Normal Map Modeling - Revision history

EricChadwick: /* Edge Thickness */

2025-11-26T20:51:11Z

‎Edge Thickness

EricChadwick: /* Mirroring */ mirroring requires specific shader support

2020-06-25T17:08:47Z

‎Mirroring: mirroring requires specific shader support

EricChadwick: /* Contiguous Meshes */ Question about continuous meshes for low poly bakes

2016-01-09T20:38:39Z

‎Contiguous Meshes: Question about continuous meshes for low poly bakes

EricChadwick: gallery tags for better image captions

2015-07-29T19:46:12Z

gallery tags for better image captions

EricChadwick: removed
s

2015-07-29T19:36:21Z

removed <br>s

EricChadwick: /* Contiguous Meshes */ image size

2015-07-29T19:35:47Z

‎Contiguous Meshes: image size

EricChadwick: /* Mirroring */ gallery images

2015-07-29T19:34:42Z

‎Mirroring: gallery images

EricChadwick: /* Round Shapes */

2015-07-26T14:56:53Z

‎Round Shapes

EricChadwick: /* Modeling The High-Poly Mesh */ Round Shapes

2015-07-26T14:55:55Z

‎Modeling The High-Poly Mesh: Round Shapes

EricChadwick: /* Typical Mirroring Workflow */ UVs

2015-07-20T21:30:25Z

‎Typical Mirroring Workflow: UVs

@@ Line 156: / Line 156: @@
 <gallery mode="nolines" widths=770px heights=1180px>
-normal_edge_thickness.jpg|When creating edges of the Highpoly, sometimes you'll need to make them rounded than in real life to <br>work better at the size they will be seen. Image by [http://racer445.com/Evan "racer445" Herbert].
+normal_edge_thickness.jpg|When creating edges of the Highpoly, sometimes you'll need to make them rounded than in real life to <br>work better at the size they will be seen. Image by [https://racer445.artstation.com/resume Evan "racer445" Herbert].
 </gallery>
 === Floating Geometry ===

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:08, 25 June 2020
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	Normal maps can be mirrored across a model to create symmetrical details, and save UV space, which allows more detail in the normal map since the texture pixels are smaller on the model.		Normal maps can be mirrored across a model to create symmetrical details, and save UV space, which allows more detail in the normal map since the texture pixels are smaller on the model.

−	With [[Normal_Map_Technical_Details#Object-space_normal_map\|object-space]] maps, ~~mirroring requires~~ [http://~~boards.~~polycount.~~net~~/~~showthread.php?t=~~53986 specific shader support]. For [[Normal_Map_Technical_Details#Tangent-space_normal_map\|tangent-space]] maps, mirroring typically creates a shading seam, but this can be reduced or hidden altogether, depending on the method used.	+	With [[Normal_Map_Technical_Details#Object-space_normal_map\|object-space]] maps, [http://polycount.com/discussion/53986 mirroring requires specific shader support]. For [[Normal_Map_Technical_Details#Tangent-space_normal_map\|tangent-space]] maps, mirroring typically creates a shading seam, but this can be reduced or hidden altogether, depending on the method used.

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 === Contiguous Meshes ===
-Use contiguous low-poly meshes to avoid [[Texture Baking#Solving Intersections|overlap baking errors]], to minimize aliased edges in-game, and to optimize the [[Texture Coordinates|UV layout]]. Explained by Joe "EarthQuake" Wilson in the thread [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1778918#post1778918 Question about continuous meshes for low poly bakes].
+Use contiguous low-poly meshes to avoid [[Texture Baking#Solving Intersections|overlap baking errors]], to minimize aliased edges in-game, and to optimize the [[Texture Coordinates|UV layout]]. Explained by Joe "EarthQuake" Wilson in the thread [http://polycount.com/discussion/comment/1778918/#Comment_1778918 Question about continuous meshes for low poly bakes].
 <gallery mode="nolines" widths=588px heights=599px>

