Low poly from high poly model for successful baking in 3DS Max?

PainkilleR1024 · Aug 2018

Hello there! I am a student who is about to finish my 3d modeling course and I am preparing my portfolio for a game company. So.. I'm having trouble in understanding how a low poly model (with different pieces/parts) can be baked to the high poly using the projection modifier. How do I make sure that the different parts of the model with their respective UVs dont overlap for maps like Normal and Ambient Occlusion maps? As you can see from the attached image the model has several pieces which are not attached.. I am advised to present my portfolio using 3ds max and Photoshop only. Please help me out in explaining the correct / general workflow for making game models using these two software.

What is the best way to make the low poly?
Should the pieces be attached with a single UV map?

JesseL · Aug 2018

I assume you mean bump map baking given game design, there is this tutorial which goes through the steps. It is based in Maya but the vast majority is applicable to 3d max

https://flippednormals.com/products/military-radio-modeling-texturing-complete-edition/

https://flippednormals.com/products/hard-surface-basics-01-using-uv-coordinates-to-deform-geometry/

Brian "Panda" Choi · Aug 2018

1) your high poly can be composed of as many individual meshes as you'd like
2) Your low poly can be as well. They just need to correspond to the specific HP meshes as need be.
3) If you want clean bakes you either A. Explode Bake or B. Bake by Groups
4) I personally recommend getting Marmoset Toolbag 3 because A. it's a very visual baker and B. It's stupidly faster and simpler than Max's solutions.

PainkilleR1024 · Aug 2018

JesseL said:

I assume you mean bump map baking given game design, there is this tutorial which goes through the steps. It is based in Maya but the vast majority is applicable to 3d max

https://flippednormals.com/products/military-radio-modeling-texturing-complete-edition/

https://flippednormals.com/products/hard-surface-basics-01-using-uv-coordinates-to-deform-geometry/

Thank you so much for your response.. Will look into this

PainkilleR1024 · Aug 2018

Brian "Panda" Choi said:

1) your high poly can be composed of as many individual meshes as you'd like
2) Your low poly can be as well. They just need to correspond to the specific HP meshes as need be.
3) If you want clean bakes you either A. Explode Bake or B. Bake by Groups
4) I personally recommend getting Marmoset Toolbag 3 because A. it's a very visual baker and B. It's stupidly faster and simpler than Max's solutions.

---->
Thanks a lot for your detailed response..
Will try option 3.
I am advise to present my portfolio using Max and Photoshop only.

Brian "Panda" Choi · Aug 2018

They only want you to use Max and Photoshop?

What?

That;s not what most professionals do at all.

Are they going to actually give you bad marks if you use other tools?
I'd really ask your instructors if you can use some other tools to make your life easier while working on this, and in fact, make your project look better to boot.

If they're limiting you because you need to master the software in this specific way, it seems unnecessary from a production artist standpoint.

Alex_J · Aug 2018

I suspect there is some language barrier, but reading OP's post carefully gives me the impression they lack some vital knowledge about how the game asset workflow, specifically baking, usually goes. It's kind of too much to explain in a single thread, but I'd recommend for OP to spend as much time as they can reviewing the polycount wiki and also working through a few complete game asset creation tutorials -- just whatever is quickest -- to get a better understanding of what baking is all about, and also so they can work through some of the issues that can be answered more easily should they need.

Low poly from high poly model for successful baking in 3DS Max?

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