, however as said before, it depends what you need.

petrol

As another option, you could consider somewhere between the two.

If you had a box with say, 3 panels per side for all 6 sides, you could normal map 3 or 4 planks seperately and build the box from them (or a variation on that theme, depending on how you prefer to model/UV)