@@ Line 81: / Line 81: @@
 Each vertex however can have more than one vertex normal. When two triangles have different vertex normals along their shared edge, this creates a shading seam, called a ''hard edge'' in most modeling tools. 3ds Max uses ''Smoothing Groups'' to create hard/soft edges, Maya uses ''Harden Edge'' and ''Soften Edge''. These tools create hard and soft edges by splitting and combining the vertex normals.
-[[image:BenMathis_SmoothingGroups_Excerpt.gif|frame|none|Hard edges occur where the vertices have multiple normals. <br>Image by [http://poopinmymouth.com Ben 'poopinmymouth' Mathis] ([http://poopinmymouth.com/process/tips/smoothing_groups.jpg tutorial here])]]
+<gallery mode="nolines" widths=531px heights=168px>
 When a mesh uses all soft normals (a single smoothing group) the lighting has to be interpolated across the extreme differences between the vertex normals. If your renderer doesn't support the same [[Normal_Map_Technical_Details#Tangent_Basis|tangent basis]] that the baker uses, this can produce extreme shading differences across the model, which creates shading artifacts. It is generally best to reduce these extremes when you can because a mismatched renderer can only do so much to counteract it.
@@ Line 123: / Line 125: @@
 If you use bevels the shading will be improved by editing the [[VertexNormal]]s so the larger flat surfaces have perpendicular normals. The vertex normals are then forced to blend across the smaller bevel faces, instead of across the larger faces. See the Polycount thread [http://boards.polycount.net/showthread.php?t=66139 Superspecular soft edges tutorial chapter 1].
-[[image:oliverio_bevel_normals.gif|frame|none|Bending normals on bevelled models. <br>From the tutorial [http://deadlineproof.com/model-shading-techniques-soft-edge-superspecular/ Shading techniques Superspecular soft edges]<br>Image by [http://deadlineproof.com/ Paolo Oliverio]]]
+<gallery mode="nolines" widths=470px heights=466px>
 == Level of Detail Models ==
@@ Line 145: / Line 149: @@
 The closer in shape the low-poly mesh is to the high-poly mesh, the better the normal map will be. See the Polycount Forum thread [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81154 Understanding averaged normals and ray projection/Who put waviness in my normal map?].
-<gallery mode="packed" heights=350px>
+<gallery mode="nolines" widths=1080px heights=586px>
-wavy_barreltest_04.jpg|Adjusting topology to avoid distortion, from the Polycount Forum thread [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81154 Understanding averaged normals and ray projection/Who put waviness in my normal map?].<br/>Image by [http://www.linkedin.com/in/earthquake Joe "EarthQuake" Wilson]
+wavy_barreltest_04.jpg|Adjusting topology to avoid distortion, from the Polycount Forum thread [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81154 Understanding averaged normals and ray projection/Who put waviness in my normal map?] Image by [http://www.linkedin.com/in/earthquake Joe "EarthQuake" Wilson].
 </gallery>
 === Edge Thickness ===
-[[image:normal_edge_thickness.jpg|frame|none|When creating edges of the Highpoly, sometimes you'll need to make them rounded than in real life to <br>work better at the size they will be seen.<br>Image by [http://racer445.com/Evan "racer445" Herbert]]]
 === Floating Geometry ===
-[[image:FloatingGeo.jpg|frame|none|Normal map stores the direction the surface is facing rather than real depth information, thus allowing to save time using floating geometry. <br>To correctly bake AO with floating geo make it a separate object and turn off it's shadow casting. <br>Image by [http://artisaverb.info/ Andrew "d1ver" Maximov].]]
 See also [[3DTutorials/Modeling High-Low Poly Models for Next Gen Games|Modeling High/Low Poly Models for Next Gen Games]] by [http://www.acetylenegames.com/artbymasa/ João "Masakari" Costa]
@@ Line 160: / Line 170: @@
 === Sloped Extrusions ===
-[[image:normal_slopes_hatred.jpg|frame|none|Extrusions on the high-poly model should be sloped to make a better normal map. <br>Image by [http://www.hatred.gameartisans.org/ Krzysztof "Hatred" Dolas].]]
@@ Line 170: / Line 183: @@
 [http://cryrid.com/art/ Michael "cryrid" Taylor] posted a tutorial about how to use [http://cryrid.com/images/temp/XSI/zeroeffort_bevels.jpg Round Corners in XSI].
 ----
 [[Category:TextureTypes]] [[Category:Bump map]] [[Category:Topology]]

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 <gallery mode="nolines" widths=613px heights=364px>
-Normalmap_uvcoord_offset.jpg|Mirrored UVs (in red) are offset 1 unit before baking. <br>Image by [http://ericchadwick.com Eric Chadwick].
+Normalmap_uvcoord_offset.jpg|Mirrored UVs (in red) are offset 1 unit before baking. Image by [http://ericchadwick.com Eric Chadwick].
 </gallery>
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 <gallery mode="nolines" widths=770px heights=373px>
-Epic_MirroringCicada.jpg|In UE3 a center mirror seam is reduced by using a detail normal map. <br> Image by "[http://epicgames.com Epic Games]".
+Epic_MirroringCicada.jpg|In UE3 a center mirror seam is reduced by using a detail normal map. Image by "[http://epicgames.com Epic Games]".
 </gallery>
@@ Line 73: / Line 73: @@
 <gallery mode="nolines" widths=713px heights=477px>
-normalmap_mirrored-binocs-racer445.jpg|The middle part (highlighted in red) uses unique non-mirrored UVs, allowing the mesh on the right to be mirrored without any seams. <br>Image by [http://http://racer445.com/ "racer445"].
+normalmap_mirrored-binocs-racer445.jpg|The middle part (highlighted in red) uses unique non-mirrored UVs, allowing the mesh on the right to be mirrored without any seams. Image by [http://http://racer445.com/ "racer445"].
 </gallery>

