Lets create a complex lightmap - Open discussion

[Hainzgrimmer]

@ZacD;524426

I triangulate before baking the normal map, because not doing so can cause some errors if the different apps aren’t triangulating the same internally. I don’t like UVing a triangulated mesh, because it makes selecting edge loops harder.

For the low poly, all i did was create a cube with some edge loops, subdivided it, and then shrink-wrapped them around each cushion, and relaxed the mesh a tiny bit to reduce any areas where the geometry was too tight. Took maybe 10 minutes. I used cubes because they are easy to unwrap like a cardboard box.

I’m getting addicted to this method but it’s not immediate as it seems! (or maybe is just because I’m a newbie xD ) can I ask you if you “multiply” your normal maps? I’m getting way better results than before even with first trials, but it not seems me so “bumby” as yours (I’m really envy! ahahahah)

@darthviper107;524513

When you model your high poly mesh it can help to keep the low-poly version in mind. For cushions for example, you probably have a version that would work as low-poly before you subdivide and add the wrinkle detail, so it can be a good practice to save a separate file whenever you are going to do certain changes so that you can go back and get the low-poly meshes if needed.

That’s for sure but (I don’t know if for the other people is the same) I don’t model every object/piece of furniture I put in my scenes when I make renders with v-ray: more often I buy the models I need or (if I’m lucky) I find free versions of them, so I’d like to discuss about methods to reuse models that cg-artists use everyday!