A newb question - low & high poly
I'm very new to modeling, like days new, and I'm trying to learn everything from tutorials, but they all seem to address more complex problems. Assume i have learned enough, or can learn enough, from these tutorials to create a high poly model or a low poly model. Here's my question; how do i create both at once or something? Or convert from high to low or vice-versa. If it matters, my goal is to model something for TF2.
Replies
For something like TF2 you could probably just model in lowpoly. Not all of TF2's assets use normal mapping.
The idea is that the highpoly is the source for lighting information to be baked down to the low. It is therefore better to create first, so you can be sure the proportion and detail placement looks correct.
as far as hard surface modeling, kind of up to you. i would personally say that it's best to start off with a subdivision surface and do your high poly as soon as possible, because you'll have a lot less kinks to work out later on.
my philosophy would be that you just need it to look good somewhere, and retopologizing will save you any drama afterwards
Learn to poly model and you're set.
searching for retopology turned up lots of good stuff