Workflow to create normal maps

Development Asset Creation
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Hi,
I have some questions about normal maps. We are mainly scanning shoes and action figures for now.
Here is our two main challenge about post processing our mesh and texture.

1] File Data Size to big
2] Diminishing surface details while operating retopo process in Zbrush

We are currently doing retopo with Zbrush to reduce file size, but have problems with losing surface details.
Therefore we are studying to extract high detail normal maps and doing simplifying on RC rather than doing retopo on Zbrush.

1] Will normal maps achieve our goals?
2] What would be the recommended workflow and tools?

Regards,
Justin

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If I were you I wouldn’t simplify too much in RC. You want to keep as much detail as you can until you have baked your maps, then you can move forward with your low poly retopo and your maps. I do my retopo with Blender, but it’s the same principle. Model it using large quads just to get the chunked out edge flow, then subdivide/shrinkwrap for medium detail, and then bake the rest. Ballpark numbers (for shoe), 1 million high poly -> 10k low + normal map virtually the same.