@Ashervisalis I ignore smoothing groups mostly while I am building the low poly. To be clear I mean, I cut the UVs where needed on hard edges and angle changes, I then use a script which makes hard edges (smoothing groups in max) based on where I've cut the UV's :)
I think Ashervisalis is referring to hard and soft edges like smoothing groups (as they are called in max) or soften/harden edge in maya. This video seems to cover it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ-pryZFQk It basically just controls whether an edge will produce a hard seam or whether it will smoothly shade. This is…