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 To prevent the mirrored UVs from causing overlaps or baking errors, move the mirrored [[Normal_Map_Technical_Details#UV_Coordinates|UVs]] out of the 0-1 UV space, so only one copy of the non-mirrored UVs is left within the 0-1 square.
 To avoid texel "leaks" between the UV shells, make sure there's enough [[Edge padding]] around each shell, including along the edges of the normal map. None of the UV shells should be touching the edge of the 0-1 UV square, unless they're meant to tile with the other side of the map.
@@ Line 37: / Line 41: @@
 Make sure the triangulation is mirrored too. If not, this will cause shading errors because only one side will match the original bake.
-<gallery mode="nolines" heights=300px widths=300px>
+<gallery mode="nolines" widths=600px heights=711px>
 OrlandoJones_Triangulation_Error.jpg|Non-mirrored triangles cause a shading error. Image by [https://www.artstation.com/artist/orlandojones Orlando Jones].
 </gallery>
@@ Line 47: / Line 51: @@
 In Epic Games' [https://www.unrealengine.com/previous-versions Unreal Engine 3] (UE3) their symmetrical models commonly used centered mirroring. Epic used materials that mix a [[DetailMap]] with the normal maps; these seemed to scatter the diffuse/specular lighting and help minimize the obviousness of the mirror seams. For their [[Light Map]]ped models they used [http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/LightMapUnwrapping.html a technique] that almost completely hid the mirror seam.
-[[image:Epic_MirroringCicada.jpg|frame|none| In UE3 a center mirror seam is reduced by using a detail normal map. <br> Image by "[http://epicgames.com Epic Games]"]]
+<gallery mode="nolines" widths=770px heights=373px>
 * [http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showpost.php?p=573108&postcount=28 GOW2 normal map seams] - ZBrushCentral Forum
@@ Line 66: / Line 72: @@
 The mirror seam can be avoided completely when it doesn't run directly through any mesh. For example if there's a detached mesh element that runs down the center of the model, this can be uniquely mapped, while the meshes on either side can be mirrors of each other. Whenever the mirrored parts don't share any vertex normals with the non-mirrored parts, there won't be any seams.
-[[image:normalmap_mirrored-binocs-racer445.jpg|frame|none|The middle part (highlighted in red) uses unique non-mirrored UVs, allowing the mesh on the right to be mirrored without any seams. <br>Image by [http://http://racer445.com/ "racer445"]]]
+<gallery mode="nolines" widths=713px heights=477px>
 === Smoothing Groups & Hard Edges ===

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:56, 26 July 2015
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	The closer in shape the low-poly mesh is to the high-poly mesh, the better the normal map will be. See the Polycount Forum thread [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81154 Understanding averaged normals and ray projection/Who put waviness in my normal map?].		The closer in shape the low-poly mesh is to the high-poly mesh, the better the normal map will be. See the Polycount Forum thread [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81154 Understanding averaged normals and ray projection/Who put waviness in my normal map?].

		+	<gallery mode="packed" heights=350px>
		+	wavy_barreltest_04.jpg\|Adjusting topology to avoid distortion, from the Polycount Forum thread [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81154 Understanding averaged normals and ray projection/Who put waviness in my normal map?].<br/>Image by [http://www.linkedin.com/in/earthquake Joe "EarthQuake" Wilson]
		+	</gallery>

	=== Edge Thickness ===		=== Edge Thickness ===

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:55, 26 July 2015
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	* Build a basemesh model, up-res and sculpt it, then step down a few levels of detail and use that as a base for building a better in-game mesh.		* Build a basemesh model, up-res and sculpt it, then step down a few levels of detail and use that as a base for building a better in-game mesh.
	If the in-game mesh is started from one of the subdivision levels of the basemesh sculpt, various edge loops can be collapsed or new edges can be cut to add/remove detail as necessary.		If the in-game mesh is started from one of the subdivision levels of the basemesh sculpt, various edge loops can be collapsed or new edges can be cut to add/remove detail as necessary.
		+
		+
		+	=== Round Shapes ===
		+	The closer in shape the low-poly mesh is to the high-poly mesh, the better the normal map will be. See the Polycount Forum thread [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81154 Understanding averaged normals and ray projection/Who put waviness in my normal map?].

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 ==== Typical Mirroring Workflow ====
 # Delete the mesh half that will be mirrored.
-# Arrange the UVs for the remaining model, filling the UV square.
+# Arrange the [[Texture Coordinates|UVs]] for the remaining model, filling the UV square.
 # Mirror the model to create a "whole" mesh, welding the mesh vertices along the seam.
 # Move the mirrored UVs exactly 1 unit (or any whole number) out of the 0-1 UV square.